Day 80, Chronological Bible Study
Timeline. Map. Go to today’s Bible reading (use your browser arrow to return): Deuteronomy 23–26 Policies and Rules to Follow Every government, organization, and family has its policies and rules (written or not). There are specific ways we want to do things, and they are usually based on core principles. Clear communication prevents inconsistency, confusion, frustration, or even injury. In the times just before Israel is to enter the Promised Land, Moses communicates to them more of the policies and rules of the LORD to safeguard their inheritance. These are stipulations the Israelites must keep to stay in the good graces of the LORD their God. They are patterned after the Suzerain Treaties of the day (more…). God wants to bless his people in the Promised Land. He wants them to succeed. Therefore, in today’s Bible reading, he gives them rules and regulations based on his holiness and what is acceptable behavior for his people. How can we stay in God’s good graces so the Lord will keep blessing us? Exclusions Against cultic practices Israel will soon enter Canaan and be exposed to evil people who are also idol worshippers. They have despicable behavior! The LORD does not want the Israelites to adopt any of their customs. God wants the Israelites to come to the feasts and worship him. However, there are exclusions for those allowed into the assembly. For instance, the strange barring of those emasculated by cutting or crushing is linked with those born of a forbidden marriage (Deuteronomy 23:1). The Israelites must not marry Ammonites or Moabites. These two groups are banned from access into the assembly because of their malice against Israel. This link suggests castration was a cultic practice of these idol-worshipping nations. However, God wants the Israelites to have children and multiply in the land (Genesis 35:10-11). Male and female shrine prostitutes are also forbidden in the assembly (Deuteronomy 23:17-18). In addition to these exclusions, there are prohibitions for those with contagious diseases, and we can understand the logic of that (Deuteronomy 24:8; Leviticus 13:45-46). Against indecency There are exclusions for those allowed into the Israelite army camp. When they are encamped against their enemies, God instructs them to keep away from everything impure (Deuteronomy 23:9). If anyone is unclean because of a nocturnal emission or he has to relieve himself, he needs to go outside of the camp. For the LORD your God moves about in your camp to protect you and to deliver your enemies to you. Your camp must be holy, so that he will not see among you anything indecent and turn away from you. (Deuteronomy 23:14, NIV). We should maintain decency in church, too. It is not just a gathering place where any behavior is acceptable. Any improper or cultic behavior should be stopped immediately. Will we welcome anyone no matter what the circumstances are? Will we permit them to enter, even if their presence is detrimental? Those who live unrepentant, wicked, and rebellious lifestyles are harmful to our society, churches, and homes. We should restrict them from being there until there is a demonstrated change of mind, behavior, and the forsaking of their evil ways. There should also be appropriate behavior in our homes, businesses, and other organizations. Christians, are we striving to live clean and holy lives before God, or are our attitudes and actions harmful? If they are not good, we need to return to God to cleanse ourselves from sin. Appropriate treatment There are rules for marriage that protect Israelite women and keep the land’s inheritance within each family (Deuteronomy 24:1-5; 25:5-10). There are rules to settle civil disputes and for exercising corporal punishment (Deuteronomy 25:1-3). Policies are also in place for lending and being kind to the poor, widowed, orphaned, and aliens (Deuteronomy 23:19,23; Deuteronomy 24:10-15, 19-22). They are not to take advantage of each other. The people are to treat each other with equity, fairness and honesty. They are to remember that once they were slaves in the land of Egypt before the LORD showed compassion and saved them. Do we act with love, consideration, mercy, and grace toward each other? Are we mean or kind? Do we take advantage of each other? If we get too big for our pants (i.e., we are fat with pride), we need to remember where we came from and our humble beginnings. The LORD will bless us for appropriate treatment in our church family, business relationships, or even our home. If this is a problem, it is worth the time and effort to write down a policy for what God considers appropriate behavior, make an agreement, and enforce it. Being thankful When the Israelites enter the land, they are to remember the LORD with an offering. They are to offer a basket of fruit to the LORD from the firstfruits of their harvest in the Promised Land of Canaan, and they are to do this with rejoicing and thanksgiving (Deuteronomy 26:1-11). We should also remember the good that the LORD has done for us and give thanks. Did God give any of us a new job, house, or church building? Do we have freedom in our country and other blessings? Why not take the time to recount them, rejoice together, and give him an offering of thanks? Making verbal commitments The Israelites are to voice their commitments (Deuteronomy 26:12-19). Loyalty to the LORD is all-important, as it should be in any organization run by Christians. In today’s world, written agreements are considered more binding than verbal, but God considers them the same— we need to be true to our word. We should not do this flippantly because God says vows must be kept (Deuteronomy 23:21-23). Verbal agreements seal the commitments we are making. Have we made verbal commitments to the LORD? Are we keeping them? The Bible Knowledge Commentary of the O.T., edited by Walvoord and Zuck, ©1985, p.303 Focus Verses Deuteronomy 26:17-18 (NIV) You have declared this day that the LORD is your God and that you will walk in his ways, that you will keep his decrees, commands and laws, and that you will obey him. And the LORD has declared this day that you are his people, his treasured possession as he promised, and that you are to keep all his commands. Do you like these discussion questions so you can come up with your own answers, or do you prefer the Take-Away Lessons? email me with your answer. Discussion (you can type in your answers) Why do we have policies and regulations? Who should we let into our churches, businesses, and homes? What commitments should we make to the Lord, and how we treat each other?
Sample Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, may your name be praised forever. You are holy and kind. You want us to succeed and have left us your Word as a guide for life. Thank you. I confess that I sometimes fail in the way I treat others and in the way I represent you. Please forgive me for that, and help me make a plan to do better. May your holy name be lifted up in the way I treat others in my family, business, and church. In the name of your dear Son, Jesus, I pray, Amen. Please send your comments to mtbiblestudies@gmail.com Looking Ahead: Verbal commitments are important, but contracts give us responsibilities to fulfill. Our Next Lessons is Contracts and Commitments; do we have any with God? Previous Lesson  |  Next Lesson Back to top of page Return to Chronological Bible Studies main page Go to Scriptures main page Go to Topics main page Go to Home page

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