King James Bible Study – [And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. – Mark 8:34]
Date: Sunday, March 17, 2024
Chapters: Deuteronomy Chapters 17-20
Message: Put Away The Evil
Hello My Friend,
I stole this paragraph from what I had written last year because it more true today as I just learned a few days ago that many states, even my own, are being sued by parents because they do not allow puberty blockers to be given to their children to alter their gender, Believe it or not, our Government and Judicial system here in America was designed and founded on the Word of God. The reason why it became as powerful as Israel back in their day of power in such a short amount of time is that God’s hand and Law was in it. Now, that we have wicked leadership corrupting our nations we are dealing with every wicked thing you can imagine from same sex marriage to devil worship in public schools.
When God is at the center of a nation it is truly blessed, but when the devil gets a hold of it they become reprobates, [Romans 1:28-32 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.]
Every law made by man ought to line up with God’s Word, and at one point the American Constitution was written with it to some extent, and so were the laws. Although the Constitution does stand, over the years mans laws do not, and because of that conflicts arise, and just like every other binding document, they are trying to overturn its laws. As we continue in the reading of Deuteronomy, we have been talking about acceptable sacrifices, Moses, goes on to warn the Israelites of what would happen if anyone brought evil into the nation.
[Deuteronomy 17:2-6 If there be found among you, within any of thy gates which the LORD thy God giveth thee, man or woman, that hath wrought wickedness in the sight of the LORD thy God, in transgressing his covenant, 3 And hath gone and served other gods, and worshipped them, either the sun, or moon, or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded; 4 And it be told thee, and thou hast heard of it, and enquired diligently, and, behold, it be true, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought in Israel: 5 Then shalt thou bring forth that man or that woman, which have committed that wicked thing, unto thy gates, even that man or that woman, and shalt stone them with stones, till they die. 6 At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death.]
[At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses,] Unlike society today, God, believes that all are innocent until proven guilty, but He also takes it a step further. Before we accuse anyone, we must do our research and have a witness or two to back up the accusation. In fact, even if they were guilty and had no witness they were considered innocent. We as sinners are guilty of sin, which is punishable by death and hell, and yet, we who believe in Christ has a witness within ourselves that we are pardoned and that is the Holy Spirit, [1 John 5:9-11 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. 10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. 11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.]
Let me tell you, God’s Law, will always trump mans, that does not mean that man does not try to overthrow God. Nevertheless, this why God instituted the courts, the judge shall decide the matter, but watch who is there with him.
[Deuteronomy 17:8-10,12-13 If there arise a matter too hard for thee in judgment, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke, being matters of controversy within thy gates: then shalt thou arise, and get thee up into the place which the LORD thy God shall choose; 9 And thou shalt come unto the priests the Levites, and unto the judge that shall be in those days, and enquire; and they shall shew thee the sentence of judgment: 10 And thou shalt do according to the sentence, which they of that place which the LORD shall choose shall shew thee; and thou shalt observe to do according to all that they inform thee: 12 And the man that will do presumptuously, and will not hearken unto the priest that standeth to minister there before the LORD thy God, or unto the judge, even that man shall die: and thou shalt put away the evil from Israel. 13 And all the people shall hear, and fear, and do no more presumptuously.]
[and unto the judge that shall be in those days,] This is the foreshadow of when God would send judges to direct the people according to the Law. God is our judge, Jesus stands before us in God’s courtroom, He is the one who presides our case. If we have accepted Christ as our Saviour, then our sentence is revoked, and we are set free from the doom of eternal death. Amen! On the other hand, while our salvation saves us by grace alone, we are still responsible for our actions while we are here. So, whatever chastisement we receive we must accept it as all of God’s chastening is used to create us into an image that reflects His Son, [Hebrews 12:11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.]
[and do no more presumptuously.] Presumption, sends more people to hell than the devil himself because they assume they know God because of their religion or misguide beliefs of their own perception of God. God, sends no one to hell, and quite frankly neither does the devil as we are all given something called freewill, [James 1:13-15 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.]
Did you notice that in order to prove someone innocent or guilty, not only was there a judge to hear the matter, a priest (man of God) was there also? This is why here in America there is often clergy in the jails, prisons, and courts, it is also why witnesses would place their hands on a Bible before giving their testimony back in the day in court. God, may appoint earthly rulers in order to keep things in order, but He is our ultimate authority, if these rulers go against God, then they will be held responsible for oppressing His people. God, already anticipated them wanting earthly kings and leaders, and therefore, gives commands for them.
[Deuteronomy 17:15,17-20 Thou shalt in any wise set him king over thee, whom the LORD thy God shall choose: one from among thy brethren shalt thou set king over thee: thou mayest not set a stranger over thee, which is not thy brother. 17-20 Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold. 18 And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites: 19 And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them: 20 That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel.]
[Neither shall he multiply wives to himself,] Boy, Israel’s kings sure broke a lot of these commands like you would not believe, even David had several wives. And even though they did not turn his heart away from God, his several wives did cause problems as his children were not all godly. We must understand that God never condoned men having several wives, it was always one man and one woman from the beginning, He just used their situations to His advantage, [1 Corinthians 10:6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.]
[That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren,] Kings, Queens, Presidents, Governor’s, while we are to respect them, they are not to be placed on some pedestal and worshiped. They are no different that the layman and are subject to the same Law that us common folk are subject to, [Romans 10:12-13 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.]
The people that worshiped God before Christ came to earth were not oblivious to the fact that He existed, they knew He was coming, they just did not know when. And while God dealt with their sin a little differently back then, the same rules applied, blood was still required for redemption and atonement. God, knew that they would need a guide, which is why they had Moses and Joshua would soon take charge. It is very important that we have godly men to help guide God’s people to the Law, but we must never neglect them either. Since God did not give the Levites a special portion of land, He instructs the rest of the tribes to provide for them.
[Deuteronomy 18:1-3,6-8 The priests the Levites, and all the tribe of Levi, shall have no part nor inheritance with Israel: they shall eat the offerings of the LORD made by fire, and his inheritance. 2 Therefore shall they have no inheritance among their brethren: the LORD is their inheritance, as he hath said unto them. 3 And this shall be the priest’s due from the people, from them that offer a sacrifice, whether it be ox or sheep; and they shall give unto the priest the shoulder, and the two cheeks, and the maw. 6 And if a Levite come from any of thy gates out of all Israel, where he sojourned, and come with all the desire of his mind unto the place which the LORD shall choose; 7 Then he shall minister in the name of the LORD his God, as all his brethren the Levites do, which stand there before the LORD. 8 They shall have like portions to eat, beside that which cometh of the sale of his patrimony.]
[The priests…shall eat the offerings of the LORD] This is why we give tithes and offerings to our church, it is not for the pastors to get rich off of, it is for them to be provided for as this is often their only job. They sacrifice their entire lives for their church, and not just on Sunday’s and Wednesday’s, but twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. The least we can do is take care of them, and not just financially, but with all their needs and families needs as well, [Malachi 3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.]
Do you know why a group of Christians decided to leave Britain in the first place to find America? They wanted to be free to worship God under His authority, not mans. This is why God gave the Israelites the land He gave them, it was a place for His believers to go where they were free to worship Him. We are not to be like the heathens who follow every god there is. We are not to be like the immoral who follow every lust of their flesh. We are to be like Christ. And if you think that the people who were here did not know that Christ was coming, think again, they were well aware of Him. In fact, Moses tells tells the Israelites that He is coming.
[Deuteronomy 18:15-16,19-20 The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken; 16 According to all that thou desiredst of the LORD thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not. 19 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him. 20 But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.]
[raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee,] This was the first mention to the new generation that God was sending His Son from among them. This reminds me of something that Jesus asked the people who wondered if He were their long awaited Prophet, [Matthew 11:8-9 But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. 9 But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.]
Jesus, truly is more than a prophet, He is the Prophet, the Christ of God, the anointed one, He is also our refuge, the one who keeps us from death. Once again, God thought that this was so important for them to have cities of refuge that He had Moses repeat it.
[Deuteronomy 19:1-5 When the LORD thy God hath cut off the nations, whose land the LORD thy God giveth thee, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their cities, and in their houses; 2 Thou shalt separate three cities for thee in the midst of thy land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it. 3 Thou shalt prepare thee a way, and divide the coasts of thy land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee to inherit, into three parts, that every slayer may flee thither. 4 And this is the case of the slayer, which shall flee thither, that he may live: Whoso killeth his neighbour ignorantly, whom he hated not in time past; 5 As when a man goeth into the wood with his neighbour to hew wood, and his hand fetcheth a stroke with the axe to cut down the tree, and the head slippeth from the helve, and lighteth upon his neighbour, that he die; he shall flee unto one of those cities, and live:]
[the head slippeth from the helve…that he die;] This was just an example given to explain the difference between killing accidental and deliberately. Would it have been easier to just say that the city of refuge was a place where those who killed someone accidentally could hide out until they get a fair trial? Sure, but there is a reason why everything is written in His Word as it is. Just think about the time they were in, axes were what was used to cut down trees. God, gave them a scenario that they could relate to, just like He does us, but if they were truly guilty of murder than the cities of refuge nothing could save them, they would actually get hunted.
[Deuteronomy 19:11-13,15,18-19 But if any man hate his neighbour, and lie in wait for him, and rise up against him, and smite him mortally that he die, and fleeth into one of these cities: 12 Then the elders of his city shall send and fetch him thence, and deliver him into the hand of the avenger of blood, that he may die. 13 Thine eye shall not pity him, but thou shalt put away the guilt of innocent blood from Israel, that it may go well with thee. 15 One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established. 18 And the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and, behold, if the witness be a false witness, and hath testified falsely against his brother; 19 Then shall ye do unto him, as he had thought to have done unto his brother: so shalt thou put the evil away from among you.]
[thou shalt put away…innocent blood from Israel,] Remember, we are all under the same judgment, death by sin. Jesus, was killed for debts He did not owe, He died an innocent death that we could not pay ourselves, and no one can escape death unless we come to Him confessing that we are a sinner. Sin will forever be the death of us, but Jesus is our refuge, not only from the death of our soul, but life itself, [Mark 10:45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.]
[so shalt thou put the evil away from among you.] The point of all this was to put fear in them so that they can both get along with God and each other. Jesus, was not kidding when He said that our biggest foes come within our own family and I believe it because I have seen it in my own family, [Matthew 10:34-36 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36 And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.]
Why is it that our biggest enemies often come from family? There are many factors, most of them stem from pride, jealousy, and betrayal, but perhaps the biggest factor comes from different beliefs. True believers may differ in certain things, but the doctrine of Christ is all the same. We do not need to be afraid of them because the Holy Spirit will tell us how to answer them. We are in a battle here, and it is Christ who not only leads us, but carries us through. Moses, goes on to tell the Israelites that they will have to battle their enemies.
[Deuteronomy 20:1-4 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 thy God is with thee, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. 2 And it shall be, when ye are come nigh unto the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak unto the people, 3 And shall say unto them, Hear, O Israel, ye approach this day unto battle against your enemies: let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified because of them; 4 For the LORD your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.]
[For the LORD your God is he that goeth with you,] Think about it, America is a divided nation, and let me tell you that division is a battle between good and evil. The immoral and wicked are attempting to take over this nation in the worse way, but there is nothing for us to fear a long as we have Jesus on our side. You know, Jesus, chooses His soldiers, and this is the honest truth, if there is anyone who is not willing or is fearful to fulfill their duty, then Jesus cannot us them. Why? Because they put the other soldiers lives in danger. Moses, explains this.
[Deuteronomy 20:5-8 And the officers shall speak unto the people, saying, What man is there that hath built a new house, and hath not dedicated it? let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man dedicate it. 6 And what man is he that hath planted a vineyard, and hath not yet eaten of it? let him also go and return unto his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man eat of it. 7 And what man is there that hath betrothed a wife, and hath not taken her? let him go and return unto his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man take her. 8 And the officers shall speak further unto the people, and they shall say, What man is there that is fearful and fainthearted? let him go and return unto his house, lest his brethren’s heart faint as well as his heart.]
[lest he die in the battle, and another man take her.] Those who are unwilling to fight for the cause of Christ must be sent away as their unwillingness to go will endanger those who are in this to win it. Jesus, will never force Himself upon anyone, and will save anyone, but they need to come to Him willingly. Nevertheless, there is no room in God’s kingdom for anyone who does not want to be saved yet hnders others from being saved themselves, [Matthew 23:13-14 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. 14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.]
Jesus Christ Revealed/Magnified: [Deuteronomy 18:15 The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;]
Today’s Prayer: God, Thank You for sending Your Prophet to guide and show us Your ways so that we not only live a life in Your Kingdom, but here as well that is pleasing to You. Lord, as the days approach to the return of Your Son it is going to get harder to tell the truth from the lies, but it is apparent that the truth be told as we know it from Your Word. Lead us and guide us, fill us with wisdom, knowledge, discernment, and Your power to get through this battle. You are our strength, You are our victory in this wicked world, and as long as we stick close to You we will win this battle. I pray this in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Are You 100% Sure You Are Going To Heaven?: https://imfollowingjesus.com/Biblestudy/ready-to-follow-jesus/
Receive The KJB Daily Devotions In Your Email: http://eepurl.com/2WMzT
Read Previous Devotions: https://imfollowingjesus.com/Biblestudy/
Read The Bible: http://kingjamesbible.imfollowingjesus.com/
Visit I’m Following Jesus: http://imfollowingjesus.com/index.html
Like I’m Following Jesus On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/byhisstrength
Copyright © 2024 I’m Following Jesus, All rights reserved.