Explore the Bible Lesson Preview February 12, 2012 Be Honest & Fair Background: Deut. 16:18 26:19 Lesson: 16:18-20; 19:14-20; 25:13-16 Motivation: God s law provides rules for living. In this rather lengthy passage, we find principles for authority, purity and marriage. Our worship of God is not isolated from our whole life; putting God first impacts the way we live in a family a church and a community (1 Thes. 5:23). I. Provisions for a Just Society (16:18 19:21) A. Authenticity Appoint judges and officials for your tribes in all your towns the Lord your God is giving you. They are to judge the people with righteous judgment. Do not deny justice or show partiality to anyone. Do not accept a bribe, for it blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous. Pursue justice and Justice alone, so that you will live and possess the land the Lord your God is giving you. (16:18-20) Judges were to be appointed and local (18), righteous (18), impartial (19) and passionate about justice (20). The basis for the judicial system in Israel was godly leaders of character. HCSB, p. 311: 16:18-19 Righteous judgment is the application of the law so as to conform to a set standard determined either by fiat or precedent. In the covenant law, the standard is Torah itself, so any judgment is righteous only to the extent that it conforms to Torah, which itself reflects the just and righteous character of the Lord. B. Abomination (16:21 17:7) Idolatry was a spiritual plague upon Israel. Special and severe instructions were given for rooting it out and preventing its spread. Idolatry would be investigated (4), brought to the judges (gates) (5) with the standard of two or three witnesses (5). How must God view today s materialism which Paul labels, idolatr y (Col. 3:5). C. Authority (17:8-20) Chapter 17 explains offices of leadership and the authority they have in the land. Priests, Levites, and Judges were to serve as mediators in matters 1 / 9
too hard for you to judge (8) (1 Tim. 2:1-6). Verses 14-20 describe the office of King. HCSB, p. 312; 17:14 Israel had lived for more than 400 years under the Egyptian king. Though God Himself was now their King, they would want a human king as a means of establishing peace and stability at a time when anarchy might otherwise prevail (cp. Jdg. 21:25). The desire for a king would not in itself be wrong, because the Lord had promised Abraham and Sarah that they would produce a line of kings (Gn. 17:6, 16), and Jacob prophesied that a messianic King would spring from the tribe of Judah (Gn. 49:10). At stake here were guidelines by which such future rulers must govern themselves and their people. D. Affirmation The Levitical priests, the whole tribe of Levi, will have no portion or inheritance with Israel. They will eat the Lord s fire offerings; that is their inheritance. (18:1) According to Numbers 3:41, the Tribe of Levi substituted as a dedication for all the first born males of the other tribes. Because they had no ancestral lands, provisions were made for them through the tithes and offerings of the other tribes. (Ezek. 48) E. Approval The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers. You must listen to him. (18:15) HCSB, p. 313: 18:15 In stark contrast to the pagan prophets stood the office of the prophet of the Lord called and equipped by Him alone. Such spokesmen of God had appeared sporadically throughout Israel s history, including Abraham (Gn. 20:7), Miriam the sister of Moses (Ex. 15:20), and most prominently, Moses himself (Nm. 12:6-8; Dt. 34:10). While Moses prophecy in this verse foreshadows all the canonical prophets, its ultimate fulfillment is found in Jesus Christ (Luke 9:35; Act 3:22-23, 7:37; Rev. 19:10 Worship God, because the testimony about Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. ) F. Actuarial (19:1-21) 1. Accidental Death (19:1-10) In the case of unintentional killing (4), the accused could flee the avenger to a city of refuge. There a judge could sort out the evidence. 2. Homicide (19:11-21) One witness cannot establish any wrong-doing or sin against 2 / 9
a person, whatever that person has done. A fact must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. (19:15) Regarding capital crimes, one person s testimony was not sufficient. Jesus used this principle to resolve offenses within the church (Matt. 18:16-17). Paul referred to this verse in 2 Cor. 13:1 and 1 Tim. 5:19. Hebrews 10:28-29 also alludes to this law regarding eternal punishment. II. Rules of Holy War (20:1-20) A. Explanation of Strategy (1-4) When you are about to engage in battle, the priest is to come forward and address the army. He is to say to them: Listen, Israel: Today you are about to engage in battle with your enemies. Do not be cowardly. Do not be afraid, alarmed, or terrified because of them. For the Lord your God is the One who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory. For Israel, the only just war was to be one condoned by the priest, i.e. authorized by God. B. Exemption from Service (5-9) The officers then explained why someone could be excused from duty. C. Exemptions for Surrender (10-15) D. Elimination of Enemies (16-18) E. Exhortation for Long Range Planning (19-20) In contrast to other nations, Israel was not to adopt a scorched earth policy. Instead, they were to plan for the future. Removal of non-fruit bearing trees (20) reminds us of Jesus words in John 15:6-7. III. Regulations for Interpersonal Relationships (21:1 25:19) A. Laws Regarding Investigations (21:1-9) The symbolism of the killing of the young cow that has not been yoked or used for work 3 / 9
(21:4) underlines the seriousness of the crime, reminds the community of the loss of potential to the community and sends a stern warning to the murderer. B. Laws Regarding Family (21:10-21) 1. Female captives (10-14) Humane treatment was required (14). 2. Firstborn protection (15-17) If a Man has two wives (21:5) HCSB, p. 317; 21:15-17 Thi s law (and perhaps the previous one) regulated the practice of polygamy while, as in the previous example, not endorsing it. Though Israel was the people of God and should have lived out its special relationship reflecting His glory and righteousness, this was often not the case. The law in some cases was thus designed to insure that an imperfect people were kept within certain moral and social boundaries. The present law mandated that a firstborn son of an unloved wife must receive a double portion of the inheritance according to what appears to be a long-standing custom (Gn. 25:31-34; 48:8-22). 3. Rebellious Son (21:18-21) If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who does not obey his father or mother and doesn t listen to them even after they discipline him (21:18). HCSB, p. 317: 21:18-21 Capital punishment for a rebellious and drunken son may seem unduly harsh, but this behavior was a violation of the commandment to honor one s father and mother 4 / 9
(cp. 5:16). In God s structure of sovereignty, parents represented His authority and therefore showing disobedience to one s parents was showing disobedience to the Lord. C. Laws Respecting Life (21:21-22:8) 1. Curse of Hanging anyone hung on a tree is under God s curse (21:23) The Jews viewed crucifixion as hanging on a tree. (Gal. 3:13) 2. Protection of Livestock (22:1-4), Nesting Birds (6-7), House guests (8). 3. Transvestites A women is not to wear male clothing HCSB, p. 318: 22:5 For a woman to wear male clothing and a man a woman s garment (cross-dressing or transvestitism) is wrong because, among other things, it violates the principle of separation that God has built into the created order. D. Laws of Purity (22:9-23:18) 1. Illustrations of Purity (22:9-12) The illustrations (vineyard, team, clothing) point to the need for purity. In a practical sense, mixing wool and linen would be unwise because of different rates of shrinkage in the fabrics. 2. Sexual Purity (13-30) Several case studies are presented with particular emphasis on protecting a women s rights and reputation. Notice the value God places on sexual purity! 3. Various Laws (23:1-25) a. Purity in Worship (1-8) Worship of the one, true God was reserved for His chosen. Restrictions were made against mutilation (1) perhaps because such mutilation was a mark of 5 / 9
pagan worship (Isa. 56:4-5; Acts 8:26-29). Those of illegitimate birth (2) (Heb. Mamzer) probably indicates those born of incest or prostitution. The Ammonites and Moabites were descendants of the forbidden union of Lot with his daughters (Gen. 19:30-38). Although the Moabites were forbidden from worship because of their treatment of the Israelites (Nu. 22-24; Gen. 12:3), the acceptance of Ruth the Moabitess into the life of Israel and the line of Jesus shows grace to one who demonstrates faith in God. b. Purity in the Military (9-14) Practical instruction for military hygiene! c. Purity in Lifestyles (15-16) Laws instructing in the treatment of slaves as well as outlawing harlotry among the men and women of Israel are given. E. Laws of Interpersonal Relationships (Deut. 23:19-25:19) 1. Benevolence (23:19-25) a. Interest (19-20) Interest on loans could be charged to foreigners but not to brethren. b. Vows (21-23) It s better to never make a vow than to make a vow and break it (Acts 5: Ananias and Sapphira). (Judges 11:29-40) c. Produce (24-25) Eating grapes or handpicking grain from a neighbor s field was allowed (Matt. 12:1). However, doing so with a basket or sickle demonstrated the desire to steal and was outlawed. 2. Broken Homes (24:1-4) HCSB, p. 320: 24:1-4 The issue here is not divorce per se but remarriage following divorce. What the man found improper 6 / 9
is neither clear nor relevant. The point is that if she marries another man and he finds occasion to divorce her, she many not return to her first husband. The issue seems to be that marriage to a second husband was a form of adultery. Another consideration is that the prohibition of the first husband taking the woman back would cause husbands to think carefully before enacting a divorce. Verse four is viewed as one of four exceptions that allow remarriage after a divorce 1) previous spouse has died or remarried, 2) divorce resulting from adultery by the previous spouse (Matt. 19:9), 3) abandonment by an unbeliever (I Cor. 7:12-15), and 4) a divorce occurring before receiving Christ (2 Cor. 5:17; Eph. 2:1-7). On a positive note, verse five encourages a one year honeymoon! 3. Blessings (24:5-25:19) The bulk of this section deals with protective laws insuring a person s right to prepare a meal (24:6), preserve dignity in the collection of a debt (24:10-13), glean the leftovers (24:19-22, Ruth), or continue the family s line (levirate marriage) 25:6-10. The final exhortation is to finish the task with the Amalekites (17-19). IV. Laws of Covenant Celebration and Confirmation (26:1-19) Explore the Bible Commentary (Winter, 2002), p. 109: Three sections wrap up this major division of Deuteronomy: (1) the Festival of First Fruits, which celebrated God s blessings on the land (26:1-11); (2) the third-year tithe, which addressed the needs of the poor (26:12-15); and (3) a beautiful declaration of covenant obedience, covenant grace, and covenant blessings (26:16-19). Application: 1. God sets leaders over us in positions of authority. 2. God desires purity in our relationship with him and with others. (I Pet. 1:15-16; Heb. 6:1) 3. God ordained marriage as a covenant relationship of one man and one woman freely 7 / 9
and totally committed to each other for life. Explore the Bible Leader Pack: Item 16: Poster: Lesson Outline; Illustrator: pg. 35: Establishing Weights and Measures in Ancient Israel Notes: **You may access David s Lesson Preview in MP3 format at: www.hfbcbiblestudy.or g Dates: 2011: 1/24 3/6 Living Proof Bible Study; 2/5 FBA Day; 2/8 College Kardia; 2/1 0 AM/FM Date Night; 2/10-12 Summit Retreat; 2/12 Make it Your Church Orientation; 2/18 Free the Captives Human Trafficking Conf.; 2/19 Parent Commitment; 2/22 College Kardia; 2/24 Women s Ministry Girls Night Out; 2/25 Spring Loaded; 2/26 HUB Milestone: Purity Ceremony; 3/2-3 Men s Conf. with Steve Farrar; 3/5-7 Senior Adult Revival; 3/9 Summit Celebrates; 3/11 Daylight Saving Time begins; 3/12-16 Spring Break for HISD, SB & FBA; 8 / 9
3/17 Widow & Widowers luncheon; 3/21 College Kardia; 3/24 SPF event, Eat at Clay s; 3/28 Imago exhibit begins; 3/30 FBA Warrior Day 2012. 9 / 9