March 7
Read Deuteronomy 17 - 20
In Today's Reading:
Idolaters and obedience to authority; offerings due priests and Levites; heathen practices; prophecy concerning the coming of Christ; cities of refuge
Moses foretold: The LORD your God will raise up to you a Prophet (Jesus) from the midst of you, of your brethren, like to me; to Him you shall hearken. . . . the LORD said to me. . . . I (God) . . . will put My words in His mouth; and He shall speak to them all that I shall command Him. . . . whosoever will not hearken to My words which He shall speak in My Name, I will require it of him (Deuteronomy 18:15,17-19). Many centuries later, the prophet Jeremiah foretold that, at Christ's return, God will make a new Covenant with His people (see Jeremiah 31:31-34).
In conversation with His critics, Jesus said that both Moses and the Scriptures bore witness of Him: For had you believed Moses, you would have believed Me: for he wrote of Me. But if you believe not his writings (Genesis - Deuteronomy), how shall you believe My words? (John 5:46-47).
Jesus declared to Pilate: My kingdom is not of this world, meaning it has no earthly origin but is a spiritual kingdom without end (18:36). On the Day of Pentecost, Peter boldly proclaimed that Jesus had fulfilled the prophecy of Moses, who said: A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up to you of your brethren, like to me; Him shall you hear in all things whatsoever He shall say to you. And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that Prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people. Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days (Acts 3:22-24; compare Deuteronomy 18:18-19). While the Jews sought both the promised Prophet and the Messiah (see John 1:25), they failed to recognize that the Prophet whom Moses foretold is Jesus who also is the Messiah. Jesus declared: He that follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the Light of Life (John 8:12).
The writer of the Book of Hebrews wrote: He that despised (rejected) Moses' Law died without mercy . . . how much sorer (more severe) punishment, suppose you, shall he be thought worthy, who has trodden under foot the Son of God, and has counted the blood of the Covenant (Agreement), wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and has done despite to (insulted) the Spirit of grace? (Hebrews 10:28-29).
Word Studies:
17:1 evilfavoredness = any defect; 18:8 sale of his patrimony = sale of his family property; 18:10 pass through the fire = be burned alive as a sacrifice to the idol god Molech; 20:11 be tributaries unto = be subject to.
Christ Revealed:
Through the Old Testament sacrifices, which were made without blemish or defect (Deuteronomy 17:1). Christ is perfect and pure from all sin and all appearance of evil. Christ . . . without blemish and without spot (I Peter 1:19; see also Heb. 9:14).
Prayer Needs:
Pray for BPM Staff: Beth Carlton · Government Officials: Rep. Brian Baird (WA) and Rep. Elton Gallegly (CA) · Country: Nigeria (114 million) in western Africa · Major languages: English and Hausa · Government permits all types of religious activity · 36% Muslim; 19% Protestant; 15% animist; 7% Roman Catholic · Prayer Suggestion: Diligently seek the guidance of the Lord (Proverbs 8:17).
Optional Reading: Luke 22
Memory Verse for the Week: Colossians 1:19