Sound Advice For God's People Today

 The Law of the Administration of the Priest and Prophet -- Part 2

(courtesy of daily theology.org)

Deuteronomy 18:6-22 -- Gems and Thoughts from the Passage

Verses 6-9 of this chapter are a continuation of the previous sections we recently covered. It is a reminder that says a priest (or minister or pastor) that moves into a new area, shall be treated as if he were there from the start, just like the other priests.  That is assuming of course that God has called him to serve in this new locale.

Then the chapter turns its attention to a number of key pieces of instruction for the people of Israel and for us today, when we move to a new locale or nation:

First, verse 9, tells us "don't imitate the detestable things" carried out by people of those nations. It does not say do not participate in some of their customs that are cultural in nature. It says don't imitate the detestable things they do.  And those of us who have been studying the Pentateuch know that for God those things are primarily things which drive us towards other 'gods'. In fact, starting in verse 10, God outlines some of those things. Those include not making your children "pass through the fire", use divination, practice witchcraft, interpret omens, act as a sorcerer or medium or spiritist, cast spells, or call up the dead (no seances).  The "pass through the fire" reference is, according to David Guzik, a reference to the "debased worship of the Canaanite god Molech, to whom children were sacrificed by burning."

Verse 12 tells us all these things and those related to them are all "detestable" to God and He will do whatever He has to, to drive them out of the land. Because, verse 13 says, He wants us to be "blameless before Him."

[I don't know why, but I feel that many of these things go on in our own nations today, especially at high levels of government. And I sense that God is currently carrying out His Plan to get rid of all those things for His people, His church, today. And for the same reason -- He wants His people, His church, to be blameless before Him.]

In verse 15, we are told God promised His people a prophet, from among them, that needs to be listened to. And verse 16 tells us that God would do this for the people of Israel because they had asked for it. And God had been pleased with their request (verse 17).

God said He would put His words in the mouth of the prophet and he would speak as God commands him to the people. And then comes verse 19 -- if the people don't listen to God's words spoken by His prophet, God Himself will directly demand of them the things they wouldn't listen to.  Wow. That is powerful. A day of judgement is indeed coming for those that reject God's Prophet.

In verse 20, there is also caution for any prophet which chooses to speak for God when God had not given him such instruction or even called him to be a prophet. That prophet shall die. (No one can replace the true and only prophet that God has chosen to save His people.) And if anyone can't discern whether the prophet speaks from God or not, God gives a simple rule: if what the prophet prophesied does not come true -- then that which he spoke was not of God. And if that was the case, the people "shall not be afraid of him."  This is a packed passage for sure.

It appears that from this time forward God would also provide a number of prophets for Israel (and we see this throughout the rest of the Old Testament). Most were sent by God with a particular message. Others were false prophets and they didn't last long. And then eventually we see that the ultimate prophet that God would send is His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ (Acts 3:19-26).  And in Acts 7:37 we read of Stephen preaching about Moses who also foretold of Jesus and the reference is then back to our passage here, especially Deuteronomy 18:15.

And I like the way the chapter ends.  "Don't be afraid of false prophets."  As Christians we need to hear that today.  I personally believe that the only prophet that matters to us today is not only a God-sent prophet, but He is "THE" Prophet, the Savior, the Son of God, and God Himself.  Jesus Christ is all of that. Do you know Him?

It would be great if you would share your thoughts or questions on this blog in the comments section below or on social media.