Tag Archive | the Law

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 80

Mar21
Day 80.  Reading Deuteronomy 30 – 31. 
 

Read today’s scripture.

What do you learn NEW about God’s goodness?

Who can you share that with today?

Deuteronomy 30.

This chapter brings good news. 

IF Israel sins against the LORD by not loving and obeying Him, and afterwards returns to Him and obeys Him with all their heart and soul, THEN the LORD will restore their fortunes, and have compassion on them and again gather them from the people where the LORD scattered them.

The LORD will also “circumcise their hearts” so they will love him totally. He will make them prosperous and delight in them again. And He will put all the curses on their enemies.

Then Moses encouraged them. “This commandment that I command you today is not too hard for you, neither too far off. The word is very near you. It is in your mouth and your heart, so you can do it.”

Then Moses challenged them. “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil. IF you obey the commandments of the LORD your God, by loving  Him, walking in His ways, and keeping his commandments and statutes and rules, THEN you shall live and multiply and the LORD your God will bless you in the land you are entering.

“I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curs.  CHOOSE LIFE!  So you and your offspring may live, loving the LORD your God, obeying His voice and holding fast to Him, for HE is your life and length of days.

Deuteronomy 31.

Moses then reminded the people that he was now 120 years old and he could not enter the Land with them.  But that the LORD Himself will go in with them. “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.

Then Moses brought Joshua before them and commissioned him. “Be strong and courageous, for YOU shall go with this people into the land that the LORD has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall put them in possession of it.”

Then Moses gave the whole law, which he had written at God’s command, to the priests. He commanded them to read it every seven years at the Feast of Tabernacles when all Israel came to appear before the LORD. They were to read it before all Israel, men, women, children, and stranger in their towns… that all may hear and learn to fear the LORD they God and be careful to obey all the words.

Then God told Moses. “It’s time for you to die.  Call Joshua and present yourselves in the tent of meeting that I may commission him.” 

God told Moses that after he died, the people would turn and whore after foreign gods in the land and that His anger would be kindled against them.  AND SO, Moses was to write a song and teach it to the people. He was to put it in their mouths, that it would be a witness for God against them..”

So Moses wrote the song the same day and taught it to the people. (We will read it tomorrow in chapter 32.)

Then the LORD commissioned Joshua, the son of Nun. “Be strong and courageous, for you SHALL bring the people of Israel into the land I swore to give them. I will be with you.”

Then Moses gave the entire book of the Law to the Levite priests, who were to put it beside the Ark of the Covenant. It was a witness against them. (For God knew how rebellious and stubborn they were.)

 

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 45

Feb14
Day 45.  Reading Leviticus 5 – 7. 

Read the scripture for today. What do you learn about God? Share what you learn with others.

Leviticus 5.

More offerings for forgiveness of unintentional sin.

Whether it’s a sin of omission (not doing what he should) or of commission (doing what he should not), appropriate offerings shall be made when the person discovers or realizes his sin.

Allowances are made for the poor in God’s compassion.  People who cannot afford a lamb or goat may bring two doves or pigeons. If even that is too costly, they may offer a quart of fine flour (no oil or frankincense is required).

Leviticus 6.

In another circumstance, if a person withholds knowledge, willfully robs another, or swears falsely, he must fully restore what he has stolen or cheated from another person AND add 20% more as compensation. He shall also bring a spotless ram (or equivalent) as a guilt offering, and the priest will make atonement for him. “And he shall be forgiven.”

Then, the LORD gives Moses more details about the offerings He’s already listed.  Also, the fire on the Bronze Altar must always be kept burning (except when transporting the Altar to another location when Israel’s camp moves, I assume).  It should be kept ready for the morning and evening sacrifices and for everything an Israelite may bring to it. Every morning, the priest shall put on regular clothes and carry the accumulated ashes outside the camp to a clean place.

The LORD also details of how Aaron and all the priests should eat the meat and grain offerings. 

Leviticus 7.

More details clarify what the priests can and not do with portions of the offerings the people bring.  Of course, some part is burned to the LORD, but often the rest is for food for the priests (and leather in the case of a bull offered as a burnt offering).  Some offerings (such as THE VOW OR FREEWILL OFFERINGS) are eaten by the person offering it before or with a priest.

Next the topic of uncleanness is approached. Don’t eat any unclean thing. (Dietary restrictions will be covered later.)  Again, the people are NOT TO EAT FAT OF ANY ANIMAL. And, of course, they are to NEVER EAT BLOOD of any beast or fowl. 

And so, that is the law of the Burnt, Grain, Sin, Guilt, Ordination, and Peace-type offerings.  Got it?

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, days 70 & 71

Mar11

    Day 70 & 71—  Now that we’ve passed Day 66, we have established a “habit.” So CELEBRATE our habit of daily Bible reading! We are in the THIRD month so far! Praise God!  (Note: SUNDAY’s reading is combined with MONDAY’s)

   Day 70 – Deuteronomy 1 – 2 (God’s orders & Moses’ Recap so far)

Deuteronomy means “Second Law” so in this book, Moses repeats a lot of what has happened so far, and explains and clarifies the law God gave them. He will also tell them what will happen if Israel obeys, and what will happen if they don’t.

In Chapter 1, Moses reviews the journey from Mt. Horeb (Sinai) to where they are at present, east of the Jordan River.  Their journey should have taken eleven DAYS, but here they are in the fortieth YEAR.  Why?  He recalls how they had originally approached the Promised Land, sent in spies, and believed the fearful report from 10 of the spies, and decided to choose a new leader and go back to Egypt.

God responded by telling them they would indeed go back, but just into the wilderness until ALL that generation was DEAD. When they heard that, they wept bitterly, but “the LORD did not listen to their voice or give ear to them.” (1:45)

In Chapter 2, Moses tells how God eventually instructed them to turn NORTH.  But He warned them not make trouble with Edom (descendants from Jacob’s brother Esau) or with Moab & Ammon (sons of Abraham’s nephew, Lot), because they were “Family” and God had also given them their land (for Abraham’s sake). God promised to put “fear and dread” in the hearts of all the rest of their enemies for their sake as they moved into enemy territory.

    Day 71 – Deuteronomy 3 – 4 (Reminders of God’s power in war, Moses’ request denied, No other God like Israel’s God)

In Chapter 3, Moses recalls to the people how God helped them war & win against King Og and King Sihon, without a man of Israel lost, and how they were enriched by all the spoil.

(A fun side note is that King Og was the last of the giants (Rephaim) in that area, and that his bed (or coffin) was 13.5 feet long and 6 feet wide.  In reminding Israel how God had defeated him, they were not to be afraid of the other giants in the land.)

Moses then pleads with God. “Please let me go over and see the good land beyond the Jordan.”

The LORD answers sternly, “Enough from you. Do not speak to me of this matter again.”

However God does allow Moses to “see” the Land from the North to South, and East to West from Mt. Pisgah, but it is Joshua who will lead the people to possess the Promised Land.

In Chapter 4, Moses repeatedly WARNS Israel not to make or worship any carved idol-gods, for WHO IS LIKE OUR GOD?  What nation has ever had so powerful and righteous a god as the God of Israel. They are to remember all He has done for them, rescuing them from “the Iron Furnace” of Egypt, caring for them, loving them, providing for them, protecting them.

They are also to remember that the LORD their God is a “consuming fire, a jealous God” (for the people He chose, loved, and rescued).  He warns that if they turn from this truly magnificent omnipotent God, He will send them to exile. But even there, He will not forsake them. And if they seek Him with all their hearts, they will find Him. For their God is also “a merciful God.” He would not leave or destroy them or forget the covenant He swore to their forefathers.

He is like no other!  There is no other besides Him. THEREFORE, they were to keep his statutes and His commandments.  From there Moses gives an introduction to the Law that God wrote on the tablets of stone.

(Next chapter will review the TEN in detail)