11 Life in the Desert – Deut 12-26 – Specific Covenant Stipulations

In Deuteronomy 12-26 Moses continues to spell out, explain, and elaborate on the Ten Commandments by declaring the particular requirements of God’s covenant. Some sections repeat what we have already seen. Others expand those teachings further or reveal additional laws not yet stated. One writer in the College Press NIV Commentary notes, “Moses anticipated settlement in the Promised Land and therefore dealt with issues not found in earlier legislation. The intention was to apply the broad principles of the Ten Commandments to everyday life in the land. Because of this focus Deuteronomy had a continuing relevance for the people of Israel, and each new generation could hear it afresh. It is because of this nature of the material that it lends itself to reflection and meaning for God's people through the ages.”

Deut 12 Proper Worship

12:1-4 Destruction of Canaanite Idols

12:5-14 Holy Offerings at the Chosen Place

Eventually God will say, “Jerusalem. The Temple.”

To prohibit pagan places and acts of worship.

12:15-28 “Non-Holy” Meat at Any Place

Israelites could eat regular meat anywhere, but not the animal’s blood.

12:29-32 Rejection of Canaanite Religion

“Beware that you are not ensnared.”

Deut 13 Threats of Idolatry

Three Cases:

13:1-5 A Prophet or Dreamer of Dreams

The sign may occur but the doctrine be false.

13:6-11 Your Relative, Spouse, or Best Friend

Do not yield, listen, pity, spare, or conceal him.

13:12-18 One of Your Cities Gone Astray

Destroy man and beast. Burn city and booty.

Deut 14 Foods and Tithes

14:1-21 Clean and Unclean Foods

No cutting or shaving (re: magic, polytheism).

Rationale for food distinctions: hygiene? Pagan practices? Economy? Obedience? Self-control?

14:22-29 Tithes

Note: they ate the tithe they brought.

14:28 Add’l tithe every 3 years for the landless

Inclusion of alien, fatherless, and widow.

Note further discussion in 26:12.

Deut 15 Sabbatical Year; Firstborn

God’s plan to relieve Israelites’ debt and poverty.

15:1-3 All debts of Israelites canceled in 7th year.

15:4-6 Ideally, none poor. Obedience, blessing.

15:7-11 Generosity, not stinginess, in need.

15:12-18 Kind provision for bondservants.

Released in 7th year, furnished liberally.

Remembering that you were slaves in Egypt.

So he may love you and want to stay.

15:19-23 Dedication of firstborn animals.

Deut 16 Annual Feasts; Judges

16:1-8 Passover (Unleavened Bread)

Abib – 1st (lunar) month, March/April

16:9-12 Weeks (Harvest, Pentecost)

16:13-15 Booths (Tabernacles, Ingathering)

16:16-17 Presence of All Males at Chosen Place

16:18-20 Judges and Equal Justice

16:21-22 No Asherah Images or Sacred Pillars

Deut 17 Just Administration

17:1-7 Trial and Execution of Idolaters

Only on the evidence of two or three witnesses.

“Purge the evil from your midst.”

17:8-13 Dealing with Difficult Cases

Homicides, lawsuits, and assaults

Central tribunal or “Supreme Court”

Execution of any who refuse the priest’s verdict

17:14-20 Choice and Qualities of the King

God provided for Israel’s king. Cf. 1 Sam 8-9.

Deut 18 Supernatural Guidance

18:1-8 Provision for Priests and Levites

Not having any land inheritance, they would be supported by the offerings of the people to God.

18:9-14 Prohibition of Spiritism

Divination, witchcraft, sorcery, omens, mediums.

Instead, God’s directions through His prophets.

18:15-22 Promise of the Coming Prophet(s)

In a partial sense, Joshua and others. 34:9-12

In the full sense, Jesus. Acts 3:22–24; 7:37

Deut 19 Protection of Life

19:1-13 Three More Cities of Refuge – West Side

To complement the three in the east. 4:41-43

Protects life. Clarifies, specifies “Do not kill.”

19:14 Protection of Land Boundaries

19:15-21 Witnesses and Justice

False witness would pay the penalty he sought.

Deut 20 Rules of Warfare

20:1-4 Courage in Battle Because of the LORD

20:5-9 Exemptions from Military Service

         New homeowners and vineyard owners

         Engaged men and fainthearted men

20:10-15 Treatment of Distant Cities

20:16-18 Treatment of Canaanite Cities

20:19-20 Treatment of Trees in the Land

Save fruit trees - food. Cut others for siegeworks.

Deut 21 If This Happens, Do Thus

21:1-9 Atonement for Unsolved Murders

21:10-14 Treatment of Captive Girls

Respect. Marriage. Time to mourn. Divorce, but.

21:15-17 Inheritance Rights of Firstborn Sons

Double portion, even if born to “unloved” wife.

21:18-21 Treatment of Rebellious Sons

Elders’ role. All stone. Purge evil. Deter others.

21:22-23 Proper Burial of Hanged Convicts

Capital punishment. Cf. Gal 3:13 – Christ, curse.

Deut 22 Morality in Daily Life

22:1-4 Care for Others’ Lost Animals, Property

22:5 Prohibition of Cross-Dressing

22:6-7 Preserving the Producers of Life (Birds)

22:8 Protecting Against Roof Falls (Parapets)

22:9-12 Laws of Separation

Two seeds, two animals, two fabrics. Why?

Tassels on Garments. Why?

Maintain God-given distinctions from the world?

22:13-21 Charges of Premarital Immorality

Virginity: blood-stained cloth from wedding night.

If false, man chastised, fined c. 2.5 lb. of silver.

If true, woman stoned. Purge the evil.

22:22-29 Adultery, Premarital Sex, Rape

Rape of engaged virgin: man alone dies.

Rape of non-engaged virgin: man fined, forced to marry for life, support, and protect the woman.

22:30 Incestuous Marriage – Stepmother

Deut 23 Cleanliness and Purity

23:1-8 Exclusion from the LORD’s Assembly

Due to pagan practices or acts against Israel.

23:9-14 Cleanliness in the LORD’s Camp

Nocturnal emissions, human excrement.

23:15-16 Protection of Escaped Slaves

23:17-18 Prohibition of Cult Prostitution

23:19-20 Prohibition of Lending with Interest

23:21-23 Completion of Vows Made to the LORD

23:24-25 Limited Food from Others’ Vineyards

Deut 24 Protection of the Weak

24:1-4 No Remarrying of One’s Divorced Spouse

Not endorsing divorce, but protecting women.

Yet Pharisees made it a “command.” Matt 19:7

24:5 No Military Service in 1st Year of Marriage

24:6 No Taking of One’s Livelihood in Pledge

24:7 No Kidnapping, Abuse, or Sale of Others

24:8-9 Obeying the Laws re: Leprosy

Deut 24 Protection of the Weak

24:10-13 Taking Collateral for a Loan

Respect his person, property. Return his cloak.

24:14-15 Paying a Hired Man

Give him his wage before sunset, lest you sin.

24:16 Punishing Only Personal (not Fathers’) Sin

Emphasis on justice, individual responsibility.

Children may suffer consequences, but not guilt.

24:17-22 Being Fair and Generous to the Poor

B/c God redeemed you from Egyptian slavery.

Deut 25 Respect and Responsibility

25:1-3 Limits on Punishment – Max 40 Stripes

Not to degrade the wicked man unnecessarily.

25:4 Fair Treatment of Animals – No Ox Muzzled

Cf. NT preachers, elders. 1 Cor 9:9; 1 Tim 5:18

25:5-10 Levirate (Brother-in-Law) Marriage

Man dies w/o child. Brother marries widow. First child continues the name of the dead man. If the brother refused he was to be publicly disgraced. Cf. Boaz’ marrying Ruth, redeeming the estate.

25:11-12 Prohibition of Unfair Fighting

A wife attacking her husband’s foe “below the belt” would have her hand cut off as her penalty.

25:13-16 Just Weights and Measures

25:17-19 Extermination of the Amalekites

Amalek – the grandson of Jacob’s brother Esau.

Attacked Israel’s weak stragglers. Ex 17:8-16

Deut 26 Offerings of Acknowledgement

26:1-11 Firstfruits: Best Produce of the New Land

B/c God blessed, heard, saved, led, brought us.

Giving – worship to God, shared with others.

26:12-15 Third-Year Tithe

Two great commands: love God; love neighbor.

So, tithes as generous gifts to the needy, poor.

26:16-19 Concluding Exhortation

Closes the covenant stipulations begun in 12:1.

Command. Agreement. Obedience. Blessing.

First-Class MALE – Make Men Masculine Again

Could it be that evils involving men do not indicate the presence of real masculinity, but rather the absence of it? Is it possible that wicked men are not actually manly men at all? Is there a real danger that, as society seeks to weaken, soften, feminize, silence, and intimidate men, our culture may forget what it means to be truly masculine?

Some of you know that I have been thinking about and discussing what it means to be a “first-class MALE.” In keeping with this I preached recently on gender and gender roles in the home and the church. The next day I came across a fascinating post. Allie Beth Stuckey, Host of “Allie” on CRTV and the “Relatable” podcast, works with Prager University and describes herself as a “conservative millennial.”

In this message and in her video, she explains why demonizing masculinity is not the solution, but the problem.

The words that follow are hers.

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Rape, murder, war—they all have one thing in common: Men.

Aggression, violence, ambition unchecked by conscience—all the stuff of “toxic masculinity,” right?

And, the solution is obvious: make men less toxic.

Make men less masculine.

Make men more like women.

But I’m here to tell you that this way of thinking is not only wrong, it’s dangerous.

Here’s why: When you try to make men more like women, you don’t get less “toxic masculinity,” you get more.

Why? Because bad men don’t become good when they stop being men; they become good when they stop being bad. Aggression, violence, and unbridled ambition can’t be eliminated from the male psyche; they can only be harnessed. And when they are harnessed, they are tools for good, not for harm.

The same masculine traits that bring destruction also defeat tyranny. The traits that foster greed also build economies. The traits that drive men to take foolish risks also drive men to take heroic risks.

The answer to toxic masculinity isn’t less masculinity; it’s better masculinity. And we know what that looks like.

It’s a young man opening the door for a girl on their first date. It’s a father working long hours to provide for his family. It’s a soldier risking his life to defend his country.

The growing problem in today’s society isn’t that men are too masculine; it’s that they’re not masculine enough. When men embrace their masculinity in a way that is healthy and productive, they are leaders, warriors and heroes. When they deny their masculinity, they run away from responsibilities, leaving destruction and despair in their wake.

The consequences can be seen everywhere.

One in four fathers now lives apart from his children. And children who grow up without a dad are generally more depressed than their peers who have a mother and a father. They are at far greater risk for incarceration, teen pregnancy and poverty. Seventy-one percent of high school dropouts are fatherless.

“Of all the rocks upon which we build our lives…family is the most important. And we are called to recognize and honor how critical every father is to that foundation.”

That was said by then-Senator Barack Obama in 2008.

“If we are honest with ourselves,” he went on, “we’ll admit that…too many fathers are…missing from too many lives and too many homes.”

As much as we try to deny the need for real, masculine strength in society, there’s no denying its necessity. Healthy families and strong communities depend on the leadership and bravery of good men.

Yet, the current trend is to feminize young men in the hopes of achieving some utopian notion of equality and peace. And it starts at the earliest ages. In the school classroom, boys are invariably “the problem.” On the playground, aggressive games like dodgeball have long been banished. We tell young men that their intrinsic desire to compete is wrong. Everybody gets a trophy. Don’t run up the score. This anti-male tilt continues on through higher education and into the workplace. It has created millions of tentative men, unhappy women, and confused boys and girls.

Here’s a secret that every woman knows: Women want real men—men they can count on and, yes, look up to. No amount of feminist theory will change that. I don’t know any woman, at any age, who is attracted to a passive man who looks to her to be his provider, protector and leader. Every woman I know wants a strong, responsible man. That’s not a consequence of a social construct or cultural pressure—it’s innate.

The devaluation of masculinity won’t end well because feminine, passive men don’t stop evil. Passive men don’t defend, protect or provide. Passive men don’t lead. Passive men don’t do the things we have always needed men to do for society to thrive.

In his book, The Abolition of Man, English social philosopher C.S. Lewis writes about this problem. He describes the tension “between cerebral man and visceral man.” “By his intellect,” Lewis explains, man “is mere spirit and by his appetite mere animal.”

We need both. Take away one, and you’re left with a man who’s either weak or wicked. And in a world of wickedness, weak men are nothing more than enablers of wicked men.

Rape, murder, war—they all have two things in common: bad men who do the raping, murdering, and warring; and weak men who won’t stop them. We need good men who will.

It’s not masculinity that’s toxic. It’s the lack of it.

I’m Allie Stuckey for Prager University.

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Here’s a link to this same message as she presents it in her YouTube video. It is well worth watching and sharing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-kxdyJs6y8

10 Life in the Desert – Deut 6-11 – Requirements – What God Expects of His People

Long ago God had promised Abraham that he would become the father of a great nation (Gn. 12:1–3). That nation would eventually dwell in a rich land ‘flowing with milk and honey’ (Ex. 3:17). The nation grew while in Egyptian slavery until being miraculously delivered by God (Ex. 14). He then met them at Mt Sinai and formally made a ‘covenant’ with them, which included various laws that they were to keep (Ex. 19–24). The next step was to march into the land, but they failed to do this straight away because they were overawed by the obstacles in the way. Because of their lack of faith, therefore, the Lord decided that the next generation should enter the promised land. In the meantime, they were condemned to forty years of living unsettled in the wilderness (Num 13–14; see especially Num 14:20–35).

Now the time of fulfillment is at hand. At the beginning of Deuteronomy, Moses, who himself will not enter the land, addresses the new generation. He reminds them of all the events that have brought them to this point, and prepares them to be faithful to their covenant with the Lord when they cross the River Jordan and receive the ‘inheritance’ which he has given them. New Bible Commentary

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Deut 6 – The Great Commandment

6:1-3 Intro: Obedience and its Rewards

Ends 5:22-33. Intros sermon on 1st command.

6:4-9 The Great Shema: “Hear, O Israel!”

The nature of God. Israel’s incumbent response.

Tefillin (“phylactaries”): Scripture boxes strapped to forehead and arm. Mezuzot: Scripture boxes by the door, also to be placed on the gates.

Especially Ex 13:1-16; Deut 6:4-9; 11:13-21.

Matt 23:5 Broad phylacteries to be seen by men.

6:10-15 Remember, Fear, and Serve Him Only.

6:13 - Jesus to Satan (Matt 4:10; Luke 4:10).

6:16-19 Do Not Test, but Keep His Commands.

6:16 - Jesus to Satan (Matt 4:7; Luke 4:12).

6:20-25 Explain to Your Children.

When your son asks, “Why?”

What we were – what God did – what God said – what we do.

Deut 7 – God’s Chosen, Holy People

7:1-5 Destroy the Mighty, Idolatrous Canaanites.

Completely. No mercy, covenant, or marriage.

Judgment for their wickedness and idolatry.

7:6-10 Because You are His, and He is Faithful.

Holy, chosen, treasured possession, loved.

7:11-16 Therefore, Obey and Be Blessed.

7:17-26 Do Not Fear Them. Remember Egypt.

As God defeated Pharaoh He will defeat them.

Detest, destroy all idols, or else be destroyed.

Deut 8 – Lessons from the Wilderness

8:1-5 Remember – God Led, Humbled, Tested, Preserved, Protected, and Disciplined You.

8:3 - Jesus to Satan (Matt 4:4; Luke 4:4).

8:6 Therefore Keep His Commands.

8:7-10 Because of All He is Giving You.

Eat, be full, and bless the LORD your God.

8:11-20 Never Forget, Boast, or Serve Idols.

Dangers of abundance, complacency, and pride.

If you forget and serve idols, you will perish.

Deut 9 – Self-Righteousness? No Way!

9:1-5 Not Your Merit, but Their Evil, God’s Oath.

9:6-24 Your Track Record: Consistent Rebellion.

From leaving Egypt until now. Even at Horeb.

The golden calf. Moses broke the tablets and lay prostrate 40 days to intercede and save Israel.

Taberah (Num 11), Massah (Ex 17) Kibroth-Hattaavah (Num 11). “From the day we met.”

9:25-29 Moses’ Intercession.

God: Your people, Your promise, Your reputation.

Deut 10 – New Tablets, New Hearts

10:1-5 New Tablets of Stone.

God’s positive response to Moses’ intercession.

10:6-9 Renewal of Priests’ and Levites’ Service.

Aaron died, but 40 years after the calf incident.

His son Eleazar, and the Levites, carried on.

10:10-11 Resumption of Journey.

10:12-22 New “Circumcised,” Obedient Hearts.

“Cut away” stubbornness and rebellion.

“What does the LORD require?” Cf. Mic 6:8.

Deut 11 – Exhortation: Love, Obey, Live

11:1-7 Consider God’s Discipline and Power.

Therefore – because He multiplied you (10:22).

Plagues, Red Sea, Dathan & Abiram, 40 yrs., etc.

11:26-32 Choose the Blessing, not the Curse.

Therefore – because He led and delivered you.

Be strong, go in, and conquer!

So that you may live long in it.

For God especially cares for its prosperity.

Read and discuss 11:18-32.