Day 80, Chronological Bible Study Timeline. Map. Go to today’s Bible reading (use your browser arrow to return): Deuteronomy 23–26
Policies and Rules to Follow
Every government, organization, and family has its policies and rules (recorded or not). There are specific ways we want to do things, and they're usually based on core principles. Clear communication prevents inconsistency, confusion, frustration, or even injury.
In the times just before Israel is to enter the Promised Land, Moses communicates more of the policies and rules of the LORD to safeguard their inheritance. These are stipulations the Israelites must do to stay in the good graces of the LORD their God. He patterned them after the Suzerain Treaties of the day (more…).God wants to bless his people in the Promised Land. He wants them to succeed. Therefore, in today's Bible reading, he gives them rules and regulations based on his holiness and what is acceptable behavior for his people. How can we stay in God's good graces so the Lord will keep blessing us?
Exclusions from Cultic Practices
Israel will soon enter Canaan and discover depraved, violent people, devoid of any good, and idol worshippers. They are despicable! The LORD doesn't want the Israelites to adopt any of their customs.
God wants the Israelites to come to the feasts and worship him. However, he excludes some from the assembly. The Israelites mustn't marry Ammonites or Moabites. God bans these two groups because of their malice against Israel. The Bible Knowledge Commentary suggests castration was a cultic practice of these idol-worshipping nations. Therefore, emasculated men weren't allowed in the Tabernacle (Deuteronomy 23:1).
God wants the Israelites to have children and multiply in the land. The Israelites must not marry Ammonites or Moabites. These two groups are banned from access into the assembly because of their malice against Israel. The Bible Knowledge Commentary suggests castration was a cultic practice of these idol-worshipping nations. However, God wants the Israelites to have children and multiply in the land (Genesis 35:10-11).
Male and female shrine prostitutes are also forbidden in the assembly (Deuteronomy 23:17-18). In addition to these exclusions, there are prohibitions for those with contagious diseases, and we can understand the logic of that (Deuteronomy 24:8; Leviticus 13:45-46).
Against Indecency
There are exclusions for those allowed into the Israelite army camp. When they are encamped against their enemies, God instructs them to keep away from everything impure (Deuteronomy 23:9).Suppose anyone is unclean because of a nocturnal emission, or he has to relieve himself. In that case, he needs to go outside of the camp.
For the LORD your God moves about in your camp to protect you and to deliver your enemies to you. Your camp must be holy, so that he will not see among you anything indecent and turn away from you. (Deuteronomy 23:14, NIV).
We should maintain decency in church, too. It's not just a gathering place where any behavior is acceptable. We should immediately stop any improper or cultic behavior. Will we welcome anyone, no matter what the circumstances are? Will we permit them to enter, even if their presence is detrimental? Those who live unrepentant, wicked, and rebellious lifestyles are harmful to our society, churches, and homes. We should restrict them from being there until they show a change of mind and behavior, and forsake their evil ways. We should also show appropriate behavior in our homes, businesses, and other organizations.
Christians, are we striving to live clean and holy lives before God, or are our attitudes and actions harmful? If they're not good, we need to return to God to cleanse ourselves from sin.
Acceptable Treatment
There are rules for marriage that protect Israelite women and keep the land's inheritance within each family (Deuteronomy 24:1-5; 25:5-10). There are rules to settle civil disputes and for exercising corporal punishment (Deuteronomy 25:1-3). Policies are also in place for lending and being kind to the poor, widowed, orphaned, and aliens (Deuteronomy 23:19,23; Deuteronomy 24:10-15, 19-22).The Israelites mustn't take advantage of each other. God wants them to treat each other with fairness and honesty. They're to remember that once they were slaves in the land of Egypt before the LORD showed compassion on them.
Do we act with love, consideration, mercy, and grace toward each other? Are we mean or kind? Do we take advantage of each other? If we get too big for our pants (i.e., we are fat with pride), we need to remember where we came from and our humble beginnings. The LORD will bless us for kindness and consideration in our church family, business relationships, or even our home. If this is a problem, it's worth the time and effort to write a policy for what God considers appropriate behavior, make an agreement, and enforce it.
Be Thankful
When the Israelites enter the land, they're to remember the LORD with an offering. They're to offer him a basket of fruit from the firstfruits of their harvest in the Promised Land of Canaan, and they're to do this with rejoicing and thanksgiving (Deuteronomy 26:1-11).We should also remember the good things the LORD has done for us and give thanks. Did God give any of us a new job, house, or church building? Do we have freedom in our country and other blessings? Why not take the time to recount them, rejoice together, and give him an offering of thanks?
Making Verbal Commitments
The Israelites are to voice their commitments (Deuteronomy 26:12-19). Loyalty to the LORD is all-important, as it should be in any organization run by Christians. In today's world, we consider written agreements more binding than verbal, but God considers them the same — we need to be true to our word. (Deuteronomy 23:21-23). Verbal agreements seal the commitments we are making. Have we made verbal commitments to the LORD? Are we keeping them?The Bible Knowledge Commentary of the O.T., edited by Walvoord and Zuck, ©1985, p.303
Focus Verses
Deuteronomy 26:17-18 (NIV)
You have declared this day that the LORD is your God and that you will walk in his ways, that you will keep his decrees, commands and laws, and that you will obey him. And the LORD has declared this day that you are his people, his treasured possession as he promised, and that you are to keep all his commands.
Discussion (you can type in your answers)
Why do we have policies and regulations?
Who should we let into our churches, businesses, and homes?
What commitments should we make to the Lord, and how we treat each other?
enter your prayer here:
Please send your comments to me, Rod, the author
Looking Ahead: Verbal commitments are important, but contracts give us responsibilities to fulfill. Our next lesson is entitled, Contracts and Commitments; do we have any with God?
Page re-edited 5-3-23
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