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Bible Pathways - Mar. 7, 2008

 

March 7

Deuteronomy 17

Highlights In Today's Reading:

Even kings are not above the laws of God according to His Word. Did you notice that all Israelite kings were commanded to read God's Law (the Old Testament) all the days of his life (17:19)?

God directed Israel to overthrow the kingdoms which were reigning in Canaan because of their abominable wickedness. No inhabitants of Canaan were to be spared to share the land of promise with Israel because of their sinful conduct.

Israel was faced with the Canaanite armies who were far greater in numbers. The Israelite soldiers thought they were powerless when Canaanite soldiers in speeding iron chariots attacked them. This is why the Israelites fled to the mountains where the chariots could not follow. However, all the miracles of their past should have caused them to believe that when thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them. . . . For the Lord your God is He that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you (20:1,4). Israel was reminded not only of what God had done but what He would do.

A Christian can be confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6).

Israel's Canaanite enemies illustrate our spiritual warfare against our own human nature. We are cautioned: Love not the world (This means desires of our fleshly nature which would keep us from living as we should) . . . . the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world (I John 2:15-17), for such would keep us from victorious Christian living. The Christian life is a life of warfare. But we can be assured that God will not fail us nor forsake us. The God who saved us will empower us to overcome all evil, but only as we determine to be all that He created us to be. If God was to give the Israelites the promised land, Joshua was told: This Book of the Law shall not depart out thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success (Joshua 1:8). Only when the Israelites fought with all their might were they able to overcome their enemies. They illustrate our spiritual battles that can be won daily when we are determined to defeat the devil and all his deceitful deceptions.

What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, (why should we ever fear the outcome) who can be against (defeat) us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? (Romans 8:31-32).

Thought for Today:

If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and (decide to) walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth. . . . He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His Commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him (I John 1:6; 2:4).

Christ Revealed:

Through the Old Testament animal (without blemish or defect) sacrifices were made (Deuteronomy 17:1). Christ was perfectly sinless. Christ . . . without blemish and without spot (I Peter 1:19).

Word Studies:

17:1 evilfavoredness =b> any defect; 18:8 sale of his patrimony =b> sale of his family property; 18:10 pass through the fire =b> be burned alive as a sacrifice to the idol god Molech; 20:11 be tributaries unto =b> be subject to.

Prayer Needs:

Pray for The English International Shortwave Radio Broadcasts sponsored by Thelma M. Gryskiewicz • Staff: Beth Carlton • Government Officials: Rep. Jason Altmire (PA), Rep. Brian Baird (WA), and Rep. Elton Gallegly (CA) • Country: Finland (5.2 million) in northern Europe • Major languages: Finnish and Swedish • Religious freedom • 86% Lutheran; 1% Orthodox; 12% Other • Prayer Suggestion: Pray in secret before God, not seeking human praise (Matthew 6:6).

Optional Reading: Luke 22

Memory Verse for the Week: I Peter 1:14



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