Deuteronomy is Moses’ last instructions from God before he dies. Moses will reaffirm the law God gave, as well as reveal some new additions. These instructions set the Israelites apart from their neighbors. God has given the Israelites a specific land, and God has expectations for how they live in this specific land to represent Him. Some of the instructions given can seem extreme. However, the instructions point us to God’s holiness and His desire for the nations to come back to Him. God’s purpose is that His people would be a representative to the nations to call them back to Himself, after the scattering of the Tower of Babel. Some of the reactions might seem extreme too, but this emphasizes what Christ paid for and also highlights the suffering Christ went through. The Big Picture is God’s holiness and the expectations of those that represent Him. God blesses obedience and cuts off the wicked. What are the Israelites willing to tolerate in their society?
Each week, as you take in the Bible, find some friends to talk it out. You can follow this simple guide to help. First, R.E.A.D. and P.R.A.Y. on your own. Then, meet with friends to share what you've learned.
R - Repeated words
E - Examine and mark
A - Ask what you learn about God
D - Do if there is anything to do
P - Praise
R - Repent
A - Ask
Bible Plan Reading - Week 18
START IT.
We're reading the Bible together in 2024. Specifically, we're taking a journey into how the story of the Bible unfolded in the Old Testament. If we get the big picture, we get the story the Bible is trying to tell us. From Sunday's message or The Big Picture Bible Reading Plan this week in the book of Deuteronomy, what is impacting you the most? Was there a word, phrase, Bible verse, or theme that impacted you?
STUDY IT.
Read Revelation 4:8. What does this tell us about God’s throne? What does this tell us about God? Read Deuteronomy 26:16-19. Why would being careful to not defile themselves or the land be important in light of these verses? How do the Israelites know what does or does not defile themselves or the land according to Deuteronomy 26:16?
Read Deuteronomy 17:16-20. What are the requirements for a king? Horses represented military might. Wives represented treaties with other nations. What would it show the king was trusting in rather than God if he acquired horses, wives, or gold? What should the king actually be dependent on according to Deuteronomy 17:19-20?
Read Deuteronomy 21:22-23. What would happen to the land if the dead body remained? Read Galatians 3:13-14. Read Deuteronomy 17:1. How is Jesus the unblemished sacrifice and the curse one of God? Jesus took the curse for all the offenses listed in Deuteronomy 27 (and all sin for all time).
Read Deuteronomy 17:12-13, 19:12-13, 19:19-20, 21:21, 22:21, 22:24, 23:9,14, and 24:7? What was Israel to purge?
Read Deuteronomy 19:21. This was a relevant and good law in line with God’s purposes for Israel’s Kingdom at that time. Read Matthew 5:38-48. Jesus emphasizes personal sacrifice for the concern of others, even those who are your enemy. God’s kingdom has come, which the earthly kingdom of Israel was supposed to point to. Why is this a blessing to the believer and terrifying for the non-believer? Read Matthew 7:12-14.
SHARE IT.
Does Deuteronomy come across as Moses' last words? How can you tell?
How have you been reminded of Jesus in the reading of Deuteronomy this week?
How has the story in Deuteronomy been shocking so far, or have you noticed something in the text you previously had not?
Read Deuteronomy 22:5. How does this principle apply today? How might this be relevant? Why might God want His people to represent Him by not confusing the culture signals of male and female?
Read Deuteronomy 22:1-4, 23:19, 24:13-18. What does this say about who God is? What principals can you apply to our culture? How does our culture’s values of materialism and individual achievement conflict with the principles of generosity, charity, and grace?
FINAL THOUGHT
As laid out in Deuteronomy 15, an Israelite, who was unable to pay their debt, could become a slave for 6 years. They would then be freed on the 7th year having paid their debt. Deuteronomy 15:16 states that a slave could decide to stay with their master for the remainder of their life, “because he loves you and your household, since he is well-off with you.” This would be represented by piercing the ear into the doorpost. Why the doorpost? Some think it represented that the slave would never have to symbolically leave the house. They were forever in relationship with the master. Christ loved the Father so much He was pierced into wood. However, Christ was crucified outside the gate of the city. He was hung on a tree and cursed on our behalf. Christ is the perfect image of God, and also the undoing of the curse of separation of men from God and nations from God. Luke 12:37 states, “Truly, I (Jesus) say to you, he (Jesus) will dress himself for service and have them (servants) recline at the table, and he will come and serve them.” Christ speaks of Himself as serving His people at His return. Jesus is the true servant of the Father, and brings us into a relationship with not just a master but a Father.
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