READING FOR NOVEMBER 27, 2024: DEUTERONOMY 18, 1 JOHN 4, PSALM 119:89-96 DEUTERONOMY 18 If we look at the map of Israel after it settled into the promised land, we will not find a region where the Levite tribe lived. They were spread throughout the entire nation and not given a region of their own. Their countrymen were charged to help support them. The priests were from the tribe of Levi, but specifically descendants of Aaron. They eventually served at the Temple in Jerusalem and subsisted entirely on the offerings brought by the people for sacrifice. Levites who had a desire to serve at the Temple had the option to relocate from wherever they were living. They also subsisted on the support of others, plus whatever they received from selling the land which they previously owned. Practically speaking, today’s pastors are supported similarly through the congregation's offerings. We see this principle stated in 1 Timothy 5:17-18: “The elders who lead well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, ‘You shall not muzzle the ox while it is threshing,’ and ‘The laborer is worthy of his wages.”’
Verses 9-14 deal with practices that were objectively wrong not only for Israel then but detestable for whoever practiced them. They were among the sins that caused God to drive out the inhabitants of the promised land. The prohibition against them does not just set Israel apart as a people, as does forbidding certain foods and avoiding touching corpses. These acts were and are universally sinful and we must avoid them today. They include the following: Sending young children through flames, witchcraft (often known today as Wicca), soothsaying (including astrology), omens (such as reading cards, palms, tea leaves, and crystal balls), sorcery (use of magic to achieve evil results), casting spells, mediums (connecting with the demonic spirit world), spiritualists (psychic knowledge or powers), and calling up the dead (such as what King Saul did at end of his reign}.
Lest we think we in Yorktown are many centuries and miles removed from the above practices, the following statement was copied at this link: https://campchesterfield.com/ “Being recognized as one of the largest Spiritualist Community in the United States and the world, Camp Chesterfield (Indiana) is truly a one-of-a-kind destination location attracting visitors from around the globe.”
The final portion of this chapter deals with prophets and prophecy. Moses said that God will raise up a prophet like him. According to Peter in Acts 3:22, this refers to Jesus. Moses states that all who don’t heed this prophet will be held accountable by God: “Whoever does not listen to My words which he speaks in My name, I Myself will require it of him” (vs. 19). Finally, just as 1 John warns against false teachers, so Moses warns against false prophets. If their prophecies didn’t come to pass, they were to be put to death. Again, this doesn’t apply to us, but we do need to guard against the flood of false teaching that currently surrounds us. Keep reading the Bible.
READING FOR NOVEMBER 27 CONTINUED: 1 JOHN 4, PSALM 119:89-96 1 JOHN 4 As we read in Deuteronomy 18, there are still false prophets around that we need to test before believing what they say. In John’s time the specific false teaching gaining traction was the Gnostic teaching that Jesus could not have come in a human body. They thought He must have been only a spirit being who appeared to be human. This view is called Docetism. Thus, John stresses this aspect of Jesus’s nature: He was flesh (vs. 2). The more common false doctrine taught today is that Jesus was not and never claimed to be God. Many non-Christian biblical scholars at major universities teach this false view. Groups such as Jehovah Witnesses and Muslims hold variants of this view. Mormons believe Jesus became God and any good Mormon can also be exulted to divine status. Hindus believe Jesus was a god, along with many million other gods. All these views are refuted by verse nine: “God has sent His only Son into the world so that we may live through Him.” Non-Christian scholars and Muslims respond by saying the Bible is not reliable. Jehovah Witnesses and Mormons developed their own translations to alter the meaning, and Mormons added other scriptures. But Jesus is the chief cornerstone.
Another test John suggests is observing if people are loving. We know God the Father is love because He sent God the Son to die in our place. If we believe in Jesus, we need to love each other. This kind of love is possible for us because God sent the Holy Spirit to dwell within us (vs. 13). If we practice this self-sacrificial love of Jesus, we can have confidence as we approach the final judgment (vs.17). Yet, if we hate other Christians (brothers and sisters) whom we can see with our eyes, we are not really loving the God who presently is not visible to us (vs. 20). The rationale for thinking John is likely referring to loving fellow believers comes from Jesus’s own comments in Mark 3:31-35, Matthew 12:46-50, and Luke 8:19-21.
PSALM 119:89-96 This section begins with a bold claim for God’s word: It stands forever in heaven. But what about changes in cultural practices since it was written? God’s word stands forever. But what about all we have learned about the universe since it was written? God’s word stands forever. But what about other religions that other sincere people follow? God’s word stands forever. It appears God is forcing us to accept His truth alone as eternal and unchanging or stop pretending to be His followers. Some of us remember Pastor Steve Loft repeat this weekly: The grass withers, And the flower falls off, But the word of the Lord endures forever” (1 Peter 1:24-25). Don’t we find it reaffirming that we can take His word to the bank? Notice how the Psalmist avoided perishing in misery. It was by delighting in, not just reading grudgingly, God’s word (vs. 92). Ask the Holy Spirit to give joy in the scriptures. It’s not weird. If we actually had the spiritual perception to understand how evil forces are lurking to destroy us (vs.95), we might read the Bible with a bit more urgency. Heed the Psalmist’s warning and follow his example. He has been around the block (vs. 96) and knows nothing tops God’s Word.
