“Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:19-21 ESV)
Unnamed abandoned church north of SUNY IT on the corner of Church Rd. and Trenton Rd, Marcy NY
The sign above the door says, "SALEM. AIL ADEILADWYD. 1859."
The sign above the door says, "SALEM. AIL ADEILADWYD. 1859."
Deuteronomy 18
A Prophet Like Moses
}In the other books of the Bible so far we have been given reminders about taking care of the priests and Levites so not much time is necessary with this topic.
}Notice the list of things that Yahweh finds as an abomination: burning your children as an offering, anyone who practices divination, fortune telling, omen interpreting, sorcerers, charmers, mediums, necromancers, or ones who inquire of the dead.
}These were the things that the pagan cultures used (and still use today) to try and get in touch with their gods, but none of this is necessary with ours- he allows us full access to him through prayer.}Some people try to claim that Deuteronomy 18:15 is just a general verse about the prophets that will come in the rest of the Old Testament. Well yes, and no.
}In the other books of the Bible so far we have been given reminders about taking care of the priests and Levites so not much time is necessary with this topic.
}Notice the list of things that Yahweh finds as an abomination: burning your children as an offering, anyone who practices divination, fortune telling, omen interpreting, sorcerers, charmers, mediums, necromancers, or ones who inquire of the dead.
}These were the things that the pagan cultures used (and still use today) to try and get in touch with their gods, but none of this is necessary with ours- he allows us full access to him through prayer.}Some people try to claim that Deuteronomy 18:15 is just a general verse about the prophets that will come in the rest of the Old Testament. Well yes, and no.
A Prophet Like Moses Continued
}If we look forward into the New Testament we see the perfect fulfillment of this verse is Jesus.
}In the first chapter of John the future disciple of Jesus, Philip, goes and finds his friend Nathanael to tell him that he had found the prophet like Moses.
Philip said, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” (John 1:45 ESV)
}If that weren’t enough to convince you that Moses is foreshadowing Jesus Christ here in Deuteronomy than take a look at what Peter has to say in Acts.
}“Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you.’” (3:22 ESV)
}Whenever the New Testament writers say, “Moses Said”, they are always referring back to one of the five books of Moses: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, or Deuteronomy.
}Here in Acts 3, Peter is referring directly to Deuteronomy 18:15- a prophecy about Jesus Christ.
}In the first chapter of John the future disciple of Jesus, Philip, goes and finds his friend Nathanael to tell him that he had found the prophet like Moses.
Philip said, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” (John 1:45 ESV)
}If that weren’t enough to convince you that Moses is foreshadowing Jesus Christ here in Deuteronomy than take a look at what Peter has to say in Acts.
}“Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you.’” (3:22 ESV)
}Whenever the New Testament writers say, “Moses Said”, they are always referring back to one of the five books of Moses: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, or Deuteronomy.
}Here in Acts 3, Peter is referring directly to Deuteronomy 18:15- a prophecy about Jesus Christ.
Deuteronomy 19
Refuge, landmarks, witnesses
}Israeli law was very advanced for its time- a city of refuge was a place where the person who had accidently killed someone (committed manslaughter) could go and be safe from the closest family member of the person who died.
}Cities of refuge were not places that premeditated murders could go to be safe, though.
}Just like I can’t go in the backyard today, pick up the property marker I have, and move it so my backyard is bigger, the ancient Israelites couldn’t do it either.
}In keeping with the theme that Israeli law was advanced for its time we now bring you to the subject of witnesses.
}When a crime was committed it was not good enough under Israeli law to only have one eye witness to the crime- there needed to be at least two of them.
}Everyone knows that if you have 10 eyewitnesses to an event that there will at least be 15 different eyewitness accounts. Putting someone away on the word of just 1 witness and thus avoiding vigilante justice is why there needed to be 2 witnesses.
}Israeli law was very advanced for its time- a city of refuge was a place where the person who had accidently killed someone (committed manslaughter) could go and be safe from the closest family member of the person who died.
}Cities of refuge were not places that premeditated murders could go to be safe, though.
}Just like I can’t go in the backyard today, pick up the property marker I have, and move it so my backyard is bigger, the ancient Israelites couldn’t do it either.
}In keeping with the theme that Israeli law was advanced for its time we now bring you to the subject of witnesses.
}When a crime was committed it was not good enough under Israeli law to only have one eye witness to the crime- there needed to be at least two of them.
}Everyone knows that if you have 10 eyewitnesses to an event that there will at least be 15 different eyewitness accounts. Putting someone away on the word of just 1 witness and thus avoiding vigilante justice is why there needed to be 2 witnesses.
Overview of 20-23
Warfare and Various Things
}Chapter 20 addresses warfare and sieges. The Israelites were never to be afraid if they were to go into battle against a much larger army because Yahweh was with them.
}The first option that the Israelites were supposed to offer in every battle to their enemies was peace. It was only if they didn’t accept that war ensued.
}If the Israelites were to lay siege to a city they weren’t supposed to cut down all the trees around the city and lay waste to it because they were only supposed to be taking the city not punishing the trees that provided fruit outside.
}When a slain body was found in a field and no murderer could be found there had to be an atonement made on behalf of the dead.
}Here is an interesting piece of Scripture about bad kids. Parents of rebellious kids could bring them into the city square and make this pronouncement:
}“This our son is stubborn and rebellious; he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton and a drunkard.’ Then all the men of the city shall stone him to death with stones. (Dt 21:20-21)
}Kids, listen to your parents.
}Just a short, cursory overview folks. There are many other laws mentioned here.
}Chapter 20 addresses warfare and sieges. The Israelites were never to be afraid if they were to go into battle against a much larger army because Yahweh was with them.
}The first option that the Israelites were supposed to offer in every battle to their enemies was peace. It was only if they didn’t accept that war ensued.
}If the Israelites were to lay siege to a city they weren’t supposed to cut down all the trees around the city and lay waste to it because they were only supposed to be taking the city not punishing the trees that provided fruit outside.
}When a slain body was found in a field and no murderer could be found there had to be an atonement made on behalf of the dead.
}Here is an interesting piece of Scripture about bad kids. Parents of rebellious kids could bring them into the city square and make this pronouncement:
}“This our son is stubborn and rebellious; he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton and a drunkard.’ Then all the men of the city shall stone him to death with stones. (Dt 21:20-21)
}Kids, listen to your parents.
}Just a short, cursory overview folks. There are many other laws mentioned here.