Devotionary

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Ep 984 – Deuteronomy 22:13-21 Jul 01, 2020

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In Deuteronomy 22:13-21, we have yet another strange scenario presented by Moses to the people of Israel. This one involves the institution of marriage, something near and dear to the heart of God because it was His idea. As we look at this particular regulation, it is essential that we keep God's view of the sanctity of marriage in mind. He knew full well that the Israelites, due to their sinful dispositions, would be prone to treat the marriage covenant flippantly, and to view any commitments they made as essentially non-binding. Lust would tend to overshadow love. Infidelity would become commonplace, with the all-male leadership of Israel developing all kinds of work-arounds and loopholes that would allow them to violate God's ban on divorce with impunity. But God wasn't going to make it easy on them. For Him, the holiness of His people was non-negotiable and the sanctity of the marriage covenant would be key to them living set-apart lives.

Ep 983 – Deuteronomy 22:1-12 Jun 16, 2020

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As Moses continues to inform the people of Israel about God's laws regulating every aspect of life within their corporate community, the rules seem to get stranger and ever-more specific. In Deuteronomy 22:1-12, Moses deals with everything from the care of livestock and regulations concerning horticulture to, believe it or not, a ban on cross-dressing. All in the context of 12 verses. But we have to remember that God was interested in every area of Israelite life. There was to be no secular-sacred split when it came to the people of God. This lengthy list of rules and regulations was intended to provide direction for all of life, from the home to the workplace. God's interest in Israel's holiness was all-encompassing and non-negotiable. He refused to leave anything up to their imaginations or sinful inclinations. God's people were expected to live according to God's will.

Ep 982 – Deuteronomy 21:22-23 Jun 10, 2020

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In Deuteronomy 21:22-23, Moses follows up his teaching concerning the inheritance of the firstborn son and the death of the rebellious son with a rather short instruction regarding the body of an executed criminal. This is another example of God giving very detailed laws concerning what seems to be a point of minutiae. But as always, God was concerned with every detail of the Israelites' lives. Nothing escaped His notice and there was no activity surrounding daily life in which He did not take an interest. Including the death of executed criminals and the proper disposal of their bodies. And, as always, we'll see that there was much more behind God's law than met the eye. He was concerned with the holiness of His people and provided them with very detailed laws to govern every aspect of daily life. For their good and His glory.

Ep 981 – Deuteronomy 21:15-21 Jun 04, 2020

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Today's passage is a doozy. It deals with two potential scenarios involving the relationship between a father and his son. And these two sample situations could not be any more different or disparate in their outcome. One involves how to handle an inheritance when a man has more than one son because he has more than one wife. There was to be no place for favoritism. God had rules concerning the inheritance of the firstborn and He expected those rules to be followed. The second scenario also involves a son receiving what he justly deserves. Except in this case, rather than an inheritance, he is to receive a death sentence for his stubborn and unrepentant behavior. In one case, God is preserving the rights of the firstborn. In the other, God is preserving the spiritual integrity of the community. But in both cases, He is expecting His people to live according to His laws – for their own good.

Ep 980 – Deuteronomy 21:10-14 May 14, 2020

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Reading the book of Deuteronomy can be like watching a game of Rubgy. It looks vaguely familiar but then, all of the sudden, you find yourself asking, "What in the world just happened? "This isn't football!" you shout. "There's no rules! It all makes no sense!" And in Deuteronomy 21:10-14, you're going to find yourself questioning what Moses has to say to the people of Israel. He gives them some counsel that appears to contradict the expressed will of God as found in His law. Moses seems to be giving them permission to take wives from among the pagan nations they conquer. Something God has clearly forbidden them to do. So, what's going on? Is Moses outlining the rules for a different kind of game than the one we've been watching? No, as we'll see, God is consistent but He is also considerate, always taking into account the propensity of His people to give in to temptation.

Ep 979 – Deuteronomy 21:1-9 May 13, 2020

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In Deuteronomy 21:1-9, Moses presents a strange, yet very specific scenario involving what to do in the case of a murder where the guilty party remains unknown. Like the law of God, Moses was leaving few, if any, loopholes that would allow the Israelites to permit sin to remain in the camp. In this particular circumstance, while the name of the guilty party was not known, the guilt of their crime remained. And because God viewed the Israelites communally, He held the entire nation responsible for the crime committed. Atonement must be made. Justice must be served. And, just because the identity of the murderer remained a mystery, it did not relieve the condemnation the crime had brought upon the people of God. One man's sin had contaminated the entire body. And it was up to them to rectify the situation by doing what was right in God's eyes by purging the sin from their midst.

The Risen Lord Apr 12, 2020

Show notes

The cross is barren. The tomb is empty. The Lord is risen. The price has been paid and God has been fully satisfied. Sin and death have been conquered. Salvation has been provided, and all our sins have been taken care of once and for all. Forgiveness has been made available. Mercy has been meted out. Underserved grace has been extended. Eternal life has been granted. And the unfailing love of God has been expressed to all men through the unwavering faithfulness and unquestionable sinlessness of Jesus Christ.

Ep 978 – Deuteronomy 20:10-20 Jan 05, 2020

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Reading the Old Testament can be a bit disconcerting at times. After all, within its pages are found countless stories of men perpetrating all kinds of evil against one another. And oftentimes, their seemingly godless actions are in keeping with God's commands. They are simply doing what He has told them to do. Which can make reading the Old Testament a challenge for those of us who understand God to be a gracious and loving God. And in Deuteronomy 20:10-20, Moses gives the people of Israel some rather disturbing instructions concerning the occupants of the land of Canaan. In those areas that God had deemed as their inheritance, the people of Judah were to completely wipe out the inhabitants. No one was to be left alive. But as harsh as it all sounds, God had a method to His seeming madness.

Ep 977 – Deuteronomy 20:1-9 Jan 04, 2020

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Once the people of Israel crossed over the Jordan and entered the land of Canaan, the real work would begin. They would be expected to do battle with the current occupants of the land, defeating them and dispossessing them from their homes, villages, towns, and cities. It was going to require a great deal of effort and, as with any war, there would be casualties. So, God had Moses inform the people of Israel about a series of exemptions from battle designed to protect the family unit. While everyone would be expected to do their part in the conquering of the land, God graciously provided His people with legal exemptions from military service. At the end of the day, any victory they enjoyed would be because God was fighting for them. So, He could afford to give some of His people time off from doing battle.

Ep 976 – Deuteronomy 19:14-21 Jan 03, 2020

Show notes

God had set apart the people of Israel, deeming them to be His treasured possession. As such, they were expected to live differently than the other nations around them. And to make sure they understood just how distinctive their lives were to be, God had given them His law as a code of conduct. He had left nothing to chance. They were not free to establish their own rules or to live according to their own standards. God had given them an extremely detailed list of rules intended to regulate every area of their lives – from the minuscule to the major and the common to the holy. And in Deuteronomy 19:14-21, Moses provides the people of Israel with some last-minute reminders about God's law and His expectation that they hear and fear them. In other words, obey them.

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