Search The Scriptures —Study 13 — Deuteronomy 16 and 17

Study 1 3 From The Book of Deuteronomy is: Deuteronomy 16 and 17

At 16:18 the section on the civil law commences. Here we have (a) the appointment and duties of judges (16:18-20); (b) justice in matters of religious (16:21-17:7); the final court of appeal (17:8-13); (d) the appointment and duties of the king (17:14-20).

1.      In connection with the Feast of Weeks and the Fear of Tabernacles, what two requirements are made of the worshipper, and why? With regard to free-will offerings, on what principle is the amount of the gift to be determined? Cf. 1 Cor. 16:2; 2Cor. 8:12; 1 Pet. 1:8

2.     What does 17:2-7 teach us about the need for church discipline? Cf. Mt. 18:15-18; 1 Cor. 5; 1 Tim. 1:19, 20; Tit. 3:9-11.

3.     What was to be the character of Israel’s king if one were appointed, and what was to be the source of his wisdom? Cf. 2 Tim. 3:15-17.

Notes

1.      16:21. The Asherah appears to have been a pole, planted by an altar, as a symbol of the god worshipped there.

2.     17:8-13.  If a case is too difficult for the local judge to handle (see 16:18-20), it is to be brought to the central sanctuary.

3.     17:16, 17. Noticed the word ‘multiply’ three times.  Horses (power), wives and wealth were coveted by kings of the time. Cf. 1 Ki. 10:26-28; 11:3,4.                                     

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Search The Scriptures —Study 12 — Deuteronomy 14:15

Study 12 From The Book of Deuteronomy is: Deuteronomy 14:15

These two chapters contain laws concerning (a) funeral practices (14:1, 2); (b) clean and unclean foods (14:3-21); tithing (14:22-29); (d) the seventh year or year of release (15:1-18); (e) firstling males of the herd of flock (15:19-23).

1.      The principle underlying the laws of chapter 14 is that Christians are to behave differently from the world. What do we learn here concerning the Christians’ attitude (a) to death and bereavement (verses 1, 2; cf. 1 Thes. 4:13); (b) to food and bodily indulgence (verse 3-21; cf. 1: Cor. 6:12, 13; 10:23, 31); (c) to money and possessions (verses 22-28; cf. 1 Cor. 16:2)?

2.     What do the laws of chapter 15 teach concerning (a) redemption through Christ; (b) the Christian’s duty of putting the need of his brother before his own rights (cf. Mt. 5:38-42); (c) equality in the Church of God (cf. Acts 2: 44; 4:34; 2 Cor. 8:14)?

Notes

1.       14: 1b.  A reference to heathen mourning practices, signifying excessive grief.

2.      15:1. ‘Grant a release’: i.e., let the debtor off.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 11 — Deuteronomy 12 and 13

Study 11 From The Book of Deuteronomy is: Deuteronomy 12 and 13

In the analysis of the book of Deuteronomy, the first part of this code of Law sets forth regulations governing the practice of religion, and is thus a detailed application of the first four commandments.

1.      How does chapter 12 relate to the first commandment and chapter 13 to the second?

2.     How does the regulation of chapter 13 demonstrate the priority of God’s will over alleged ‘results’ respect of person, ties of blood and great numbers?  Cf. Mk. 13:22; Gal. 1:8; 2:11; Lk. 14:26; Acts 4: 19:20.

Note. The provision of one sanctuary to which all sacrifices must be brought was a safeguard against idolatrous worship at ancient shrines of the Canaanites.  Cf. 2 Ki. 17: 10-12.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 10 — Deuteronomy 10:12 - 11:32

Study 10 From The Book of Deuteronomy is: Deuteronomy 10:12 - 11:32

Moses here use two main arguments to persuade the people to obedience: (a). In 10:12 – 11:12 he shows that certain attributes and methods of God demand a corresponding response from His people. (b) In 11:13 – 32 he uses the rewards of obedience and the punishments of disobedience as incentives.  This raises the following questions:

1.      What specifically are the attributes and ways of God particularized in 10:12 – 11:12 and what are their corresponding demands?

2.     What rewards and punishments for obedience and disobedience are specified in 11: 13-32?

Notes

1.      10:12. ‘What … but …?’ does not mean these demands are slight, and His calling of Israel to be His people. Cf. Mi. 6:8.

2.     11:30. ‘Moreh’:  where the Lord appeared to Abraham; see Gn. 12: 6, 7.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 9 — Deuteronomy 9: 1 - 10:11

Study 9 From The Book of Deuteronomy is: Deuteronomy 9: 1 - 10:11

1.      After they conquered the promised land, what further danger would follow on the heels of victory? How does Moses in this passage seek to safeguard them against it? Cf. Lk. 18:9-14.

2.     What does the example of Moses teach as to the responsibility and power of intercessory prayer?  Note the costly nature of his prayer and the uncompromising dealing with sin that accompanied it. On what grounds did Moses base his plea for the people, and what was the outcome? Cf. Jas. 5:16.

3.     The incident as a whole demonstrates that God’s dealings with His people are entirely of grace.  It thus illustrates aspects of the saving grace of God revealed in the New Testament.  Try to discover how the following points are illustrated in this Chapter: (a) the combination of grace and justice (Rom. 3:24-26); (b) the triumph of grace over sin (Eph. 2:5; Rom. 5:20, 21); (c) the provision of a mediator (Heb. 8:6; 9:15); (d) the establishment of a covenant (1 Cor. 11:25).   

Note. 9:22. ‘Taberah’ ‘burning’: see Nu. 11:1-3.  ‘Massah’: ‘proving’; see Ex. 17:7; cf. Dt. 6:16. ‘Kilbroth-hattaavah’: graves of lust’; see Nu. 11:34.  

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Search The Scriptures —Study 8 — Deuteronomy 8

Study 8 From The Book of Deuteronomy is: Deuteronomy 8

1.   What threefold purples did God have in leading Israel through the experiences of the wilderness? How did our Lord apply verse 3b to His own case in Mt. 4:4? With verse 5 cf. also Heb. 12:7, 10, 11

2.   In days of prosperity what subtle danger would beset them, and how were they to guard against it? Compare the advice which Barnabas gave to the Church in Antioch (Acts 11:23b).

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Search The Scriptures —Study 7 — Deuteronomy 7

Study 7 From The Book of Deuteronomy is: Deuteronomy 7

1.      In what four ways were the Israelites to deal with the idolatrous inhabitants of Canaan (verses 1-5)? What points regarding the Christian’s duty of separation from sin and the world do they illustrate? Cf. Eph. 5:11; 2 Cor. 6:14-18; Jn. 5:21.

2.     In verses 6-11 what three reasons does God give the people for this drastic attitude? What New Testament principles correspond to this? Cf. 1 Pet. 1:15, 16; 2:9-12.

3.     In verses 12-16 what three blessings does God promise will attend the faithful pursuit of this policy? What blessings are promised in the New Testament to the Christian who practises spiritual separation?  Cf. 2 Cor. 6:17, 16; 1 Jn. 2:15-17.

4.     In verses 18-26 how does God answer their question of verse 17? What does this teach about the power given to the Christian to ‘be separate’? Cf. 2 Cor. 14-16; Jn. 16:33; Rom. 5:10; 1 Jn. 5:4.

Notes

1.       Verse 2. ‘Utterly destroy’: The Hebrew word means ‘to separate to a deity’ and hence ‘to put to death’ or ‘destroy’ as here, and in verse 25, 26.

5.   Verse 20. ‘Hornets’ are powerful insects, whose attack in large numbers is dangerous and may prove fatal. Some take the word, however, here and in Ex. 23:28 and Jos. 24:12, in a figurative sense, as meaning some plague or terror that spreads dismay.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 6 — Deuteronomy 6

Study 6 From The Book of Deuteronomy is: Deuteronomy 6

In chapters 6-10 Moses outlines some general implications of the ten commandments before proceeding to apply them in detail to particular situations.

1.      What was God’s purpose in giving the law, and what was the primary duty of the Israelites? What was he to do, and what was he to beware of an not to do?

2.     Verses 10-15 concern forgetfulness of God in a time of prosperity. What ways of guarding against this danger can be found either explicit or implicit in this passage?

3.     What insight is given in this chapter into the necessity and method of family religion?

Notes

1.       Verse 6. ‘Be upon’: literally ‘imprinted on’.

2.      Verse 13.  Alluded to by Christ in answer to Satan (Mt. 4:10). 

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Search The Scriptures —Study 5 — Deuteronomy 4:41 - 5:33

Study 5 From The Book of Deuteronomy is: Deuteronomy 4:41 - 5:33

With chapter 5 begins Moses’ second discourse, extending to chapter

 26 Chapter 4:44-49 is the introductory superscription.

1.      What is the significance of the pronouns ‘you’ and ‘your’ which occur throughout the ten commandments? Cf. Lv. 19:3; Ps. 62: 12; Je. 17:10 (‘every man’).

2.     The ways in which the people reacted to the hearing of the commandments (5:23-27) indicate abiding principles concerning the ways in which all men should react to God’s law.  What kind of effect do the reactions here suggest that God’s law should produce? Cf. Heb. 12:21; Rom. 7:9; Gal. 3:24.

3.     What was it in the temper of the people that drew from God the words of commendation in 5:28, and the expression of His desire that it might so continue always (verse 29)?

Note. 5:3. ‘Our fathers’: i.e., ‘our forefathers’, viz. the patriarchs. Cf. 4:37; 7:8.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 4 — Deuteronomy 4:1-40

Study 4 From The Book of Deuteronomy is: Deuteronomy 4:1-4o

This is the second part of Moses’ first discourse, and consists of an exhortation based upon God’s gracious dealings, as described in chapters 1 to 3.

1.      What is said about God in this portion, and about His relation to Israel?

2.     What is said about God in the word of God, spoken by Moses? With verse 2 cf. 12:32; Pr. 30:6; Mt. 5:17, 18; Rev. 22: 18, 19.

3.     Against what sin in particular are the people warned, and by what arguments is the warning reinforced?

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