Deuteronomy 16 Journey Through the Bible Deuteronomy 18
King James Version
The Book of Deuteronomy
Chapter 17
Translate This Page
05Deu017.mp3
Commentary
Deuteronomy 17
The laws in this chapter detail the consequence of evildoers in the camp. Before any judgment can be cast upon the accused, he must be brought before the priest, Levite AND the judge. God truly is a Righteous Lawmaker. I would not want to violate the Law of God in a time when His name is established throughout all the world, but if I did commit a crime, it is in my best interest to be judged by a Holy assembly such as a priest, a Levite and a judge. I can be assured that these three officials did not spend the previous night getting high or drunk. I can be assured that the judgment cast will be ordained by God, and not subject to the mood or condition of the rulers' hearts. This judgment is anointed, to bring to pass a greater good, far above and beyond all that human wisdom could afford.
The death sentence in those days was far more common then than it is today, and carried out immediately. The person has only the opportunity to refrain from evil, and not an ideal afterthought or time of reflection pertaining to his evil. The reflection period that is given as a result of today's judgments was not so generously given in those days. Very little was spoken of in regards to an appeal, or a higher court. The judgment that was cast was most often the final decision. The person would do well to think clearly before doing anything that could result in judgment for evil. For in that moment he will decide if he will or will not commit that evil, and will or will not subject himself to the judgment of God. There will be no remorse, because the judgment is final. There will be no pardon, for if this thing be found true, the judgment will be carried out exactly and without delay.
Even though God did intend to be the leader and ultimate judge for the People, He knew in advance that the People would desire a human king to rule over them, instead of a direct relationship with God. This is because the People knew that their sins were too much, and that God's righteousness allows zero tolerance for evil doing. None could stand before God blameless, and all would be condemned to die for their sin. This is the reason that the people gave when asked why they desired a king, just like all of the other nations.
Verse 17 defines the law about husbands of one wife only, and about not gaining excessive wealth. As I have said in the past, any gain that is above and beyond the needs of our daily lives is excessive gain, but only if it is stockpiled, and laid to waste. This excess, or glutton as it will later be described, is not the wealth and prosperity that God has promised the People. Anything extra for one household is to be used for the lack of another household. Ananias and Sapphira did not set all of their extra before the Lord, and even lied about it. The Lord set judgment upon them immediately and there was no offer of an appeal. The Lord put them to death with his own hand. What caused these two to hold back some of their possessions? Did they wish to hold some sort of advantage over the others? Did they think that some day they would need it, because of some kind of lack? Where was their faith? Without faith, it is impossible to please God. Certainly God was not pleased with the lack of faith demonstrated by this couple, and the judgment was death. God would have His name established wholly, and not tainted by indecision or leniency.
Ananias and Sapphira demonstrated a lack of faith, and they had broken the law that was established in this chapter, that his heart by not lifted up above his brethren. We do this every day of our lives. Most people do not consider the lack of others as we fill our storehouse with great gain. Most people don't even have an untainted perception of lack, need, excess, etc. They often think of times when they had done without, and then they opt to preserve something for such a time of lack. Instead of depending on God on a daily basis, they chose to depend on their worldly possessions, for fear of being without it. We treat sin the same way. We have come to a place in our society where we don't clearly see the difference between good and evil, therefore we do what seems easiest, or that which seems to preserve live more optimally.
To truly please God, we would be completely empty so that when He fills us, we will not be filled with His goodness, mixed with the leftovers of our evilness. When we pray for God to provide something, we can most often expect to lose something first, and in many cases, this is misunderstood as God punishing, or cursing, or even ignoring the prayer. It is not. There will be no occasion when God will provide that which will result in loss. The things that we lose are the very things that cannot dwell with God's goodness. We hang onto it because it is all we know. We fear the unknown, and God has been referred to as the Unknown God. This fear of the unknown is an unhealthy fear to begin with, and when we don't have a reverent fear for God, we have a heart of rebellion. This is our evil doing, subject to death.
God did provide an alternative. He offered us repentance. He offers us hope today. He bled and He died so that our sins can be atoned for, even when we don't acknowledge our sins as we ought. He said, "Fear not. Come as you are. I will bless thee and I will save thee." We ought to keep this condition of our hearts when dealing with our fellow brethren, strangers and foreigners, and everyone else that we have a dealing with. To preserve, to bring to a fullness, as God will so bountifully supply. If we are faithful with our little gain, He will give us much to rule over... He will increase thy wealth.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010 4:01pm
