In these chapters God is reminding the Israelites of the laws they are to keep. He tells them if they go and serve others gods and it is proven to be true then they shall be put to death. They must have two or three witnesses in order for them to be put to death. If there is only one, than they shall not put them to death. The rules and laws of our courts today follow this same law that God gave to Israel. They have to have witnesses or prove that a person is guilty in order for them to receive punishment.
God tells them they are not to have people that uses divination, observers of time, enchanters, witches, charmers, consulters with familiar spirits, wizards or necromancers for they are an abomination to the Lord. He would send a prophet from the midst of them. They could distinguish him from a false prophet because what the real prophet said would happen. Today we have many false prophets and fortune tellers that people follow. We must warn our children and others that they are an abomination unto the Lord and they need to stay away from them.
He tells them once again of the cities of refuge and how they are to be used. He also tells them the laws of going into battle. (Incidentally, Obviously, God condones war when it is proper.) Who may and may not go and why.
In today's world we have laws and regulations that we must follow. We can look at our laws and trace them back to God's laws. As the Israelites had to teach their children what the laws were and to obey them, we too must teach our children. I am reminded of when my children were younger and we were going someplace. Before we left home, I would tell them what I expected them to do when we got there. I would remind them once again when we got there of what I expected.
As God's children we need to be reminded of what God expects us to do and what not to do. We get our reminders when we read God's word, by going to church and hearing God's word, by being around other Christians and by praying. Remind me, Remind me oh Lord to do thy will in all that I do.
Jeanette said......Good Morning, Boots! Boy, you are an early riser!! At my age, I especially need to be reminded often to REMEMBER what I am supposed to do :) What a wise Mom of little ones you were...& I am sure they felt a measure of confidence knowing what was expected of them in situations, because of your preparation. And I know they felt loved because you showed you cared by taking time to "train them in the way they should go." Oh, may I embrace God's instruction on the way He would have me go!
ReplyDeleteMs.Boots...Reminders are also good tools to teach our children as well as ourselves every day. I am often reminded through memories of life with my parents and sisters. Those reminders and life lessons sure have helped me parent my own children. Very thankful for Godly parents and their lessons.
ReplyDeleteIn the old testament I continually see a pattern of "reminders" such as obedience, following God's will, and loving Him with all your heart, soul, and mind. Oh, how life runs so much smoother when we adhere to God's commands.
I recall when King Saul used a sorcerer to call Samuel back from the dead after he had already messed up royally when God had already taken the Holy Spirit from him. It seems to me like people resort to these other mediums when they do not have the Holy Spirit/God in their lives. BUT, the Isrealites DID have God in their lives so none of them should EVER have need of any of these mediums. I wonder how many "mediums" I have used in my life instead of turning to the Lord for my help and my strength??? I think I will ponder on that this week! =)
ReplyDeleteThe second part of verse 17:7 jumped out to me... "You must purge the evil from among you." That pretty much sums up God's expectation for the Israelites and for us. I know that there are many of my "closets" that need cleaning out.
ReplyDeleteRegarding the practices of the nations living in the land that God was about to give to the Israelites (divination, sorcery, etc.)... My thought about this is how feeble our minds are and how easily I might go (or be led) astray. I need to continue to spend time in God's Word and with others who do the same to stay focused on God.
HAHHAHA! I knew I liked you, Boots! I love that you told your children what you expected when you were going somewhere. I find that my own children respond much better when they know what I expect. And don't we KNOW that God was "taking His children somewhere"!!!
ReplyDeleteI also wanted to comment on the last part of ch. 17 where God warns the men not to "multiply wives, and lead their hearts astray". We learned in our study of David how many a godly man had their heart lead them astray for a time....and David even had a "heart like HIS".....if David struggled, don't we know how much more we should make efforts to protect our own hearts?
Great Title Mrs. Boots for today's reading - remind me, oh yes. My mother and dad were always "reminding" my sister and me how to "behave" when we went somewhere, and I did to my children as well (and now my grandchildren).
ReplyDeleteYou are correct - reading God's word certainly has reminded me (since January more than ever) what I am to do and not to do! And yes, sorry, I do have to be reminded again and again . . .