Praise God for the Law! But in Christ we worship in the Spirit and the Truth. The king had to write his own copy of the law, but we have the law of Christ written on our hearts. Hallelujah!
Deuteronomy 17:
1 "You shall not sacrifice to the LORD your God an ox or a sheep in which is a blemish, any defect whatever, for that is an abomination to the LORD your God.
2 "If there is found among you, within any of your towns that the LORD your God is giving you, a man or woman who does what is evil in the sight of the LORD your God, in transgressing his covenant,
3 and has gone and served other gods and worshiped them, or the sun or the moon or any of the host of heaven, which I have forbidden,
4 and it is told you and you hear of it, then you shall inquire diligently, and if it is true and certain that such an abomination has been done in Israel,
5 then you shall bring out to your gates that man or woman who has done this evil thing, and you shall stone that man or woman to death with stones.
6 On the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses the one who is to die shall be put to death; a person shall not be put to death on the evidence of one witness.
7 The hand of the witnesses shall be first against him to put him to death, and afterward the hand of all the people. So you shall purge the evil from your midst.
Legal Decisions by Priests and Judges
8 "If any case arises requiring decision between one kind of homicide and another, one kind of legal right and another, or one kind of assault and another, any case within your towns that is too difficult for you, then you shall arise and go up to the place that the LORD your God will choose.
9 And you shall come to the Levitical priests and to the judge who is in office in those days, and you shall consult them, and they shall declare to you the decision.
10 Then you shall do according to what they declare to you from that place that the LORD will choose. And you shall be careful to do according to all that they direct you.
11 According to the instructions that they give you, and according to the decision which they pronounce to you, you shall do. You shall not turn aside from the verdict that they declare to you, either to the right hand or to the left.
12 The man who acts presumptuously by not obeying the priest who stands to minister there before the LORD your God, or the judge, that man shall die. So you shall purge the evil from Israel.
13 And all the people shall hear and fear and not act presumptuously again.
Laws Concerning Israel's Kings
14 "When you come to the land that the LORD your God is giving you, and you possess it and dwell in it and then say, 'I will set a king over me, like all the nations that are around me,'
15 you may indeed set a king over you whom the LORD your God will choose. One from among your brothers you shall set as king over you. You may not put a foreigner over you, who is not your brother.
16 Only he must not acquire many horses for himself or cause the people to return to Egypt in order to acquire many horses, since the LORD has said to you, 'You shall never return that way again.'
17 And he shall not acquire many wives for himself, lest his heart turn away, nor shall he acquire for himself excessive silver and gold.
18 "And when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself in a book a copy of this law, approved by the Levitical priests.
19 And it shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God by keeping all the words of this law and these statutes, and doing them,
20 that his heart may not be lifted up above his brothers, and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, either to the right hand or to the left, so that he may continue long in his kingdom, he and his children, in Israel.
Things to think about…
We will never have to offer an ox or sheep with a blemish, Dt 17:1offer the best in our worship such, without complaining or being disgruntled in spirit. Our worship leaders are wonderful. We have the blessing of faithful preachers. My we never speak out against the worship leader, or the guy who does the words or the preacher, but as we communicate may it be seasoned with grace. Let’s offer a right sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. Praise God for the unity and joy we presently know. But never take it for granted.
May I confess something to you. I struggle with some parts of the bible, Dt 17:2-7 is one of those parts. It seems too harsh for me. Surely God is merciful and gracious, why the need to stone people. Okay they are worshipping false gods, but can’t they be given an opportunity to repent and re-learn. A bit like an alcoholic going to AA or a person struggling with road rage going to anger management classes. The trouble is you can’t get help for a systemic problem – like rebellion against God when you have heard and known the truth and yet refuse to embrace grace. The only appropriate thing is judgement. May the Lord have mercy on our families, church and community by creating in us a clean heart and renewing a right spirit within us. May we all be objects of mercy. Pray!
God in His mercy gives us wise and godly judges, Dt 17:8-13. When a decision is too difficult for the judges in a town they may resort to the Levitical priests and a ruling judge, vs 9. Such is the case in Australia – whereby someone may go to from a family court or in business law to the federal court. If no resolve to the dispute occurs – the High Court of Australia may be approached and its decision is binding as the highest court in the land. Our God who rules our hearts by His Spirit gives us His wisdom. In the church the elders are to rule well making wise judgements in their administration. Pray for CBC. We thank the Lord for the elders and leaders of CBC. Pray for their continued wisdom and vision as they lead. The whole point of Dt 17:8-13 as that people do not act presumptuously. There is a way in a man’s heart that seems right, but in the end leads to death, Prov 14:12. This is presumption. May our ignorance be exposed for what it is – sin. Pray for myself and the eldership at CBC expose such ignorance, in ourselves and others.
The king was required to write his own book of the law, Dt 17:18 and it had to be approved by the Levitical priests. He was called to read it and apply it. It seems the warnings given in these verses, Dt 17:4-20 were written for the likes of Solomon who fell in all of the areas mentioned in Dt 17:16,17, yet he had wisdom from God. Wisdom does not necessarily mean we receive perseverance. Remember it is how we finish the race, not how we start. May we endure and not turn to the right or to the left, vs 20 until we are called home. Pray the Lord’s words are spoken every Sunday.
Vision Point
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
Questions for Cell groups
Sunday’s sermon, “Listen Up” came from Deut 6:1-4 by Graham Willey
1. What is some of the background as to why the book of Deuteronomy was written as outlined by Graham on Sunday?
2. Why was it important that the Israelites be reminded to hear Dt 6:4 “The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!”
3. Moses gives the greatest commandment in Dt 6:5 “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” Break down this verse and give your understanding of each of the 3 elements. Jesus also quoted this verse as well as “you shall love your neighbour as yourself”. He said the law and the prophets hang on these, Mt 22:40. What did He mean?
4. Pray for your cell group and through the prayer points to help us achieve our Vision/Mission as a church.
Prayer Points
1. Pray for comfort and peace for family of the 15yo boy brutally murdered in Vic this week.
2. Pray for America and copy-cat events in Australia. Australia’s monuments are being defaced.
3. Jesse Baxter has badly broken his arm and badly injured both wrists. Pray for quick healing.
4. Pray for thepresent turmoil going on with the riots in America. Pray for Christ’s peace. Also for other countries including Australia that often ride on the back of these events.
5. Pray for wisdom and clarity with some restrictions are being lifted next month.
6. Continue to pray for our government for wisdom and economic management.
7. Sunday’s fb live messages and for Kids church. The message this week – “Testing, testing” Deut 13 – Pr Jay.
8. Our online Chuwar Kids at church program – that our kids still feel connected to church and love worshipping Him.
9. Pastoral care. Pray people feel connected in this isolation period. Been great catching up with people at the Bean Redeemed café.
10. Church finances to meet our expenses and to put a roof over our café.
11. Our City and Country – Pray for revival over our city and the leadership of our country even through these challenging times. Pray especially for people to be stable with respect to mental health.
Praise Points.
1. Dylan Brandazzi who was at Recharge Youth a few years ago has been involved in a traffic altercation. I heard from his family that he is healing well. Praise the Lord.
2. Jesse Baxter is gaining strength in his hands, praise the Lord.
3. This wonderful rain.
4. Restrictions being lifted – cell groups can now meet up.
5. Finances being maintained and donation to Café roof. Thankyou! New temporary cover put on this week.
8. Streaming and fb live being done very well by the technical team. Thanks Doug, Dan, Jesse and Peter. Thanks worship team.
9. Australia’s response to the infection has been blessed. Continue to pray for wisdom with respect to our economy.
10. Praise the Lord churches are functioning well in this environment and the gospel is going out in the media.
11. Encouraging online comments – the church is still functioning well and people are being cared for.
Announcements
1. We are going to two services starting in July. First service will start at 8:30am. The second at 10am. Only the 10am service will be live streamed.
2. Pray about offerings to help with putting a roof over the café. Our temporary white shade has come to the end of its life. $6k required for a new roof. $3k has been donated.
3. Cell groups can meet up – Ask for details as to how and what is required.
4. New church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
5. Kids Church now streamed live at 9:00am every Sunday morning via CBC’s fb page. Will be run in the house for the 10am service starting in July.
