bs990427

Bible Study Notes 1999

27 April 1999

Text: Deuteronomy 25-26

MISCELLANEOUS LAWS

The Meting Out Of Corporal Punishment (Judicial) (Deut 25:1-3)

1. A Panel of judges Deut 25:1

2. Purpose: To justify the righteous and condemn the wicked Deut 25:2

3. Corporal punishment may be meted out Deut 25:2-3

4. Maximum number of blows - 40 only! Deut 25:3 (Cf. 2 Cor 11:24)

5. Dignity of the victim to be preserved as much as possible Deut 25:3

Care And Concern For Animals (Deut 25:4)

(Cf. Prov 12:10; 1 Cor 9:9)

1. Befits a righteous man

2. Principle applied by Paul with reference to those who serve God

Levirate Marriage (Deut 25:5-10)

1. A special law Deut 25:5-10

2. The preservation of the family line Deut 25:6

3. Concern for the widow Deut 25:5-6

4. Dishonour for the person who does not care for his brother's widow

Deut 25:7-10

Personal Fistfights (Deut 25:11-12)

1. "Queensbury rules" please!

2. Punishment of viciousness

Honesty In Business (Deut 25:13-16)

1. Honesty enjoined Deut 25:13-15

2. Dishonesty condemned as an abomination to the Lord Deut 25:16

Special Retribution Against The Amalekites (Deut 25:17-19)

1. The wickedness of the Amalekites when they attacked Israel

(Cf. Ex 17:8-16)

2. Their wickedness to be punished Deut 25:17-19

Giving As Part Of Worship (Deut 26:1-15)

1. The Firstfruits Tithe To The Lord Deut 26:1-11

a) An act of acknowledgment of the Lord's blessings Deut 26:1-11

b) An act of worship Deut 26:4, 10-11

c) An act of gratitude Deut 26:5-11

d) An act of accompanied by careful remembering of the past Deut 26:5-11

e) An act accompanied by joy Deut 26:10-11

2. The Tithe (Deut 26:12-15)

a) The "tithe of increase" Deut 26:12

b) To be given to the Levites, to the stranger, the fatherless, the widow

c) A formal declaration before God that there has been no withholding of the giving of the tithe to God, with a prayer for God's blessing

Deut 26:13-15

The Mosaic Covenant Publicly Declared (Deut 26:16-19)

1. The Lord's part in commanding obedience to the Covenantal Laws

Deut 26:16

2. The People's part in proclaiming that the LORD is indeed their God

Deut 26:17

3. The Lord's part in declaring that they are His Special People

Deut 26:18

4. The Lord's part in promising that He will bless outstandingly

Deut 26:19

Preparation For A Special Ceremony (Deut 27-28)

1. The Writing of the Law on large stones to be placed on Mt. Ebal

Deut 27:1-4, 8

2. The raising up of an altar of worship Deut 27:5-7

3. Exhortation to obey Deut 27:9-10

4. Mt. Gerizim - The Mount of Blessing Deut 27:12; Deut 28:1-14

5. Mt. Ebal - The Mount of Cursing Deut 27:13-26; Deut 28:15-68

An Exposition Of Why And How The Curses/Blessings Work

(Deut 28)

The Blessings

1. The Blessings will come about because of Obedience to the Lord

Deut 28:1-14

2. Strict obedience to the Lord's Word commanded Deut 28:14

3. Fullness of blessings spelt out Deut 28:2-13

The Curses

1. Because of Disobedience Deut 28:15

2. The Lord will personally mete out the punishment (not just natural justice) Deut 28:20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 27, 28, 35, 36

3. War and Exile as punishment Deut 28:36-68

The New Covenant In Christ

"Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us... that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." Gal 2:13-14

"But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better Covenant, which was established on better promises" Heb 8:6

"In that He says, 'A new covenant'" He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away" Heb 8:13

"And for this reason, He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance" Heb 9:15