Today's reading: Deuteronomy 22:1-30

Another tough one on application. But I found some interesting insights and applications.

Quite a few laws handled here in this chapter which can be categorised into:

1. Acts of charity and good neighbourliness , in the care of strayed or fallen cattle, and lost cloak (v 1-4)

2. For the preservation of order and distinction (v9-11) - cross dressing and needless mixtures

3. For the preservation of birds (v6-7)

4. For the preservation of life (v8)

5. For the preservation of the commandments (Numbers 15:37-41)

6. For the reputation of a wife abused if she was innocent (v13-19), but for her punishment if she is guilty (v 20-21)

7. For the preservation of the chastity of wives (v22), virgins betrothed (v23-27), or not betrothed (v28-29) and against incest (v30)

On item 1, it is interesting to note that the cattle and cloak of a person is important, one as a source of his livelihood and the other his source of protection against the cold. They must be returned even at personal cost or inconvenience of looking after it temporary until it's found by the owner, or returning it ourselves.

Let me mention that the standard is even higher in Exodus 23:4-5 "If you come across your enemy's ox or donkey wandering off, be sure to take it back to him. If you see the donkey of someone who hates you fallen down under its load, do not leave it there; be sure you help him with it."

Here the act of charity is extended to an enemy. How much more it is required for our neighbour? We are to do good to all men. If God gave such concern and attention to an animal that has gone astray, how much more we need to do that for fellow men when they have gone astray from God?

James 5:19-20 My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

Today's reading reminds me of the character and attributes of God, that through these laws, we are aware of His heart for everyone, especially the poor and needy, and those lost without eternity. Do we give such attention and eye to those around us? "Lord, open my eyes that I may see." This is precisely what Rev C.B. Samuel preached about this weekend in church.

Why study the feasts? Further comments on reason 2

Interestingly, from today's reading, Deuteronomy 21:22-23, I think I heard you say, "How in the world am I going to get something out of this? This is gross! Capital punishment and hanging the body on a tree?"

²² If a man guilty of a capital offense is put to death and his body is hung on a tree, ²³ you must not leave his body on the tree overnight. Be sure to bury him that same day, because anyone who is hung on a tree is under God's curse. You must not desecrate the land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance.

The intensity of punishment for the crime of murder is shown here. However, prolonged exposure of body gives undue attention to the crime and the criminal. In an earlier post, I had dealt with the meaning of being "hung on a tree."

This crime places a person under God's curse. God had condemned murder, and hanging on a tree symbolizes divine judgment and rejection. Christ accepted the full punishment of our sins, thus becoming "a curse for us" (Gal 3:13) ¹³Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree."

Because of our sins, we are all under God's divine judgment. Jesus took our sins on the cross, and subject Himself to God's curse, so that we need not be cursed. He took all that we deserved and put it upon Himself. This is the ultimate demonstration of God's love, that He was willing to sacrifice His Only Son, and His Son was willing to lay down His life for us. We are extremely valuable to God. Unless we come to that point of understanding, we can never understand the love song sung throughout the entire Bible.

Therefore here we see an Old Testament law pointing to the Lord Jesus.

Why study the feasts? Reasons 1 & 2 of 12

This is a normal question to ask as we can be totally bewildered and confused by all the do's and don'ts of the Law. Are there any relevance to modern day living? So why do we need to study the feast?

As Hosea lamented: I wrote for them the many things of my law, but they regarded them as something alien. (Hosea 8:12)

The intricate detail of all things Mosaic would be meaningless unless they are all seen in the light of the Cross in relation to Christ and the Church. Apart from the Feasts, why then do we need to study the Tabernacle of Moses, the Tabernacle of David, the Temple of Solomon, the Priesthood and the Offerings?

Let me give you Twelve major reasons over the next few posts why all these should be studied. They are taken from "The Feasts of Israel" by Kevin J. Conner and I will elaborate on each of the points.

1. Because they are part of Scriptures given by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. God said it, so it must be important.

There's an old adage that goes:

God said it, I believe it, and that settles it!

Not entirely accurate. Whether I believe it or not does not make it any truer. It should read:

God said it, and that settles it! That's why we need to study it so that we have the whole context of the Bible.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work

2. Because they are a 'shadow of things to come'. They all point to Christ.

Shadow in the sense of a lesser. If only the people in the OT could have a glimpse of what we are enjoying today as God's redeemed people!

Colossians 2:16-17 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.

Hebrews 10:1-2 The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. If it could, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins.

Deuteronomy - One Place of Worship

It has been fascinating just reading Deuternomy slowly. I will attempt to share with you in the next few posts some insights into the Feasts of Israel and the various offerings that were mentioned in the book.

One thing we must watch out for when we read or study the Word of God is to look for repetitions. If something is repeated enough, it may be important. For e.g. note these two phrases:

• The place the Lord will choose
• The place the Lord your God will choose

In my bible study, I have compiled these phrases in the table here.

The Lord requires a single place of worship. Why? The tabernacle, the Lord's dwelling place during the 40 years of wandering in the desert, will eventually be located in the city of Jerusalem, where the Lord will choose to dwell. The ultimate fulfillment of this command came centuries later when God let David move the tabernacle to Jerusalem where his son Solomon built the temple. The command for a single sanctuary promoted or emphasized three things: the unity of God (He is One, not many), the purity of the Israelites’ worship of the Lord, and the people’s political and spiritual unity. (Bible Knowledge Commentary)

The Tabernacle of Moses

Solomon's Temple

Moses stresses the importance of centralizing the place of worship in the promised land, where the Caanites had established many places of worship for their many gods. The people of God must be different from them.

The sacrifices, offerings and feasts will culminate in the Temple, where feasting and rejoicing takes place as well as celebrating God and His blessings.

What's the application of this truth? Simply that we must have only one place of worship and that is God in our hearts. He must take first place and be seated on the throne of our hearts. The Bible says we are the Temple of the Holy Spirit where the Holy Spirit dwells. Not just dwelling in us individually, but in the church as a community.

1 Cor 6:19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;

2 Cor 6:16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.”

Isn't that an amazing truth, that we can have a personal relationship with this God? No wonder the Israelites would exclaim:

Deuteronomy 4:5-8

^5 See, I have taught you decrees and laws as the Lord my God commanded me, so that you may follow them in the land you are entering to take possession of it. ^6 Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations, who will hear about all these decrees and say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.” ^7 What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the Lord our God is near us whenever we pray to him? ^8 And what other nation is so great as to have such righteous decrees and laws as this body of laws I am setting before you today?

People will look at the church and we can exclaim: "What other community is so great to have their gods near them the way the Lord our God is near us whenever we pray to him?"

Is there a prominent place of worship in your life? Sing this song in your heart now:

Verse:

I will have no other gods before You

Only You will reign as my heart’s King

I will have no other gods before You

I will put You first in everything

Chorus:

With all my heart with all my soul

With all my might I want to love You Lord

With all my heart with all my soul

With all my might I want to love You Lord