The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Deuteronomy 17:18-20,
"When he [a potential king in Israel] takes the throne of his kingdom, he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law, taken from that of the Levitical priests. It is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the Lord his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees and not consider himself better than his fellow Israelites and turn from the law to the right or to the left. Then he and his descendants will reign a long time over his kingdom in Israel."
I realize the purpose of this direction was aimed at a potential king that might be chosen to lead Israel. I also realize the copy of the law he was to read "all the days of his life" is something believers are no longer bound to. As Paul observes in Romans 7:6, "But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code."
However, I note the purpose of this direction was that the king "may learn to revere the Lord his God and follow carefully all the words..." An outcome of this is he "not consider himself better than his fellow Israelites and turn from the law to the right or to the left."
As I think of an application of this to my life, the thought strikes me that whatever it takes for me to learn to revere the Lord my God and follow all he desires of me has to be important. The king was to read the Scriptures every day. Perhaps that is a good prescription for me as well. And, not just the reading of it, but also the doing of it,"follow carefully all the words".
I may not be a king, but I am a child of God. As such, as we all do, I have a role and responsibilities. "As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 2:4-5.
"When he [a potential king in Israel] takes the throne of his kingdom, he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law, taken from that of the Levitical priests. It is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the Lord his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees and not consider himself better than his fellow Israelites and turn from the law to the right or to the left. Then he and his descendants will reign a long time over his kingdom in Israel."
I realize the purpose of this direction was aimed at a potential king that might be chosen to lead Israel. I also realize the copy of the law he was to read "all the days of his life" is something believers are no longer bound to. As Paul observes in Romans 7:6, "But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code."
However, I note the purpose of this direction was that the king "may learn to revere the Lord his God and follow carefully all the words..." An outcome of this is he "not consider himself better than his fellow Israelites and turn from the law to the right or to the left."
As I think of an application of this to my life, the thought strikes me that whatever it takes for me to learn to revere the Lord my God and follow all he desires of me has to be important. The king was to read the Scriptures every day. Perhaps that is a good prescription for me as well. And, not just the reading of it, but also the doing of it,"follow carefully all the words".
I may not be a king, but I am a child of God. As such, as we all do, I have a role and responsibilities. "As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 2:4-5.
Possibly what was good for a potential king in Israel to do to please the Lord, just may be good for me: the reading and the doing of Scripture!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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