Study 18 From The Book of
Deuteronomy is: Deuteronomy 26
This chapter concludes both the
social regulations and also the whole section of the specific laws to be
observed by the people in the promised land.
1.
Verses 1-11: the law of first-fruits, to be given to
God, in acknowledgement of His mercies. In what way did the law require each
Israelite to reflect upon and give thanks for national mercies, and for what
mercies was he specially to give thanks?
Have not we far greater cause to do this? Cf. Ps. 103: 1-5; Col.
1:12-14.
2.
Verses 12-16: the law of
tithes, to be given to their ministers, and to others unable to provide for
themselves. Note how richly God promises to give to those who thus give to Him
and to others. Cf. 14:28, 29; Pr. 3:9, 10; Mal. 3:8-12; Lk. 6:38.
3.
Verses 16-19 are the closing
exhortation of the discourse begun in chapter 5. What covenant obligations did
God and Israel respectively undertake? What may we learn from these verses
concerning God’s purposes for us as His covenant people?