Deuteronomy Study

 

The survey of the book of Deuteronomy was good.

In the class I took two weeks to read the verses from my bible that I had highlighted that were so good.  Just reading the verses were wonderful for strength and encouragement.

God was giving instruction to the children of Israel to live my.

Israel as all people have done, few listen to what He says.Few believe in Him,.

But God gave the Law that we might see that we need a Savior.

The first of everything is for the Lord Jesus. According to Deuteronomy chapter eighteen verses one to five Deuteronomy 18:1-5, “First Fruit – Jesus Christ Requires All Our First Fruits.” The children of Israel (Israel) care for the Levites, God’s priests. One of the ways the nation of Israel achieve this is by presenting the priest with his “due”. In part, the “priest’s due”, consists of the “shoulder”, the two “cheeks” and the “maw” of the sacrifice that all the tribes of Israel offer to God.

Secondly, “the first fruit” also constitutes the “priest’s due”. This include the first fruit of the “fleece” from their sheep, first fruit of their “wine”, and “oil”.

The principles of Israel caring for the Levites is similar to the present day church caring for its Pastor. The Lord Jesus institutes this principle so the “man of God” can focus on the Word of God and prayer instead of working to earn an income. Jesus Christ requires all our first fruits.

 

Jesus Christ Requires all our First Fruit

In our contemporary congregation there is no  sacrifice of animals. The sacrifices  are  “a broken and contrite heart” , that is we repent of our sins and surrender our will to Jesus Christ and praise Him with our lips. Not our will, but His Will be done. The first fruit for us may be a bit different from Israel then. In part, first fruit, for us represents each remuneration (pay) or profit or increase that we receive or earn. This is why we give financial offerings and tithe. Our financial giving represents taking care of the “Levites” our Pastor. This is given to the church but in effect we are giving it to God because He commands that we do so.  The Lord, Jesus Christ requires all our first fruits. Are you obeying the Lord’s command in this area of you Christian life? If not, start today.

Give the first fruit of “your womb”  to Jesus

The Lord Jesus Christ requires all our first fruits. He wants the first fruit of our time, income, cattle (if we have any), wine, oil, and son. Give all your first fruit to Jesus.  Give the first fruit of your time, the first thing you do when you awake each day is to pray and praise and worship Jesus Christ. The first thing you do when you receive new money is to remove your tithe and offering.  The  first fruit of wine or oil we can literally present (if we have it)  to the Pastor, the priest or Levite. This could be anything that we receive or possess that we share with him. Remember the lifestyle of Israel then, is totally different from ours now. So the principle is to share with your Pastor the things  God has blessed you with.  The first fruit of “your womb” if it is male, give him to Jesus. Dedicate him to God.  See Exodus 13:12 ; 34:19 ; Numbers 3:12 ; 18:15.  However, let the Elders and the man of God lay hands on all you children(soon after birth) and bless them. “And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.”  Mark 10:16.

JESUS CHRIST: THAT PROPHET – WHO SPEAKS THE WORDS OF GOD IN HIS NAME:

Deuteronomy 18:1522

“The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;” Deut., 18:15.

According to Deuteronomy chapter eighteen (Deut.,18), speaking by Moses, the Lord God made a promise to the children of Israel, (Israel).  He promised that Jesus Christ, “that Prophet“, who speaks the words of God in His name would “rise up” out of one of the tribes of Israel. This prophet would be different: the Lord shall “put” His  words in his mouth”; and he shall speak to all Israel “all” that the Lord commands him. These are the two most important qualities of any prophet of God. On the flip side, these are the same characteristics a false prophet targets to declare and attempts to emulate; that he has the Word from God and that he speaks it in His name.

Owing to the fact,this Prophet is from God, if one disobeys his words such a one disobeys God. The Lord clearly, identifies how Israel would recognize this prophet.  He will:

• Speak in the name of the Lord, (Deut.,18:19).
• He will have and speak God’s words because  ”…I will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.” Deut., 18:18.
• His words will “come to pass”. Deut., 18:22.
• He would be a Hebrew for he will be born “from the midst of thee, of thy brethren”, (Deut., 18:15).
  

This prophet would be born from one of the twelve (12) tribes of Israel.

Why did the Lord decided to give Israel “that Prophet?” There are two predominant reasons from this chapter. The Lord in His infinite wisdom knows because Israel did not see His shape in Horeb  (Deut 5:23-33) when He spoke to them from the cloud and fire they might be tempted to worship other gods, especially those they see the heathens worship.

 The Lord therefore, warns Israel not to learn the “abominable” practices “of those nations”, (Deut.,18:9). Those nations abominable practices include:

1. Human sacrifice.
   1. Use of “divination”. This is when a person acts like a prophet to foretell by occult or supernatural means.
   2. An “observer of times”.
   3. An “enchanter”. This is a  a magician, a sorcerer.
   4. A “witch”.  A woman, who professes or is supposed to practice magic.
   5. A “charmer”. This is any person who by chanting or recitation of a magic verse or formula to induce magical powers.
   6. A consulter with familiar spirits or a psychic.
   7. A “wizard”. This is a man   who practices magic, a magician or sorcerer.
   8. A “necromancer”. A person who uses a method of divination through alleged communication with the dead; black art. (Deut., 18:10-11).
      
   Israel had many prophets after this promise. Great men like Samuel, Elijah and Elisha come to mind. But, the Lord, to differentiate this prophet from all the others refers to him as “that Prophet“.
   
   
   All the previous and subsequent prophets of God fulfill the prerequisites noted earlier. Failure to “hearken” (listen) to these men of God usually carry an immediate consequence.
   
   
   Generally, a prophet of God is for a nation, like Samuel was to the twelve (12) tribes of Israel. Therefore, Samuel’s’ jurisdiction was limited to the Israelites and their neighbors to whom he could speak. Not so with “that Prophet”, Jesus Christ. Although he would come from one of the tribes of Israel, and was sent to them his jurisdiction was different. Jesus Christ, “that Prophet”  power or authority  to speak the words of God in His name, extends to “whosoever” hears his words and will do it, Jews or Gentiles. His authority has no boundaries, no limit, geographical, racial or otherwise.
   
   
   The consequence for not listening and obeying “that Prophet” is not immediate. The Lord says “whosoever” hears “that Prophet” speaks the words of God, in His name and refuse to obey, “I will require it of him.” Therefore, there is a penalty for the disobedient in the future.
   
   
   So, the Lord sends a Prophet to satiate Israel’s need for the divine or mysterious performance of God among them, especially by speaking the word of God. However, the Lord make no mention of when the Prophet would appear. Since then, Israel has been watching for the coming of “that Prophet”.