Deuteronomy 13
God tells the people that it is better if someone was never born, than to lead the people away from God and to idolatry.
Deuteronomy 14
God speaks to the people about not mourning the way the pagans do, by cutting themselves. He wants them to act like the special people they are, and mourn properly.
He also goes over what meats are good and bad to eat. This is a part of the Law, to eat only kosher food, but since we as Christians are free from the Law in Christ, we have liberty. However, I tell my kids that God put these things in there to be a guideline for us to live healthier and more vibrant lives, so we should try to live by this as much as we can.
Lastly, God reminds the people that they should have a giving heart and tithe properly.
Deuteronomy 15
This chapter goes over the master-servant relationship. As I've noted earlier, a servant works for seven years, and all his debts are then forgiven. If that servant wishes to continue to live and work with that master, then they pierce their ear as a sign of their love for the master. I then ask my kids if they remember someone else being pierced to show His love for us!
Deuteronomy 16
God reminds the people about the Feasts that are to be performed in the Spring. They point to Christ, and He fulfilled them in His first coming. He will fulfill the Fall Feasts in His second coming.
Deuteronomy 17
(v.18) This is not known by many Christians, but God commanded all of Israel's kings to personally write out the Scriptures so they would remember them and pass them on to their descendants. First of all, there were no kings of Israel yet, so God is revealing that there will be one day, as He did in Gen 50 with the prophecy of the tribe of Judah. Secondly, isn't it the best way to remember something by writing it down yourself? I know when I try to remember something, I can picture where and what I wrote down, and I can see it.
Deuteronomy 18
God tells the people that the tribe of Levi will be the priests for them, and the sons of Aaron will perform the priestly duties.
Also, God prophesies of a coming Prophet that will be like Moses...He will lead the people out of slavery to sin like Moses led God's people out of slavery to Egypt.
Deuteronomy 19
I like to point out to my kids that there are six cities of refuge. If a person killed someone accidentally, then they can go to one of the cities of refuge and be safe from revenge from family members of the deceased. Once the high priest dies, all is forgiven, and the person can go about the country without fear of revenge.
I like to show my kids that the number seven means completion in Hebrew texts. Jesus is our seventh city of refuge, and since He is our High Priest, His death to conquer sin has enabled us to live without fear of death!
Deuteronomy 20
God speaks about warfare. We know that God is a God of peace, but He does allow and even encourage warfare if it is done to fight evil. War to control others is not God's will.
Deuteronomy 21
God covers the laws of dealing with unsolved murder, how to treat female captives and the rights of the firstborn.
Deuteronomy 22
I remember when I was growing up, all of us on the street knew and spent time with each other. Nowadays, that's rare. God wants us to encourage and support our neighbors.
We just moved into a new neighborhood, and we plan on inviting our neighbors over to meet them and get to know them. Who knows, perhaps the LORD wants us to minister to one of these neighbors!
Deuteronomy 23
God gives a total of 513 laws to the people, and all of them are important. The more we think on them, we can see that we would live cleaner and healthier lives if we followed these laws.
Deuteronomy 24
God hates divorce. But He doesn't hate the sinner. If anyone has experienced a divorce, they know the pain and suffering to all who are affected. Obviously, God wants marriages to stay together, and He only approves of divorce in cases of adultery or abuse.
Deuteronomy 25
Here, God tells the people to take care of their own, and resolve conflict internally. Too bad we don't do that anymore in America!
Deuteronomy 26
I teach my kids that it's important to have a grateful heart. In all that we have: health, wealth, family, friends, freedom, etc. we should praise and thank God for providing for us! Also, we should think of others before ourselves, and give to those in more need than us.
We say this together, "Thank God first, share with others, then use our gifts for ourselves."
Deuteronomy 27
This is a heavy chapter, and parents with young kids should read to them what is appropriate for their ages.
Deuteronomy 28
God shows us that we will be blessed if we are obedient, and we will have troubles if we are not. It's simple but effective.
Deuteronomy 29
God reminds the people of the covenant He made with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and now Moses. They are to remember who their God is, and obey and trust Him.
Deuteronomy 30
God tells the people that they have a choice...to follow and love Him, or to curse His name. Either way, there will be consequences.
Deuteronomy 31
God presents Joshua as the successor to Moses.
Deuteronomy 32
The song of Moses and God telling Moses it's time to die on the mountain with Him.
Deuteronomy 33
Moses blesses the 12 tribes like Jacob did in Gen 49. It's interesting to compare those two blessings.
Deuteronomy 34
(v.6) God personally buries Moses, and no one can find the body. No other person in the Bible was buried by God Himself. Also, it's interesting to read that Satan and Michael fought over Moses' body:
Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, "The LORD rebuke you!" ~ Jude 9
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