FOR THE LOVE OF GOD

Scripture Reference: Deuteronomy 12-13; 18:9-22

5. Avoiding Contamination

Please read Deuteronomy 12:29-13:18; 18:9-22 for the background to this section.

Moses pointed out four approaches the enemy could use to trap the Israelites into practicing idolatry, and he warned his people to avoid following them.

Human curiosity (verses 29–32). The inhabitants of Canaan had grossly defiled their land by their personal conduct and their abominable religious practices, which included sacrificing their children to the false gods, usually Molech “the abomination of the Ammonites” (Deuteronomy 12:31; 1 Kings 11:5, 33). This despicable practice was forbidden to the people of Israel (Deuteronomy 18:10; Leviticus 18:20; 20:2–5), but in later years, both kings and commoners in Israel abandoned God’s law and sacrificed their children (2 Kings 17:16–17). Godly King Josiah defiled the place in the Valley of Hinnom where this detestable ceremony had been practiced in Judah (2 Kings 23:10), but King Manasseh brought it back (2 Chronicles 33:6).

The British essayist Samuel Johnson called curiosity “one of the permanent and certain characteristics of a vigorous intellect,” and certainly our children and grandchildren learn because they’re curious about life and the world they live in. Someone defined a child as “an island of curiosity surrounded by a sea of question marks.” However, there are some areas of human knowledge that are dangerous to investigate, for God wants His people to be “wise in what is good, and simple [“innocent” NIV] concerning evil” (Romans 16:19). We don’t have to experience sin to learn how deadly it is. Inquisitive Israelites who investigated the despicable religious practices of the Canaanites were in danger of tempting themselves and giving Satan opportunity to move in.

As we mature in the faith and become grounded in the Word, we can carefully study the philosophies and ideas that are held by various religious groups, but only so that we might better share the Gospel with them. Missionaries must know the religious mind-set of the peoples to whom God sends them so they can communicate effectively with them. This is also true when we study the so-called “classics” that are often filled with moral filth and attacks against the Christian faith. “Beware of the atmosphere of the classics,” wrote Robert Murray M’Cheyne to a friend. “True, we ought to know them; but only as chemists handle poisons—to discover their qualities, not to infect their blood with them.” With God’s help, it’s possible for Christian students to practice contact without contamination, but they had better “watch and pray” lest they are tempted and fall into sin.

To Be Continued

Adapted and modified excerpts from Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Equipped, “Be” Commentary Series.
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from the New King James Version®, NKJV © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.
Where noted, Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV © 2011 by Biblica, Inc.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture Reference: Deuteronomy 12-13; 18:9-22

4. Bringing Tithes and Offerings

Please read Deuteronomy 12:17-19 for the background to this section.

The practice of bringing 10 percent of the produce to the Lord antedates the Law, for Abraham tithed (Genesis 14:17–20; Hebrews 7:4) and so did Jacob (Genesis 28:22). In most places in the world today, God’s people bring money rather than produce. The New Testament plan for giving is found in 2 Corinthians 8–9, and though tithing isn’t mentioned, generous giving from the heart is abundantly encouraged. If believers under Law could give the Lord 10 percent of their income, that’s certainly a good place for believers who live under the New Covenant to start their giving. However, we shouldn’t stop with 10 percent but should give systematically as the Lord has prospered us (1 Corinthians 16:1–2). The New Testament Scriptures tell us to give as the Holy Spirit Himself leads us to give, but always graciously and cheerfully.

The priests and Levites had no inheritance in the land of Israel, for the Lord was their inheritance (Numbers 18:20; Deuteronomy 10:8–9; Joshua 13:14, 33; 14:13; 18:7); so they trusted God for His provision through the people. God assigned to the priests portions from various sacrifices (Leviticus 6:14–7:38) as well as the firstfruits of the harvests and the firstborn animals (Numbers 18:8–20). The Levites received the people’s tithes and in turn gave a tithe of that to the priests (Numbers 18:20–32). The people also brought an extra tithe every three years, which was shared with the poor (Leviticus 27:28–29). People who lived too far from the sanctuary were permitted to sell the produce and with the money buy a substitute sacrifice when they arrived (Deuteronomy 14:24–26), and if they didn’t do so, they were fined (Leviticus 27:31).

It’s a basic principle in Scripture that those who serve the Lord and His people should have the support of God’s people. “The laborer is worthy of his wages” (Luke 10:7) and “those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel” (1 Corinthians 9:14). Believers who receive spiritual blessings from teachers and preachers should share material blessings with them (Galatians 6:6–10; 1 Timothy 5:17–18). Paul saw the supporting gifts of God’s people as spiritual sacrifices dedicated to the Lord (Philippians 4:10–19). If all of God’s people practiced the kind of giving described in 2 Corinthians 8–9, there would be no church debts, God’s servants would be provided for, and the work of the Lord would prosper around the world.

To Be Continued

Adapted and modified excerpts from Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Equipped, “Be” Commentary Series.
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from the New King James Version®, NKJV © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture Reference: Deuteronomy 12-13; 18:9-22

3. Respecting Life

Please read Deuteronomy 12:15-16; 20-28 for the background to this section.

These verses focus on the Jews’ treatment of the blood of animals that were either sacrificed at the altar or eaten at home, a theme Moses discussed in Leviticus 17:1–16. The Lord introduced this theme after Noah and his family came out of the ark, for it was then that He permitted mankind to eat meat (Genesis 9:1–7; and see Genesis 1:29; 2:9, 16). In the Genesis legislation, God prohibited the shedding of human blood and the eating of animal blood, whether the animal was domestic or wild. He also established what we today call “capital punishment.” Since humans are made in the image of God and derive their life from God, to murder someone is to attack God and to rob that person of God’s gift of life. God decreed that murderers should be punished by losing their own lives, and the right to enforce this law belonged to the officers of the state (Romans 13). By giving this law, the Lord was actually establishing human government on the earth. It’s worth noting that if an animal killed a person, that animal was to be slain (Exodus 21:28–32).

Long before science discovered the significance of blood, the Lord declared that life was in the blood and that the blood should be respected and not treated like common food. If a Jew slaughtered an animal at home, he was to drain out all the blood on the ground before the meat could be cooked and eaten. If he brought an animal to be sacrificed at the sanctuary, the priest would drain the blood beside the altar. If the ritual called for it, the priest would catch in a basin only enough blood to sprinkle on or about the altar. By following this procedure, the Jews not only showed respect for God’s gift of life, even to animals, but they also showed respect for the animal that gave its life for the worshiper. The Jews didn’t eat meat frequently because it was too costly to slay livestock, so when they did slaughter an animal, they were to do it with respect. They could take an animal to the sanctuary and offer it as a peace offering and then enjoy eating the meat as part of a special feast (Leviticus 3; 7:11–38).

This emphasis on the shedding of blood is at the heart of the message of the Gospel. We aren’t saved from our sins by the life of Christ or the example of Christ, but by the sacrificial death of Christ, “in whom we have redemption through his blood” (Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14). The blood of Christ is precious to us (1 Peter 1:19) because of who shed it—the spotless Lamb of God—but also because of what it accomplishes for those who trust Him: justification (Romans 5:9), cleansing (Revelation 1:5; 1 John 1:7), eternal salvation (Hebrews 9:11–28), access to God (Hebrews 10:19–20), and reconciliation (Ephesians 2:13), to name but a few of the blessings we have through Christ’s blood.

To Be Continued

Adapted and modified excerpts from Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Equipped, “Be” Commentary Series.
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from the New King James Version®, NKJV © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.