Deuteronomy 17
The Message
17 And don’t sacrifice to God, your God, an ox or sheep that is defective or has anything at all wrong with it. That’s an abomination, an insult to God, your God.
In the beginning, the Israelites did reasonably well about this; however, later on, as their kingdoms were about to fall, they were dumping defective animals at the temple and selling or eating the good ones. Malachi 1:8 says, “When you give blind animals as sacrifices, isn’t that wrong? And isn’t it wrong to offer animals that are crippled and diseased? Try giving gifts like that to your governor, and see how pleased he is!” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.”
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2-5 If you find anyone within the towns that God, your God, is giving you doing what is wrong in God’s eyes, breaking his covenant by going off to worship other gods, bowing down to them—the sun, say, or the moon, or any rebel sky-gods—look at the evidence and investigate carefully. If you find that it is true, that, in fact, an abomination has been committed in Israel, then you are to take the man or woman who did this evil thing outside your city gates and stone the man or the woman. Hurl stones at the person until dead.
6-7 But only on the testimony of two or three witnesses may a person be put to death. No one may be put to death on the testimony of one witness. The witnesses must throw the first stones in the execution, then the rest of the community joins in. You have to purge the evil from your community.
Remember Jesus’ kangaroo trial? The Pharisees tried to present two witnesses, but even they couldn’t agree on details. Finally, Jesus’ enemies had to stir up the mob to put pressure on Pontius Pilate, claiming he was no friend to Caesar if he allowed Jesus to live.
8-9 When matters of justice come up that are too much for you—hard cases regarding homicides, legal disputes, fights—take them up to the central place of worship that God, your God, has designated. Bring them to the Levitical priests and the judge who is in office at the time. Consult them and they will hand down the decision for you.
10-13 Then carry out their verdict at the place designated by God, your God. Do what they tell you, in exactly the way they tell you. Follow their instructions precisely: Don’t leave out anything; don’t add anything. Anyone who presumes to override or twist the decision handed down by the priest or judge who was acting in the Presence of God, your God, is as good as dead—root him out, rid Israel of the evil. Everyone will take notice and be impressed. That will put an end to presumptuous behavior.
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God is the One who has ordained law courts and judges. The idea is to have virtuous men who will judge as justly as possible so that they will issue correct judgments. What’s the point of following wrong decisions? And yet, in Luke 18 Jesus tells the story of an unjust judge as if this is a common phenomenon, something with which his audience might easily identify. The Romans had a phrase: Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? Translated, this means “Who will watch the watchmen?” Today, many turn to social media to bully others into silence, but at what cost? It was John Morley, a nineteenth century newspaper editor who said, “You have not converted a man because you have silenced him.” God’s truth will always stand, whether or not we agree with it.
14-17 When you enter the land that God, your God, is giving you and take it over and settle down, and then say, “I’m going to get me a king, a king like all the nations around me,” make sure you get yourself a king whom God, your God, chooses. Choose your king from among your kinsmen; don’t take a foreigner—only a kinsman. And make sure he doesn’t build up a war machine, amassing military horses and chariots. He must not send people to Egypt to get more horses, because God told you, “You’ll never go back there again!” And make sure he doesn’t build up a harem, collecting wives who will divert him from the straight and narrow. And make sure he doesn’t pile up a lot of silver and gold.
18-20 This is what must be done: When he sits down on the throne of his kingdom, the first thing he must do is make himself a copy of this Revelation on a scroll, copied under the supervision of the Levitical priests. That scroll is to remain at his side at all times; he is to study it every day so that he may learn what it means to fear his God, living in reverent obedience before these rules and regulations by following them. He must not become proud and arrogant, changing the commands at whim to suit himself or making up his own versions. If he reads and learns, he will have a long reign as king in Israel, he and his sons.”
BRAAACK!!! TIME OUT!!! No king in Israel ever followed these instructions. King David likely came the closest to studying God’s Word, but he failed on several occasions. David was quite wealthy; in fact, much of the funds to build Solomon’s temple came from David. Solomon made a hopeful beginning and then immediately acquired 700 wives and 300 concubines plus becoming one of the major horse traders in the Middle East. None of the kings ever copied the Mosaic Law or studied it thoroughly; in fact, by the time of King Josiah, the Law had been lost. 2 Kings 22:11-13 and 2 Chronicles 34:19-21 tell us that when the priests were redoing the temple and found the scrolls containing the Law, Josiah tore his clothes in grief because he realized how far his people had fallen from keeping God’s commandments. Josiah instituted sweeping religious reforms; however, he died in battle at age 39 when he foolishly challenged the Egyptian Pharoah Neco.
Reading these laws is both exhilarating and discouraging. Only this morning, one friend was complaining bitterly about the report local police filed regarding an accident in which her husband’s car was struck by another vehicle. Names, dates, details of the crash, and even drivers’ licenses were all inaccurate. When my friend’s husband attempted to correct the report, the police bullied him. Clearly, God knew what He was doing when He gave Moses these laws, and clearly we are still making the same mistakes that caused God to issue these laws in the first place!
The advice for kings can apply to leaders in any position-study God’s Word constantly and let it guide you. Be most concerned about becoming an effective leader and do not worry about gathering riches or other possessions. Remember that Jesus told us, “Where your treasure is, your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21)
God wanted the Israelites to view Him and His Word as their greatest treasure; instead, they continually wandered off into idolatry of all kinds, despite their hopeful beginnings. We should not feel too superior, for we might easily copy that behavior. May God help us to remain true-hearted, following Him completely!
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to follow hard after You all the days of our lives. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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