Deuteronomy 29

Deuteronomy 29

Deuteronomy 29:1 These are the words of the covenant Yahveh commanded Moses to establish with the Israelites in the land of Moab, in addition to the covenant he had made with them at Horeb.

Deuteronomy 29:2 Moses summoned all Israel and said to them, “You have seen with your own eyes everything Yahveh did in Egypt to Pharaoh, to all his officials, and his entire land.

Deuteronomy 29:3 You saw with your own eyes the great trials and those great signs and wonders.

Deuteronomy 29:4 Yet to this day, Yahveh has not given you a heart to understand, eyes to see, or ears to hear.

Deuteronomy 29:5 I led you forty years in the open country; your clothes and the sandals on your feet did not wear out;

Deuteronomy 29:6 you did not eat bread or drink wine or beer – so that you might know that I am Yahveh your God.

Deuteronomy 29:7 When you reached this place, King Sihon of Heshbon and King Og of Bashan came out against us in battle, but we defeated them.

Deuteronomy 29:8 We took their land and gave it as an inheritance to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh.

Deuteronomy 29:9 Therefore, watch the words of this covenant and follow them so that you will succeed in everything you do.

Deuteronomy 29:10 “All of you are standing today before Yahveh your God – your leaders, tribes, elders, officials, all the men of Israel,

Deuteronomy 29:11 your dependents, your wives, and the guests in your camps who cut your wood and draw your water –

Deuteronomy 29:12 so that you may enter into the covenant of Yahveh your God, which he is establishing with you today, so that you may enter into his oath[1]

Deuteronomy 29:13 and so that he may establish you today as his people and he may be your God as he promised you and as he swore to your fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Deuteronomy 29:14 I am establishing this covenant and this oath not only with you,

Deuteronomy 29:15 but also with those who are standing here with us today in the presence of Yahveh our God and with those who are not here today.

Deuteronomy 29:16 “Indeed, you know how we stayed in the land of Egypt and passed through the nations where you traveled.

Deuteronomy 29:17 You saw their repulsive things[2] and idols made of wood, stone, silver, and gold, which were among them.

Deuteronomy 29:18 Or else there may be a man, woman, clan, or tribe among you today whose heart turns away from Yahveh our God to go and worship the gods of those nations. Be sure there is no root among you bearing poisonous and bitter fruit.

Deuteronomy 29:19 When someone hears the words of this oath, he may celebrate himself, and this is what he says: ‘I will have peace even though I follow my own stubborn heart.’ This will lead to the destruction of the well-watered land as well as the dry land.

Deuteronomy 29:20 Yahveh will not be willing to forgive him. Instead, his anger and jealousy will burn against that person, and every oath written in this scroll will descend on him. Yahveh will blot out his name under the sky,

Deuteronomy 29:21 And Yahveh will separate him from all the tribes of Israel for harm, according to all the oaths of the covenant written in this book of instruction.

Deuteronomy 29:22 “Future generations of your children who follow you and the foreigner who comes from a distant country will see the plagues of that land and the sicknesses Yahveh has inflicted on it.

Deuteronomy 29:23 All its land will be a burning waste of sulfur and salt, unplanted, producing nothing, with no plant growing on it, just like the fall of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, which Yahveh demolished in his fierce anger.

Deuteronomy 29:24 All the nations will ask, ‘Why has Yahveh done this to this land? Why this intense outburst of anger?’

Deuteronomy 29:25 Then people will answer, ‘It is because they abandoned the covenant of Yahveh, the God of their fathers, which he had established with them when he brought them out of the land of Egypt.

Deuteronomy 29:26 They began to serve other gods, bowing in worship to gods they had not known – gods that Yahveh had not permitted them to worship.

Deuteronomy 29:27 Therefore Yahveh’s nose burned at this land, and he brought every affliction written in this book on it.

Deuteronomy 29:28 Yahveh uprooted them from their land in his anger, rage, and intense wrath and tossed them into another land where they are today.’

Deuteronomy 29:29 The hidden things belong to Yahveh our God, but the revealed things belong to us and our children permanently, so that we may follow all the words of this instruction.

[1]אָלָה = oath. Deuteronomy 29:12, 14, 19, 20, 21; 30:7.

[2]שִׁקּוּץ = repulsive thing.

Deuteronomy 29 quotes:

“Chapter 29 draws attention to the terms and implications of Israel’s entering into the covenant that is sealed with a ‘curse’ (v. 12 [ET]), involving both present and future generations (vv. 11–15). The new element here is that all members of the community, from the leaders to menial servants, stand as individuals before the Lord (vv. 9–15), and are thus under the curse and wrath of God if the covenant is broken. The chapter especially recalls the standpoint of chapter 13 on apostasy and idolatry (v. 18 [ET]). This is then developed in terms of the person who might hear the words of the curse, and then invoke a blessing upon himself, thinking that he is safe from the curse, while continuing in his own stubborn and rebellious ways (cf. 27:15–26). Such a person is a root, whose bitter poison can bring ruin to the entire nation (v. 19 ET]). Earlier, this is attributed to the absence of ‘a heart to know, eyes to see and ears to hear’ to ‘this day’ (v. 4 [ET]). Such sin will never be forgiven within Israel. The wrath of the Lord (vv. 20–28 [ET]) will ‘burn’ against such a person, and ‘single’ him out for the full quota of curses contained in chapters 27 – 28 (v. 21 [ET]). In time this will lead to the land itself becoming an unproductive burning waste like Sodom and Gomorrah, prompting the nations to ask why this should be so. The answer will be that Israel abandoned the covenant of the Lord by worshipping other gods they did not know, gods he had not given them (vv. 22– 28; cf. 4:19; 28:64). As a result, the Lord’s anger will burn against the land, uprooting Israel and thrusting them into another land, as it is now. Finally, verse 29 [ET] flows into the following chapter, where the resolution to this failure is described.”

Woods, Edward J.. Deuteronomy: An Introduction and Commentary (Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries Book 5) . InterVarsity Press. Kindle Edition.

“In the concluding charge, Moses returns first of all to dwell briefly on some of the themes already contained in the earlier discourses (vv. 1–8.1 The substance of the material presented here in summary form is a recollection of God’s acts in history, from the Exodus, through the testing period in the wilderness, and up to the arrival of the people on the plains of Moab. To the reader, the repetition may seem somewhat tedious at first sight, but the significance of the repetition appears in v. 3: the Lord has not granted you,2 up to this day, a mind3 to understand, and eyes to see, and ears to hear. With the perspective of time, the Israelites could learn to see God’s presence in their past experience, but it required insight and perception.”

Craigie, Peter C.. The Book of Deuteronomy (The New International Commentary on the Old Testament) (p. 356). Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.. Kindle Edition.

The DEUTERONOMY shelf in Jeff’s library.

Deuteronomy 28

Deuteronomy 28

Deuteronomy 28:1 “Now if you faithfully obey Yahveh your God and are careful to do all his commands I am commanding you today, Yahveh your God will put you far above all the nations of the land.

Deuteronomy 28:2 All these empowerments will come and overtake you because you obey Yahveh your God:

Deuteronomy 28:3 You will be empowered in the city and empowered in the country.

Deuteronomy 28:4 Your offspring will be empowered, and your land’s produce, and the offspring of your livestock, including the young of your herds and the newborn of your flocks.

Deuteronomy 28:5 Your basket and kneading bowl will be empowered.

Deuteronomy 28:6 You will be empowered when you come in and empowered when you go out.

Deuteronomy 28:7 “Yahveh will cause the enemies who rise against you to be defeated before you. They will march out against you in one direction but run away from you in seven directions.

Deuteronomy 28:8 Yahveh will command for you empowerment on your barns and on everything you do; he will empower you in the land Yahveh your God is giving you.

Deuteronomy 28:9 Yahveh will establish you as his sacred people, as he swore to you, if you watch the commands of Yahveh your God and walk in his ways.

Deuteronomy 28:10 Then all the peoples of the land will see that you bear Yahveh’s name, and they will stand in awe of you.

Deuteronomy 28:11 Yahveh will make your prosperity survive[1] with offspring, the offspring of your livestock, and your land’s produce in the land Yahveh swore to your fathers to give you.

Deuteronomy 28:12 Yahveh will open for you his abundant storehouse, the sky, to give your land rain in its season and to empower all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations, but you will not borrow.

Deuteronomy 28:13 Yahveh will make you the head and not the tail; you will only move upward and never downward if you listen to Yahveh, your God’s commands, which I am commanding you today, and are careful to follow them.

Deuteronomy 28:14 Do not turn aside to the right or the left from all the things I am commanding you today, and do not follow other gods to worship them.

Deuteronomy 28:15 “But if you disobey Yahveh your God by carefully following all his commands and prescriptions I am giving you today, all these afflictions will come and overtake you:

Deuteronomy 28:16 You will be afflicted with a curse in the city and afflicted with a curse in the country.

Deuteronomy 28:17 Your basket and kneading bowl will be afflicted with a curse.

Deuteronomy 28:18 Your offspring will be afflicted with a curse, and your land’s produce, the young of your herds, and the newborn of your flocks.

Deuteronomy 28:19 You will be afflicted with a curse when you come in and afflicted with a curse when you go out.

Deuteronomy 28:20 Yahveh will send against you curses, confusion, and rebuke in everything you do until you are exterminated and quickly destroyed because of the wickedness of your actions in abandoning me.

Deuteronomy 28:21 Yahveh will make pestilence cling to you until he has exterminated you from the land you are entering to take possession of.

Deuteronomy 28:22 Yahveh will afflict you with wasting disease, fever, inflammation, burning heat, drought, blight, and mildew; these will pursue you until you are destroyed.

Deuteronomy 28:23 The sky above you will be bronze, and the land beneath you iron.

Deuteronomy 28:24 Yahveh will turn the rain of your land into falling dust; it will descend on you from the sky until you are exterminated.

Deuteronomy 28:25 Yahveh will cause you to be defeated before your enemies. You will march out against them in one direction but run away from them in seven directions. You will be an example of terror to all the kingdoms of the land.

Deuteronomy 28:26 Your corpses will be food for all the birds of the sky and the wild animals of the land, with no one to scare them away.

Deuteronomy 28:27 “Yahveh will afflict you with the boils of Egypt, tumors, a festering rash, and scabies, from which you cannot be cured.

Deuteronomy 28:28 Yahveh will afflict you with madness, blindness, and mental confusion,

Deuteronomy 28:29 so that at noon you will grope as a blind person gropes in the dark. You will not be successful in anything you do. You will certainly be exploited and robbed continually, and no one will help you.

Deuteronomy 28:30 You will become engaged to a woman, but another man will rape her. You will build a house but not stay in it. You will plant a vineyard but not enjoy its fruit.

Deuteronomy 28:31 Your ox will be slaughtered before your eyes, but you will not eat any of it. Your donkey will be taken away from you and not returned to you. Your flock will be given to your enemies, and no one will help you.

Deuteronomy 28:32 Your sons and daughters will be given to another people, while your eyes grow weary looking for them every day. But you will be powerless to do anything.

Deuteronomy 28:33 A people you don’t know will eat your land’s produce and everything you have labored for. You will only be exploited and crushed continually.

Deuteronomy 28:34 You will be driven mad by what you see.

Deuteronomy 28:35 Yahveh will afflict you with painful and incurable boils on your knees and thighs– from the sole of your foot to the top of your head.

Deuteronomy 28:36 “Yahveh will bring you and your king that you have appointed to a nation neither you nor your fathers have known, and there you will worship other gods, of wood and stone.

Deuteronomy 28:37 You will become an object of desolation, scorn, and ridicule among all the peoples where Yahveh will drive you.

Deuteronomy 28:38 “You will sow much seed in the field but harvest little, because locusts will devour it.

Deuteronomy 28:39 You will plant and cultivate vineyards but not drink the wine or gather the grapes because worms will eat them.

Deuteronomy 28:40 You will have olive trees throughout your territory but not moisten your skin with oil, because your olives will drop off.

Deuteronomy 28:41 You will father sons and daughters, but they will not remain yours because they will be taken prisoner.

Deuteronomy 28:42 Buzzing insects will take possession of all your trees and your land’s produce.

Deuteronomy 28:43 The guest among you will rise higher and higher above you, while you sink lower and lower.

Deuteronomy 28:44 He will lend to you, but you won’t lend to him. He will be the head, and you will be the tail.

Deuteronomy 28:45 “All these afflictions will come, pursue, and overtake you until you are exterminated, since you disobeyed Yahveh your God and watch the commands and prescriptions he gave you.

Deuteronomy 28:46 These curses will be a sign and a wonder against you and your descendants permanently.

Deuteronomy 28:47 Because you didn’t serve Yahveh your God with joy and a cheerful heart, even though you had an abundance of everything,

Deuteronomy 28:48 you will serve your enemies Yahveh will send against you, in famine, thirst, nakedness, and a lack of everything. He will place an iron yoke on your neck until he has exterminated you.

Deuteronomy 28:49 Yahveh will bring a nation from far away, from the ends of the land, to swoop down on you like an eagle, a country whose language you won’t understand,

Deuteronomy 28:50 a ruthless nation, showing no respect for the old and not sparing the young.

Deuteronomy 28:51 They will eat the offspring of your livestock and your land’s produce until you are exterminated. They will leave you no grain, new wine, fresh oil, young of your herds, or newborn of your flocks until they cause you to be destroyed.

Deuteronomy 28:52 They will besiege you within all your city gates until the high and fortified walls that you trust in come down throughout your land. They will besiege you within all your city gates throughout the land Yahveh your God has given you.

Deuteronomy 28:53 “You will eat your offspring, the meat of your sons and daughters Yahveh your God has given you during the siege and hardship your enemy imposes on you.

Deuteronomy 28:54 The most sensitive and refined man among you will look grudgingly at his brother, the wife he embraces, and the survivors of his children,

Deuteronomy 28:55 refusing to share with any of them his children’s meat that he will eat because he has nothing left during the siege and hardship your enemy imposes on you in all your towns.

Deuteronomy 28:56 The most sensitive and refined woman among you, who would not venture to set the sole of her foot on the land because of her refinement and sensitivity, will begrudge the husband she embraces, her son, and her daughter,

Deuteronomy 28:57 the afterbirth that comes out from between her legs and the children she bears, because she will secretly eat them for lack of anything else during the siege and hardship your enemy imposes on you within your city gates.

Deuteronomy 28:58 “If you are not careful to watch all the words of this instruction, which are written in this scroll, by fearing this glorious and awe-inspiring name – Yahveh, your God –

Deuteronomy 28:59 and Yahveh will bring overwhelming plagues on you and your descendants, severe and lasting plagues, and terrible and chronic sicknesses.

Deuteronomy 28:60 He will afflict you again with all the diseases of Egypt, which you dreaded, and they will cling to you.

Deuteronomy 28:61 Yahveh will also afflict you with every sickness and plague not recorded in the book of this instruction until you are exterminated.

Deuteronomy 28:62 Though you were as numerous as the stars of the sky, you will be left with only a few people because you disobeyed Yahveh, your God.

Deuteronomy 28:63 Just as Yahveh was glad to cause you to prosper and to multiply you, so he will also be glad to cause you to be destroyed and to exterminate you. You will be ripped out of the land you are entering to take possession of.

Deuteronomy 28:64 Then Yahveh will scatter you among all peoples from one end of the land to the other, and there you will worship other gods, of wood and stone, which neither you nor your fathers have known.

Deuteronomy 28:65 You will find no peace among those nations, and there will be no resting place for the sole of your foot. There, Yahveh will give you a trembling heart, failing eyes, and a lethargic throat.

Deuteronomy 28:66 Your life will hang in doubt before you. You will be in dread night and day, never sure of survival.

Deuteronomy 28:67 In the morning, you will say, ‘If only it were evening! ‘ and in the evening, you will say, ‘If only it were morning! ‘– because of the dread you will have in your heart and because of what you will see.

Deuteronomy 28:68 Yahveh will take you back in ships to Egypt by a route that I said you would never see again. There, you will try to sell yourselves to your enemies as male and female slaves, but no one will buy you.”

[1]יָתַר

Deuteronomy 28 quotes:

“The blessings (vv. 1–14) and curses (vv. 15–68) of chapter 28 follow the pattern of Ancient Near Eastern treaties in seeking to motivate loyalty and obedience in the subjects of the conquering king.

But within the Pentateuch, the unity and concept of blessing and curse drives the narrative from Genesis (the fivefold blessing given to Abraham at 12:1–3, reversing the fivefold curse of Gen. 3 – 11); the blessing of Jacob (Gen. 49:1–33); Leviticus 26:1–13 (blessings); Leviticus 26:14–46 (curses); and Deuteronomy 27 – 28, 32 – 33.91 Therefore, the assumption behind the blessings and curses within the Pentateuch is the sovereignty of Yahweh (monotheism) in all the affairs of life. This especially relates to the Lord’s covenant with Abraham and his progeny to give them a land (Gen. 12:1–3). But in order to possess this promise in all its fullness, Israel must replicate Abraham’s obedience to all of the Lord’s commands (cf. Gen. 26:5; Deut. 28:1, 15, 58). The main sin that will undo this blessing and incur Yahweh’s curses will be Israel’s proclivity to go after other gods and serve them (28:14). Within chapter 28, the curses are four times longer than the blessings (cf. Lev. 26:14–46; three times longer than the blessings), which initially may have served the purpose of motivating obedience to the laws of chapters 5 – 28 (cf. 29:19–21). But it may also suggest that Israel will fail in its attempt to keep the demands of the covenant (cf. 31:14–29). Even though the curses will inevitably follow the blessings (30:1), God’s grace will also prevail in the possibility of Israel’s return to the Lord (30:1–10), suggesting that the curses were not always logical or irreversible in their desired and rhetorical effects. Finally, the terms of the covenant (28:69 [MT]; 29:1 [ET]) from chapters 5 – 28 were to be understood as a new embodiment or renewal of the Horeb covenant, and not its replacement.”

Woods, Edward J.. Deuteronomy: An Introduction and Commentary (Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries Book 5) . InterVarsity Press. Kindle Edition.

“The conclusion to the specific stipulations (26:16–19) was followed in the address by instructions relating to the future renewal of the covenant in the vicinity of Shechem, after the initial stages of the conquest. In that future renewal ceremony, blessings and curses would be declared to the people (27:11–26). Now the focus in the address of Moses returns to the present moment, and in ch. 28 the substance of the address is an exhortation based upon the blessings and curses pronounced during the renewal of the covenant on the plains of Moab.”

Craigie, Peter C.. The Book of Deuteronomy (The New International Commentary on the Old Testament) (p. 335). Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.. Kindle Edition.

The DEUTERONOMY shelf in Jeff’s library.

Deuteronomy 26

Deuteronomy 26

Deuteronomy 26:1 “When you enter the land Yahveh your God is giving you as an inheritance, and you take possession of it and stay in it,

Deuteronomy 26:2 take some of the first of all the land’s produce that you harvest from the land Yahveh your God is giving you and place it in a basket. Then go to the place where Yahveh, your God, chooses to have his name dwell.

Deuteronomy 26:3 When you come before the priest who is serving at that time, say to him, ‘Today I declare to Yahveh your God that I have entered the land Yahveh swore to our fathers to give us.’

Deuteronomy 26:4 “Then the priest will take the basket from you and place it before the altar of Yahveh your God.

Deuteronomy 26:5 You are to answer by saying in the presence of Yahveh your God: My father was a lost Aramean. He went down to Egypt with a few people and was there as a guest. There, he became a great, powerful, and populous nation.

Deuteronomy 26:6 But the Egyptians mistreated and humiliated us and forced us to do hard labor.

Deuteronomy 26:7 So we called out to Yahveh, the God of our fathers, and Yahveh heard our cry and saw our misery, hardship, and oppression.

Deuteronomy 26:8 Then Yahveh brought us out of Egypt with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, with terrifying power, and with signs and wonders.

Deuteronomy 26:9 He led us to this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey.

Deuteronomy 26:10 Notice I have now brought the first of the land’s produce that you, Lord, have given me. You will then place the container before Yahveh, your God, and bow down to him.

Deuteronomy 26:11 You, the Levites, and the guests among you will enjoy all the good things Yahveh, your God, has given you and your household.

Deuteronomy 26:12 “When you have finished paying all the tenth of your produce in the third year, the year of the tenth, you are to give it to the Levites, guests, fatherless children and widows, so that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied.

Deuteronomy 26:13 Then you will say in the presence of Yahveh your God: I have taken the consecrated portion out of my house; I have also given it to the Levites, guests, fatherless children, and widows, according to all the commands you commanded me. I have not violated or forgotten your commands.

Deuteronomy 26:14 I have not eaten any of it while in mourning, or removed any of it while contaminated, or offered any of it for the dead. I have obeyed Yahveh, my God; I have done all you commanded me.

Deuteronomy 26:15 Look down from your holy dwelling, from the sky, and empower your people Israel and the land you have given us as you swore to our fathers, a land flowing with milk and honey.

Deuteronomy 26:16 “Yahveh your God is commanding you this day to do these prescriptions and rules. Do them carefully with all your heart and all your throat.

Deuteronomy 26:17 Today you have affirmed that Yahveh is your God and that you will walk in his ways, watch his prescriptions, commands, and rules, and obey him.

Deuteronomy 26:18 And today Yahveh has affirmed that you are his possession as he promised you, that you are to watch all his commands,

Deuteronomy 26:19 that he will elevate you to praise, fame, and glory above all the nations he has made, and that you will be a sacred people to Yahveh your God as he promised.”

Deuteronomy 26 quotes:

“The key to understanding chapter 26 is its position in Deuteronomy (McConville 2002: 384). Within the structure of the book, with its resemblance to both treaty and law code, it rounds off the long section of laws. But in a treaty-like manner, and also in a pattern similar to that of the Book of the Covenant (Exod. 20:22 – 23:19; cf. 24:7), the section from chapter 12 to 26 begins with worship, and ends with worship at the chosen place with the bringing of firstfruits, thus fulfilling the command in 12:5–7, 11–13. But only here in Deuteronomy do we hear the voice of the loyal worshipper in terms of a liturgical-style credo before Yahweh at the sanctuary. This credo rehearses Israel’s pain, oppression, homelessness and slave status in Egypt, resulting in Yahweh hearing their cry and finally bringing them into a place where they may live safely and securely (v. 9). However, this brings with it the responsibility of drawing the homeless within their midst into a place of celebration and belonging (v. 11), which is also related to the third-year tithe (v. 12). This tithe (called the sacred portion) must not be absorbed into the ever-present cult of the dead (v. 14), but must be faithfully dispensed to the ‘living’ and marginalized of Israel (v. 13). The passage concludes with a command to carefully keep the decrees and laws (v. 16), forming a bracket with 11:32 – 12:1, followed by words of covenant ratification (vv. 17–19) in which Yahweh exists as ‘God for Israel’, and Israel exists as ‘people for him’.”

Woods, Edward J.. Deuteronomy: An Introduction and Commentary (Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries Book 5) . InterVarsity Press. Kindle Edition.

“Whereas the main substance of the specific stipulations (Deut. 12–26) anticipates the continuing future life of Israel in the promised land, the legislation contained in 26:1–15 relates to two particular ceremonies which were to be held as soon as Israel had taken possession of the land and begun its new (agricultural) style of life. In this sense, 26:1–15 follows naturally from 25:17–19, which also refers to particular action to be taken once the land had been possessed; it precedes naturally the legislation of 27:1–26, in which the particular renewal of the covenant in the vicinity of Shechem is commanded, to be undertaken after the crossing of the Jordan and the initial stages of the conquest.”

Craigie, Peter C.. The Book of Deuteronomy (The New International Commentary on the Old Testament) (p. 319). Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.. Kindle Edition.

Deuteronomy 26 links:

a sacred people
declaration of obedience
generational gratitude
in retrospect- gifts of rejoicing
leftovers
Maranatha Daily Devotional – Friday, June 11, 2021
Maranatha Daily Devotional – Tuesday, June 11, 2019
Maranatha Daily Devotional – Tuesday, June 13, 2023
The sky above – shamayim, the land beneath – erets

The DEUTERONOMY shelf in Jeff’s library.

Deuteronomy 25

Deuteronomy 25

Deuteronomy 25:1 “If there is a dispute between men, they are to go seek justice, and the judges will hear their case. They will clear the innocent and condemn the guilty.

Deuteronomy 25:2 If the guilty party deserves to be flogged, the judge will make him lie down and be flogged in his presence with the number of lashes appropriate for his crime.

Deuteronomy 25:3 He may be flogged with forty lashes, but none added to it. Or else, if he is flogged with lashes added to these, your brother will be degraded in your sight.

Deuteronomy 25:4 “Do not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.

Deuteronomy 25:5 “When brothers live on the same property and one of them dies without a son, the wife of the dead man may not marry illegitimately outside the family. Her brother-in-law is to take her as his wife, have sexual relations with her, and perform the duty of a brother-in-law for her.

Deuteronomy 25:6 The first son she bears will carry on the name of the dead brother, so his name will not be blotted out from Israel.

Deuteronomy 25:7 But if the man doesn’t want to marry his sister-in-law, she is to go to the elders at the city gate and say, ‘My brother-in-law refuses to preserve his brother’s name in Israel. He isn’t willing to perform the duty of a brother-in-law for me.’

Deuteronomy 25:8 The elders of his city will summon him and speak with him. If he persists and says, ‘I don’t want to marry her,’

Deuteronomy 25:9 then his sister-in-law will go up to him in the sight of the elders, remove his sandal from his foot, and spit in his face. Then she will answer, ‘This is what is done to a man who will not build up his brother’s house.’

Deuteronomy 25:10 And his family name in Israel will be ‘The house of the man whose sandal was removed.’

Deuteronomy 25:11 “If two men are fighting with each other, and the wife of one steps in to rescue her husband from the one striking him, and she puts out her hand and holds his genitals firmly,

Deuteronomy 25:12 you are to cut off her hand. Do not show pity.

Deuteronomy 25:13 “Do not have differing weights in your bag, one heavy and one light.

Deuteronomy 25:14 Do not have differing dry measures in your house, a larger and a smaller.

Deuteronomy 25:15 You must have a complete and ethical weight, a full and ethical dry measure, so that you may live long in the land Yahveh your God is giving you.

Deuteronomy 25:16 For everyone who does such things and acts unfairly is repulsive to Yahveh your God.

Deuteronomy 25:17 “Remember what the Amalekites did to you on the journey after you left Egypt.

Deuteronomy 25:18 They met you along the way and attacked all your stragglers from behind when you were tired and weary. They did not fear God.

Deuteronomy 25:19 When Yahveh, your God, gives you rest from all the enemies around you in the land Yahveh, your God, is giving you to take possession of as an inheritance, blot out the memory of Amalek under the sky. Do not forget.

Deuteronomy 25 quotes:

“Initially, the account about Amalek appears to be an unconnected topic. The law commands Israel to remember what Amalek did to Israel in the wilderness on their way out of Egypt. The older account in Exodus 17:8–16 relates how Amalek attacked Israel, and was defeated by Joshua as Moses held up the staff of God in his hands. From a structural point of view, this passage may be seen as a frame to 12:9–10 in terms of what Israel must do when it experiences rest from all the enemies around you, thus forming a frame around the entire body of cultic and social laws in chapters 12 – 25. The frame to the present passage of remember (v. 17a) and do not forget (v. 19b) calls Israel to a matter of unfinished business with Amalek, her archetypal enemy (cf. 1 Sam. 15:1–3; 30:1–31). Israel is to blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven (cf. 12:3; wipe out their names). But verse 18 adds important details to the original account, and brings it under the theme of the tenth commandment and the prohibition of desiring what belongs to the poor and powerless. Amalek’s crime was in desiring and taking advantage of a people when they were weak, powerless and unable to defend themselves (Olson 1994: 114).”

Woods, Edward J.. Deuteronomy: An Introduction and Commentary (Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries Book 5) . InterVarsity Press. Kindle Edition.

“The legislation concerning levirate marriage is peculiar to the presentation of the law in Deuteronomy; the practice, however, was an old one,5 and here it is given legal authority in the covenant community of Israel. The passage falls into two sections: (i) the legislation concerning levirate marriage is stated (vv. 5–6); (ii) the procedure is stated which is to be followed in the event that a man was unwilling to fulfil his responsibilities (vv. 7–10).”

Craigie, Peter C.. The Book of Deuteronomy (The New International Commentary on the Old Testament) (pp. 313-314). Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.. Kindle Edition.

The DEUTERONOMY shelf in Jeff’s library.

JOY

JOY

Isaiah 16:10-12 NET.

¹⁰Joy and happiness disappear from the orchards, and in the vineyards no one rejoices or shouts; no one treads out juice in the wine vats — I have brought the joyful shouts to an end. ¹¹ So my heart constantly sighs for Moab, like the strumming of a harp, my inner being sighs for Kir Hareseth. ¹² When the Moabites plead with all their might at their high places, and enter their temples to pray, their prayers will be ineffective!

When we studied the poetry of the Bible, such as the Psalms, we primarily examined words coming from humans directed toward or about God. But now we’re looking at a different genre. We are focusing on literature that is mostly directly from God through a human prophet. It’s important to understand that the direction differs in prophecy. Prophecy involves words from God through the prophet, whereas poetry involves words from humans about God or to God.

All of these words in the Bible come directly from God, the Holy Spirit, in that He inspired them. He inspired poets to say what was needed for the songs to be written. In the Old Testament’s prophecy section, we see words from God the Holy Spirit as a testimony from God Himself. Today, we often use the word prophecy to refer to predictions. Some of these are found in the Old Testament prophets. For example, messianic prophecies throughout the Bible predict the coming Messiah; many were fulfilled at Jesus’ first advent when He was born. Others were fulfilled during His earthly ministry, and some are yet to be fulfilled at His second coming. The second coming is a primary focus of Old Testament prophecy. While many messianic prophecies appear in the Old Testament prophets, most prophecies focus on the Day of the Lord, which is the second advent.

But the prophets spoke directly from God to the people, culture, and time in which they lived. That explains why we have passages like today’s text, which speaks directly to the nation of Moab and is a prophecy from God to that nation. Although Israel was God’s chosen people to bring about redemption for all humanity, that does not mean Israel was God’s only concern. Even in the Old Testament, we see reflections of a God who is the God of all nations and cares about them all. Today’s text reflects that because it is about a nation other than Israel.

You might remember that Moab, as a nation, consisted of people who were relatives of the Israelites. Moab came from Lot, Abraham’s nephew. Both the Moabites and the Ammonites are descendants of Lot. You might recall that Lot’s daughters got their father drunk and slept with him. They both became pregnant and gave birth to the ancestors of those two nations. The names of these nations reflect this fact. The name Ammon means “my people,” and the name Moab means “from the father.” Moab was the ancestor of the Moabites to whom God speaks in today’s text.

Even if we only consider the three verses from today’s passage, we can still learn something about Moab as a nation. We find that they are a nation of vineyard owners and orchard keepers. Evidently, the land they possess is well-suited for fruit trees and vineyards. They also appear to derive great pleasure and joy from this way of life.

Another thing we learn from today’s passage about the Moabites is that they are very religious. They don’t worship at the temple in Jerusalem, but they have their own temples and high places where they pray and make sacrifices. They didn’t follow in Abraham’s footsteps; they have their own religion. However, we see from today’s text that they are very dedicated to practicing it. But we also learn from today’s passage in Isaiah that their devotion to their religion will not influence God. Isaiah declares judgment upon Moab.

The Lord will end the joy of the heathen.

Isaiah says that joy and happiness will disappear from the orchards. He explains that in the vineyards, no one will be rejoicing or shouting. The reason is that the labor that brings about joy will come to an end. No one will be treading out juice in the wine vats. Isaiah, speaking for God, says that God has brought the joyful shout to an end.

It’s essential to examine a passage like this, especially in today’s season. Christians around the world during this Advent season are talking about joy from the Lord. We have every right to speak about joy from the Lord. But we must remember that the joy that comes from the Lord is a joy for those whom the Lord is pleased with. Just as the peace that God promised when He sent Jesus into the world, the joy He promises is also explicitly directed toward those who will accept Christ. The joy entering the world only comes to those who receive Jesus Christ as King. This is the message of the Old and New Testaments.

The prophecy Isaiah shares in today’s passage concerns the destruction of Moab as a nation. There is no Moab today, so that prophecy has been fulfilled. However, there’s more to this passage than just the prediction and its fulfillment. God gave us that message not only because of the Moabites, but because what happened to them will happen to all the heathen nations that haven’t accepted Christ. He will take away the joy from those nations and remove all who claim to have a relationship with God but have not come to His Son and accepted Him as their King.

Last Sunday night, we watched a movie during the evening service. The film showed a tribe living in the jungle that had not yet learned about Jesus. Some of you have talked to me afterward and said that the movie really shook you up. You couldn’t understand how people could live like that. It’s important to remember that there are still people in the world living without Christ and without hope. They are living in darkness and have not yet experienced the light of Christ.

We are still living in an age where our primary focus should be on reaching the lost. There are not only many individuals who need salvation, but also thousands of people groups who have never heard the name of Christ. Some of these might be experiencing temporary joy in their current lives, but as the Moabites did, that joy will be short-lived and ultimately disrupted by the judgment of Almighty God. We must have compassion for these people and strive to get the gospel to them. If the only way to reach them is by sending our sons and daughters, that is what we must do.

The reality of God’s judgment upon the nations remains unchanged. The heathen are still lost regardless of what happens to us. They need to hear the word of God and to listen to it from the Church of God. Yes, God loves them, but He also hates their sin. Just as God pronounced judgment upon Moab, many people groups around the world are facing God’s judgment.

The Lord has no joy in doing this.

Isaiah, speaking for God in today’s passage, says that His heart constantly sighs for Moab, like the strumming of a harp. His inner being sighs for Kir Harosheth, one of the Moabite cities. Isaiah opens a window into God’s mind, revealing His heart. He shows a God whose heart is breaking because He must destroy the wicked. You see, God is a God of justice. When something is wrong, He must correct it. As the ruler of this universe, He is responsible for fixing mistakes. But God is also compassionate. He does not want to destroy the lost. He is not willing that anyone should perish, but He desires all to come to repentance. However, He has set a date for judging the great and the small. When that day arrives, there will be no more time for mercy. When the trumpet sounds and time ends, those who are lost will be forever lost.

Why does God tell us that he has no joy in destroying Moab? Specifically, why is this statement included in the Israelite scriptures? Why does God speak this through the mouth of an Israelite prophet? There must be a reason this is relevant to the children of Israel. It reveals the heart of their God. It shows that their God is not a respecter of persons. He loves the children of Israel, but also loves the children of Moab. He loves the followers of the Christian Bible, but also cares for those who follow other Bibles and have not yet seen the truth in his holy word. God’s heart extends beyond just those who consider themselves his. His heart cries out for us to reach those who don’t see themselves as his. He takes no joy in their destruction—he took no joy in the destruction of Moab. He takes no pleasure in the destruction of those who rebel against his truth. He considers them his children, even if they are prodigal children. He eagerly waits for the day when the prodigal son will come to himself and return home.

There is only one Way to the Lord.

There is a heretical teaching that continues to spread among Christian circles. This false teaching reflects everyone’s desire to be saved. Some say that as long as you are sincere in your belief, it doesn’t matter what that belief is. But we don’t see that idea in today’s passage. Isaiah says that when the Moabites plead with all their might at their high places and go into their temples to pray, their prayers will be ineffective. Isaiah shows that these Moabites are sincere in their belief and eager for God to save them, but they are going about it the wrong way.

The New Testament gospel communicates the same message. Jesus states that he is “the way, the truth, and the life,” and that no one comes to the Father except through him. Many of us struggle with this truth because we know there are many nations, many religions, and many ways people try to reach God. All around us, we hear people saying there are many ways to God. However, when they do so, they are not reflecting the Christian gospel. Today’s text reminds us that you can be sincerely seeking God and still not reach him. God has given us only one way of salvation: through the Lord Jesus Christ. That means many prayers will not be answered because they have not come through Jesus.

The joy we talk about at Christmas is a joy found only in Jesus Christ. The good news of the gospel is good news of great joy. However, the gospel is conditional, with Jesus Christ as the condition. This means that when Jesus comes, there will be joy in the world, but it will not reach everyone. As seen in other prophecies in the Old Testament, the coming of Christ will bring great fear and sorrow to those who have not accepted Him. That is why, when we proclaim the Christian joy of Christ’s coming, we must make it clear that the joy we speak of will only belong to those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior.

Furthermore, the joy we speak of when we sing “Joy to the World” is a joy only experienced when our Lord returns. The joy we feel now is terrific, but it is only a preview of an even greater joy. The joy of Christ coming as a baby in Bethlehem was marvelous, but it was just the beginning. It was a joy for those who welcomed Christ into their hearts. It was a joy for Mary and Joseph. It was a joy for the shepherds. It was a joy for the wise men. It was a joy for Simeon and Anna.

The Advent season is a time for you and me to ask ourselves if we have room in our hearts for Jesus Christ. The joy of Christmas is ours if we can answer that question in the affirmative. Likewise, the joy of the second Advent is ours if we have found room in our hearts for Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Otherwise, like the Moabites, we will see that all we will eventually experience is loss, and even if we are sincere in our prayers, those prayers will never reach God. Even worse, when our Lord does come in his glory with all his angels, he will greet us not as our Lord and Savior but as our Judge.

If you want joy, absolute joy, incredible joy, let Jesus into your heart.

jeffersonvann

Deuteronomy 29

Deuteronomy 29

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Deuteronomy 28

Deuteronomy 28

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Deuteronomy 26

Deuteronomy 26

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Deuteronomy 25

Deuteronomy 25

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JOY