03 March

Bible In 365 Days

Deuteronomy 11-13     

Deuteronomy 11

As Moses concluded his great call to the people to the pathway of obedience, he reminded them what varied experiences they had had from which they knew the nature of the government and power of God.

He wooed them toward obedience by speaking of the excellencies of the land to which they were going and by contrasting it with the land of Egypt from which they had come. Egypt was the place of forced cultivation. The new land was one watered, and loved, and watched by God.

For all material prosperity in this new land they therefore must depend entirely on God, knowing that His answers of blessing would depend in turn on their obedience to His law. He told them that they would move to possession of the land and all its wealth in unhindered power in proportion as they maintained the position of unquestioning obedience.

Very solemnly he called them to remember that he had set clearly before them the way of blessing and the way of cursing, finally ordaining on Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal, a solemn ceremony of blessing and cursing. Concerning these he gave more detailed instructions at a later period.

Deuteronomy 12

Having thus repeated the great words of the Law and called the people to obedience, Moses now proceeded to deal with the statutes and judgments, and, first, the statutes.

In dealing with these he commenced with the true place of worship. He solemnly charged them what their attitude toward false places of worship must be when they entered the land. They were to be utterly destroyed without pity and without sparing.

Moses then put into striking contrast their attitude toward the true place of worship, commencing with the words, "Ye shall not do so unto Jehovah your God." To the place of His appointment they were earnestly to seek.

Then he proceeded to emphasize this more particularly. The attendance of the people at the center of worship to be appointed in the land was obligatory. During the wilderness period there had evidently been some laxity in this matter; for he said, "Ye shall not do after all the things which ye do here this day, every man whatsoever is right in his own eyes." This evidently referred to matters of worship and they were thus solemnly charged that in the land there must be regular attendance at the place of the divine appointment.

No worship in the home was to be taken as a substitute for public worship. Nevertheless, certain provisions were made for those who might live at a distance.

Deuteronomy 13

The discourse commenced in chapter twelve continues with carefully expressed warnings against idolatry, and it is very arresting to note how the ways by which they might be seduced from the pure worship of Jehovah to the false worship of idols were guarded against.

First, there would be the danger of curiosity and therefore they were charged not to inquire after false gods. Second, there would be a peril of signs and wonders wrought by false prophets No such sign or wonder must be permitted to withdraw them from the pure worship of Jehovah and, indeed, any such working of signs was pronounced guilty of death.

Third, in all probability there would be the temptation presented by some tie of blood or friendship. These must all be sternly guarded against, and any being seduced in either way were to be slain without pity.

Once more there would be the peril arising from looseness of discipline in these very matters and the people were charged to take active measures against seducers and the seduced. The importance of these severe provisions will be understood as it is remembered that the worship of a people forevermore determines their character and their conduct.