Read 62.) Deuteronomy 12:1-15:23. For the next 8 readings we will conclude Deuteronomy and say goodbye to Moses. The last chapters will be incredibly instructive. Chapter 12 will tell of and emphasize that Israel shall only have one place of worship. This will be wherever God's Tabernacle or later Temple will be. It will be situated in a place called Shiloh initially, until a Temple is later constructed in Jerusalem. We read of two things that will be promised Israel of God for their obedience in this matter. The Lord specifically promises them safety in verse 10 and victory with verse 29.
Chapter 13 is a strong warning against false prophets and the worship of any other god. Any among them who would advocate such a thing was to be put to death for their violation of the 1st and 2nd Commandments of God. Interestingly enough the prohibition must have largely worked, as we do not read instances where these particular commands were invoked in order to purge any such persons as these from the land… that is, until such failings were engaged in from the very highest levels of Israel's society, and no one dared invoke the penalty of these particular commands. It will be one of the strongest reasons why Israel will fall and be destroyed some 820 years from now.
With chapter 14 and verses 1 thru 21 we have a second giving of the dietary laws pertaining to foods deemed to have been ceremonially clean or unclean, as we first read back in Leviticus 11. Beginning with verse 22 to the end, we read of the matter of the giving of the tithe, the first tenth of one's income; a command with which the book of Leviticus ended in chapter 27 verses 30 thru 33. With the tithe the ministry of Israel's priesthood was well supported.
In chapter 15, verses 1 thru 6 speak of a 7-year financial reset by means of the forgiveness of all debts. Rather than cause economic harm and disruption, God would bless them with abundance! With verses 12 thru 18, this principle extended to the freeing of any fellow Hebrew slaves. And again, if obeyed would result in blessing and abundance from the Lord! Finally, verses 19 thru 23 tells Israel how that every firstborn male from their flocks and herds was to be given to the Lord as a sacrifice unto Him. Old Testament Judaism was no easy religion to keep. There were many commands, rules, and regulations. It required a meticulous maintenance of a great many details to be said to be a righteous Jew. Be grateful to have been delivered from all such observances as these, and how all that came about for us. It's what the Book is all about!
ForeverKingdom,
Harold F Crowell
WordPress.com
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