02/24/08: Deuteronomy 13-16
Category: Deuteronomy
Posted by: sejje
Chapter 13:
Doesn't God know the intent of our hearts? Why does He test us?
Ted: Yes, He knows everything. All testing by God is to show us, not Him, how well we are conforming to His laws and standards. Back in the Garden of Eden, God asked Adam and Eve specific questions (Genesis 3:9,11,13), not because He did not know the answers but because He wanted them to acknowledge what they had done and to be held accountable, in their own minds, for their actions.
It keeps speaking of gods that were not previously known. It wasn't okay to worship ANY god, known or not, right? Why does Moses keep saying that?
Ted: Right, it was not okay to worship any god other than the one true God. Doing so was considered breaking the First Commandment (Exodus 20:3; Deuteronomy 5:7). Just like most of God's laws and commandments, Moses stated them over and over again. For one thing, people tend to remember things better if they have heard them repeatedly. But also, when the people eventually broke God's laws and commandments on a regular basis (which we will see that they do as we read further), they understood why they were being punished, because they had had the laws/commandments drilled into their heads and knew that they were without excuse for their disobedience and rebellion.
Chapter 14:
What does "for the dead" mean?
Ted: There are certain things that people in pagan religions did and do for their gods, on behalf of those who have departed, in hopes of gaining mercy for the dead from some particular god(s). Moses reminded the Israelites that they were children of the true God; as such, they were not to perform rituals on behalf of the dead (Deuteronomy 14:1). They were people who were set aside from all the other people of the earth (14:2). As such, they were not to behave, in any way, like other people.
Chapter 15:
What if a man chose to repay the debt anyway, after it had been canceled? I would feel obligated to pay it, even if God did not require it any longer.
Ted: The canceling of debts was for the benefit of those who, for whatever reason, were unable to pay what they owed. It definitely was not a blanket authorization for people to borrow and then not to feel obligated to pay back their debts.
The "bigger picture" has to do with our debts to God. He has given us so much that there is no way any of us ever could pay Him back. The seven years of Deuteronomy 15:1 are analogous to the seven "days" of creation, of which we presently are in the seventh and final day (Genesis 2:3; Hebrews 3:13), during which God continues to rest from creating anything out of nothing. At the end of this "day," God will forgive the debts of those who are His, and we will live with Him eternally, debt-free.
This corresponds to a parable stated by Jesus (Matthew 18:21-35). We have been forgiven an infinite debt, by God, that we never can repay. Likewise, we are to forgive the debts of others if, after a period of time (Moses said seven years), it becomes clear that there is no realistic way they can pay us back.
I think it's strange that God assumes everyone will live in a town. Every time I've felt really close to God was a time when I was out in the country, away from towns. The only thing I can thing is that towns were more important then, as they provided protection.
Ted: Here, Moses specifically is talking about eating the firstborn males of their herds and flocks (Deuteronomy 15:19,20). They simply were to be in their towns, designated for their respective tribes, when they ate them.
Chapter 16:
What does the "bread of affliction" mean?
All the things the people were to do during Passover were to remind them of the distress and suffering they or their ancestors had experienced while in bondage in Egypt. The unleavened bread was to remind them of the affliction from which God had delivered and saved them on the very first Passover (Exodus 12:1-30).
Is there any significance to the fact that God wanted the Israelites to appear before Him three times a year, during those three feasts?
Ted: The three feasts in Deuteronomy 16 have great significance in foreshadowing the Messiah, Jesus, which much of the Old Testament does:
1) Jesus was crucified on Passover (as the "Passover Lamb" for humanity: 1 Corinthians 5:7). He was in the tomb during the first three days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. He rose from the dead on the Feast of Firstfruits (as the firstfruits of those who have "fallen asleep" or died: 1 Corinthians 15:20), which was the first Sunday after the Sabbath day of that week.
2) With the Feast of Firstfruits as Day #1, then Day #50 was the Feast of Weeks, also known as Shavuot and Pentacost. Jesus' disciples were gathered together in one place. The Holy Spirit came to rest on all of them, like tongues of fire, and they began to speak in other tongues (Acts 2:1-4). On this day, Jews from all the nations had gathered in Jerusalem (as God had commanded). They heard the Spirit-filled disciples speaking in their languages, which utterly amazed them (2:5-8).
3) When Jesus returns (on a future Yom Kippur), it will be only a few days before the Feast of Tabernacles, also known as Sukkot, takes place. Survivors from all the nations who attack Jerusalem will go to worship Jesus, the King, in Jerusalem, beginning that year and continuing year after year (Zechariah 14:16-19), probably throughout the Millennium. I believe that Sukkot is Jesus' birthday.
Doesn't God know the intent of our hearts? Why does He test us?
Ted: Yes, He knows everything. All testing by God is to show us, not Him, how well we are conforming to His laws and standards. Back in the Garden of Eden, God asked Adam and Eve specific questions (Genesis 3:9,11,13), not because He did not know the answers but because He wanted them to acknowledge what they had done and to be held accountable, in their own minds, for their actions.
It keeps speaking of gods that were not previously known. It wasn't okay to worship ANY god, known or not, right? Why does Moses keep saying that?
Ted: Right, it was not okay to worship any god other than the one true God. Doing so was considered breaking the First Commandment (Exodus 20:3; Deuteronomy 5:7). Just like most of God's laws and commandments, Moses stated them over and over again. For one thing, people tend to remember things better if they have heard them repeatedly. But also, when the people eventually broke God's laws and commandments on a regular basis (which we will see that they do as we read further), they understood why they were being punished, because they had had the laws/commandments drilled into their heads and knew that they were without excuse for their disobedience and rebellion.
Chapter 14:
What does "for the dead" mean?
Ted: There are certain things that people in pagan religions did and do for their gods, on behalf of those who have departed, in hopes of gaining mercy for the dead from some particular god(s). Moses reminded the Israelites that they were children of the true God; as such, they were not to perform rituals on behalf of the dead (Deuteronomy 14:1). They were people who were set aside from all the other people of the earth (14:2). As such, they were not to behave, in any way, like other people.
Chapter 15:
What if a man chose to repay the debt anyway, after it had been canceled? I would feel obligated to pay it, even if God did not require it any longer.
Ted: The canceling of debts was for the benefit of those who, for whatever reason, were unable to pay what they owed. It definitely was not a blanket authorization for people to borrow and then not to feel obligated to pay back their debts.
The "bigger picture" has to do with our debts to God. He has given us so much that there is no way any of us ever could pay Him back. The seven years of Deuteronomy 15:1 are analogous to the seven "days" of creation, of which we presently are in the seventh and final day (Genesis 2:3; Hebrews 3:13), during which God continues to rest from creating anything out of nothing. At the end of this "day," God will forgive the debts of those who are His, and we will live with Him eternally, debt-free.
This corresponds to a parable stated by Jesus (Matthew 18:21-35). We have been forgiven an infinite debt, by God, that we never can repay. Likewise, we are to forgive the debts of others if, after a period of time (Moses said seven years), it becomes clear that there is no realistic way they can pay us back.
I think it's strange that God assumes everyone will live in a town. Every time I've felt really close to God was a time when I was out in the country, away from towns. The only thing I can thing is that towns were more important then, as they provided protection.
Ted: Here, Moses specifically is talking about eating the firstborn males of their herds and flocks (Deuteronomy 15:19,20). They simply were to be in their towns, designated for their respective tribes, when they ate them.
Chapter 16:
What does the "bread of affliction" mean?
All the things the people were to do during Passover were to remind them of the distress and suffering they or their ancestors had experienced while in bondage in Egypt. The unleavened bread was to remind them of the affliction from which God had delivered and saved them on the very first Passover (Exodus 12:1-30).
Is there any significance to the fact that God wanted the Israelites to appear before Him three times a year, during those three feasts?
Ted: The three feasts in Deuteronomy 16 have great significance in foreshadowing the Messiah, Jesus, which much of the Old Testament does:
1) Jesus was crucified on Passover (as the "Passover Lamb" for humanity: 1 Corinthians 5:7). He was in the tomb during the first three days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. He rose from the dead on the Feast of Firstfruits (as the firstfruits of those who have "fallen asleep" or died: 1 Corinthians 15:20), which was the first Sunday after the Sabbath day of that week.
2) With the Feast of Firstfruits as Day #1, then Day #50 was the Feast of Weeks, also known as Shavuot and Pentacost. Jesus' disciples were gathered together in one place. The Holy Spirit came to rest on all of them, like tongues of fire, and they began to speak in other tongues (Acts 2:1-4). On this day, Jews from all the nations had gathered in Jerusalem (as God had commanded). They heard the Spirit-filled disciples speaking in their languages, which utterly amazed them (2:5-8).
3) When Jesus returns (on a future Yom Kippur), it will be only a few days before the Feast of Tabernacles, also known as Sukkot, takes place. Survivors from all the nations who attack Jerusalem will go to worship Jesus, the King, in Jerusalem, beginning that year and continuing year after year (Zechariah 14:16-19), probably throughout the Millennium. I believe that Sukkot is Jesus' birthday.
