Day 76, 16 Mar 2024
1) Deuteronomy 17, Deuteronomy 18, Deuteronomy 19, Deuteronomy 20
DEUTERONOMY 17
1 (Dt 15:21; 23:18) You must not sacrifice to the Lord your God any bull
or sheep that has a blemish or any defect, for that is detestable
to the Lord your God.
2 (Dt 17:5; Jos 7:11) If there be found among you, within any of your gates
which the Lord your God gives you, man or woman, who has acted
wickedly in the sight of the Lord your God, by transgressing His covenant,
3 (Dt 4:19; Job 31:26-27) and has gone and served other gods and worshipped
them, either the sun, or moon, or any of the host of heaven,
which I have not commanded,
4 (Dt 13:12-14; 19:18) and if it is told to you, and you have heard of it,
and investigated diligently, and it is true, and the matter is certain
that such a detestable thing has happened in Israel,
5 (Lev 24:14; Jos 7:25) then you must bring forth that man or that woman
who has committed that wicked thing to your gates, that very man
or woman, and stone them with stones until they die.
6 (Nu 35:30; Dt 19:15) On the testimony of two or three witnesses
he that is to die must be put to death, but on the testimony
of one witness he cannot be put to death.
7 (Dt 13:9; 13:5) The hands of the witnesses shall be first against
him to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the people.
So you shall purge the evil from among you.
[1] Thou shalt not sacrifice unto the LORD thy God any bullock, or sheep,
wherein is blemish, or any evilfavouredness: for that is an abomination unto
the LORD thy God.
[2] If there be found among you, within any of thy gates which the LORD thy
God giveth thee, man or woman, that hath wrought wickedness in the sight of
the LORD thy God, in transgressing his covenant,
[3] And hath gone and served other gods, and worshipped them, either the
sun, or moon, or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded;
[4] And it be told thee, and thou hast heard of it, and inquired diligently,
and, behold, it be true, and the thing certain, that such abomination is
wrought in Israel:
[5] Then shalt thou bring forth that man or that woman, which have committed
that wicked thing, unto thy gates, even that man or that woman, and shalt
stone them with stones, till they die.
[6] At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is
worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall
not be put to death.
[7] The hands of the witnesses shall be first upon him to put him to death,
and afterward the hands of all the people. So thou shalt put the evil away
from among you.
Courts of Law
8 (Dt 12:5; Hag 2:11) If there arises a matter too difficult for you
in judgment, between one kind of bloodshed and another,
between one kind of lawsuitand another, and between one kind of assault
and another, matters of controversy within your gates, then you must arise
and go up to the place where the Lord your God shall choose.
9 (Eze 44:24; Jer 18:18) You must go to the Levitical priests or to the judge
in office those days, and inquire, and they will show you
the verdict of judgment.
10 You shall do according to the verdict which they declare to you from
the place where the Lord will choose to show you, and you must be careful
to do all that they instruct you to do.
11 (Jos 1:7) You must do according to the terms of the law which
they instruct you and according to the verdict which they tell you.
You must not deviate from the sentence which they show you,
to the right or to the left.
12 (Nu 15:30; Dt 13:5) The man who acts presumptuously
and does not listen to the priest who stands to minister
before the Lord your God, or to the judge-that man must die,
and you must purge the evil from Israel.
13 (Dt 13:11; 19:20) Then all the people will hear, and fear,
and not act presumptuously again.
[8] If there arise a matter too hard for thee in judgment, between blood and
blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke, being matters
of controversy within thy gates: then shalt thou arise, and get thee up into
the place which the LORD thy God shall choose;
[9] And thou shalt come unto the priests the Levites, and unto the judge
that shall be in those days, and inquire; and they shall shew thee the
sentence of judgment:
[10] And thou shalt do according to the sentence, which they of that place
which the LORD shall choose shall shew thee; and thou shalt observe to do
according to all that they inform thee:
[11] According to the sentence of the law which they shall teach thee, and
according to the judgment which they shall tell thee, thou shalt do: thou
shalt not decline from the sentence which they shall shew thee, to the right
hand, nor to the left.
[12] And the man that will do presumptuously, and will not hearken unto the
priest that standeth to minister there before the LORD thy God, or unto the
judge, even that man shall die: and thou shalt put away the evil from
Israel.
[13] And all the people shall hear, and fear, and do no more presumptuously.
Appointing a King
14 (1Sa 8:19-20) When you have come into the land which
the Lord your God gives you and possess it and dwell there
and then say, "I will set a king over me just like all the nations
that are around me,
15 (Jer 30:21; 1Sa 10:24) you must set a king over you whom
the Lord your God will choose. You must select a king over you
who is from among your brothers. You may not select a foreigner
over you who is not your countryman.
16 (Ex 13:17; 1Ki 4:26) What is more, he shall not accumulate horses
for himself or cause the people to return to Egypt in order
that he accumulate horses, for as the Lord has said to you,
"You must not go back that way ever again."
17 (Ne 13:26) He shall not acquire many wives for himself,
lest his heart turn away; nor shall he acquire for himself
excess silver and gold.
18 (Dt 31:9; 2Ki 11:12) It must be, when he sits on the throne
of his kingdom, that he shall write a copy of this law for
himself on a scroll before the priests, the Levites.
19 (Jos 1:8) It must be with him, and he must read it all the days
of his life so that he may learn to fear the Lord his God,
and carefully observe all the words of this law
and these statutes, and do them,
20 (Dt 5:32; 1Ki 15:5) that his heart will not be lifted up
above his brothers and so that he may not turn aside
from the commandment, to the right or to the left, to the end,
so that he may prolong his days in his kingdom,
he and his children, in the midst of Israel."
[14] When thou art come unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee,
and shalt possess it, and shalt dwell therein, and shalt say, I will set a
king over me, like as all the nations that are about me;
[15] Thou shalt in any wise set him king over thee, whom the LORD thy God
shall choose: one from among thy brethren shalt thou set king over thee:
thou mayest not set a stranger over thee, which is not thy brother.
[16] But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to
return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch as the
LORD hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way.
[17] Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not
away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.
[18] And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that
he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before
the priests the Levites:
[19] And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his
life: that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of
this law and these statutes, to do them:
[20] That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn
not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the
end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in
the midst of Israel.
DEUTERONOMY 18
Provision for Priests and Levites
1 (Dt 10:9; Nu 18:8-9) The Levitical priests and all the tribe of Levi
will not have any portion or inheritance with Israel. They must eat
the offerings of the Lord made by fire and His portion.
2 They will have no inheritance among their brothers.
The Lord is their inheritance, just as He has said to them.
3 (Lev 7:30-34) This shall be the priest's due from the people,
from them that offer a sacrifice, whether it be an ox or sheep:
they shall give to the priest the shoulder, the two cheeks,
and the stomach.
4 (Ex 22:29; 23:19) You must give him the first fruit of your grain,
of your wine, and of your oil, and the first of the fleece of your
sheep also.
5 (Dt 10:8; 17:12) For the Lord your God has chosen him out of all
your tribes to stand to minister in the name of the Lord, him
and his sons forever.
6 (Nu 35:2-3; Dt 12:5) If a Levite comes from any of your gates
out of all Israel, where he lives, and comes with all the desire
of his mind to the place where the Lord shall choose,
7 then he shall minister in the name of the Lord his God,
as all his brothers the Levites do, who stand there before the Lord.
8 (Ne 12:44; 12:47) They must have the same portions to eat,
besides any profits he may receive from the sale of his father's inheritance.
[1] The priests the Levites, and all the tribe of Levi, shall have no part
nor inheritance with Israel: they shall eat the offerings of the LORD made
by fire, and his inheritance.
[2] Therefore shall they have no inheritance among their brethren: the LORD
is their inheritance, as he hath said unto them.
[3] And this shall be the priest's due from the people, from them that offer
a sacrifice, whether it be ox or sheep; and they shall give unto the priest
the shoulder, and the two cheeks, and the maw.
[4] The firstfruit also of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the
first of the fleece of thy sheep, shalt thou give him.
[5] For the LORD thy God hath chosen him out of all thy tribes, to stand to
minister in the name of the LORD, him and his sons for ever.
[6] And if a Levite come from any of thy gates out of all Israel, where he
sojourned, and come with all the desire of his mind unto the place which the
LORD shall choose;
[7] Then he shall minister in the name of the LORD his God, as all his
brethren the Levites do, which stand there before the LORD.
[8] They shall have like portions to eat, beside that which cometh of the
sale of his patrimony.
A Call to Holiness
9 (Dt 12:29-31; Lev 18:26-27) When you enter into the land which the
Lord your God gives you, you must not learn to practice the abominations
of those nations.
10 (Lev 19:26; 19:31) There must not be found among you anyone who makes
his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or who uses divination,
or uses witchcraft, or an interpreter of omens, or a sorcerer,
11 (Lev 19:31) or one who casts spells, or a spiritualist, or an occultist,
or a necromancer.
12 (Lev 18:24; Dt 9:4) For all that do these things are an abomination
to the Lord, and because of these abominations the Lord your God
will drive them out from before you.
13 (Ge 6:9; 17:1) You must be blameless before the Lord your God.
[9] When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee,
thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.
[10] There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his
daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer
of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,
[11] Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a
necromancer.
[12] For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and
because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from
before thee.
[13] Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God.
The Prophet
14 For these nations, which you shall possess, listened to soothsayers
and to diviners, but as for you, the Lord your God has not permitted
you to do so.
15 (Ac 7:37; Jn 1:21) The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet
from the midst of you, of your brothers, like me. You must listen to him.
16 (Ex 20:19; Dt 9:10) This is according to all that you desired of the Lord
your God in Horeb on the day of the assembly, saying,
"Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God,
nor let me see this great fire anymore, so that I do not die."
17 (Dt 5:28) The Lord said to me, "They have done well
in what they have said.
18 (Jn 8:28; 4:25; 12:49-50) I will raise up a prophet from
among their brothers, like you, and will put My words in his mouth,
and he will speak to them all that I command him.
19 (Ac 3:22-23) It will be that whoever will not listen to My words
which he will speak in My name, I will require it of him.
20 (Dt 13:1-5; Zec 13:3) But the prophet, who presumes to speak a word
in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who shall
speak in the name of other gods - that prophet shall die."
21 And you may say in your heart,
"How can we know the word which the Lord has not spoken?"
22 (Dt 18:20) When a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord,
if the thing does not occur or come to pass, that is the thing
which the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it
presumptuously. You shall not be afraid of him.
[14] For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers
of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the LORD thy God hath not
suffered thee so to do.
[15] The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of
thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;
[16] According to all that thou desiredst of the LORD thy God in Horeb in
the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD
my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not.
[17] And the LORD said unto me, They have well spoken that which they have
spoken.
[18] I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto
thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all
that I shall command him.
[19] And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my
words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.
[20] But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which
I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other
gods, even that prophet shall die.
[21] And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the
LORD hath not spoken?
[22] When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow
not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but
the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.
DEUTERONOMY 19
Cities of Refuge
Nu 35:6-34; Dt 4:41-43; Jos 20:1-9
1 (Dt 12:29; 6:10) When the Lord your God has cut off the nations,
whose land the Lord your God is giving you, and you dispossess them,
and dwell in their cities, and in their houses,
2 (Ex 21:13) you shall set apart three cities for yourselves in the midst
of your land, which the Lord your God is giving you to possess.
3 You shall prepare a roadway for yourself, and divide the territory
of your land into three parts, which the Lord your God is giving you
to inherit, so that every manslayer may flee there.
4 (Nu 35:15-24; Dt 4:42) This is the word concerning the manslayer
who will flee there, so that he may live: Whoever kills his neighbor
unintentionally, whom he did not hate previously,
5like when a man goes into the forest with his neighbor to cut wood,
and his hand raises the axe to cut down the tree, and the axe head
slips from the handle and lands on his neighbor causing him to die,
then he may flee to one of those cities, and live.
6 (Nu 35:12) Otherwise the avenger of blood might, while he is angry,
pursue the manslayer and overtake him (because the way is long)
and kill him, even though he was not worthy of death
(since he did not hate him previously).
7 Therefore, I command you, saying,
"You shall set apart three cities for yourselves."
8 (Ge 15:18-21; Ex 23:31) If the Lord your God enlarges your borders
as He promised your fathers, and gives you all the land which He
promised to give to your fathers,
9 (Jos 20:7-8) and if you will carefully keep all these commandments,
which I command you today, to love the Lord your God, and to always
walk in His ways, then you must add three cities more for yourself,
besides these three.
10 Then innocent blood will not be shed in your land, which the Lord
your God is giving you for an inheritance, and blood guiltiness be on you.
11 (Nu 35:16-21; Dt 27:24) But if any man hates his neighbor,
and lies in wait for him, and rises up against him, and mortally strikes him,
causing him to die, and flees to one of these cities,
12 then the elders of his city must send and fetch him from there,
and deliver him to the hand of the avenger of blood, so that he may die.
13 (1Ki 2:31; Dt 7:2) Your eye must not pity him, but you must remove
the guilt of innocent blood from Israel, so that it may go well with you.
14 (Dt 27:17; Pr 22:28) You shall not remove your neighbor's landmark,
which they of old time have set in your inheritance, which you shall
inherit in the land that the Lord your God is giving you to possess.
[1] When the LORD thy God hath cut off the nations, whose land the LORD thy
God giveth thee, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their cities, and
in their houses;
[2] Thou shalt separate three cities for thee in the midst of thy land,
which the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it.
[3] Thou shalt prepare thee a way, and divide the coasts of thy land, which
the LORD thy God giveth thee to inherit, into three parts, that every slayer
may flee thither.
[4] And this is the case of the slayer, which shall flee thither, that he
may live: Whoso killeth his neighbour ignorantly, whom he hated not in time
past;
[5] As when a man goeth into the wood with his neighbour to hew wood, and
his hand fetcheth a stroke with the axe to cut down the tree, and the head
slippeth from the helve, and lighteth upon his neighbour, that he die; he
shall flee unto one of those cities, and live:
[6] Lest the avenger of the blood pursue the slayer, while his heart is hot,
and overtake him, because the way is long, and slay him; whereas he was not
worthy of death, inasmuch as he hated him not in time past.
[7] Wherefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt separate three cities for
thee.
[8] And if the LORD thy God enlarge thy coast, as he hath sworn unto thy
fathers, and give thee all the land which he promised to give unto thy
fathers;
[9] If thou shalt keep all these commandments to do them, which I command
thee this day, to love the LORD thy God, and to walk ever in his ways; then
shalt thou add three cities more for thee, beside these three:
[10] That innocent blood be not shed in thy land, which the LORD thy God
giveth thee for an inheritance, and so blood be upon thee.
[11] But if any man hate his neighbour, and lie in wait for him, and rise up
against him, and smite him mortally that he die, and fleeth into one of
these cities:
[12] Then the elders of his city shall send and fetch him thence, and
deliver him into the hand of the avenger of blood, that he may die.
[13] Thine eye shall not pity him, but thou shalt put away the guilt of
innocent blood from Israel, that it may go well with thee.
[14] Thou shalt not remove thy neighbour's landmark, which they of old time
have set in thine inheritance, which thou shalt inherit in the land that the
LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it.
Witnesses
15 (Nu 35:30; Mt 18:16) A single witness must not rise up against a man
on account of any iniquity or any sin that he sins. At the testimony
of two witnesses or at the testimony of three witnesses shall the matter
be established.
16 (Ps 27:12; 35:11) If a false witness rises up against any man to testify
against him to accuse him of doing wrong,
17 (Dt 17:9; 21:5) then both the men between whom the controversy
is must stand before the Lord, before the priests and the judges,
who are in office those days.
18 (Dt 13:14; 17:4) The judges will thoroughly investigate,
and if the witness is a false witness and has testified falsely
against his brother,
19 (Pr 19:5; 19:9) then you must do to him as he conspired
to have done to his brother. In this way you must remove
the evil from among you.
20 (Dt 17:13; 21:21) Those who remain will hear and fear,
and will never again commit any such evil among you.
21 (Dt 19:13) You must not show pity. But life will be for life,
eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.
[15] One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for
any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at
the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.
[16] If a false witness rise up against any man to testify against him that
which is wrong;
[17] Then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before
the LORD, before the priests and the judges, which shall be in those days;
[18] And the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and, behold, if the
witness be a false witness, and hath testified falsely against his brother;
[19] Then shall ye do unto him, as he had thought to have done unto his
brother: so shalt thou put the evil away from among you.
[20] And those which remain shall hear, and fear, and shall henceforth
commit no more any such evil among you.
[21] And thine eye shall not pity; but life shall go for life, eye for eye,
tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.
DEUTERONOMY 20
Rules of Warfare
1 (Dt 31:6; 31:8) When you go out to battle against your enemies,
and see horses, and chariots, and a people that outnumber you,
do not be afraid of them, for the Lord your God is with you,
who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.
2 (Nu 10:8-9; 31:6) It will be, when you approach the battle,
that the priest will approach and speak to the people,
3 and he shall say to them, "Hear, O Israel, you approach today
to do battle against your enemies. Do not be fainthearted.
Do not fear, and do not tremble or be terrified because of them.
4 (Dt 1:30; 3:22) For the Lord your God is He that goes with you,
to fight for you against your enemies, to save you."
5 (Ne 12:27) The officers will speak to the people, saying,
"What man is there who has built a new house and has not dedicated it?
Let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, a
nd another man dedicate it.
6 (Lev 19:23-25) What man is there who has planted a vineyard,
and has not yet eaten of it? Let him also go and return to his house,
lest he die in the battle, and another man eat of it.
7 (Dt 24:5; 28:30) What man is there who is engaged to a woman
but has not married her? Let him go and return to his house,
lest he die in the battle, and another man take her."
8 (Jdg 7:3; Dt 1:28) The officers are to speak further to the people,
and they shall say, "What man is there that is fearful and fainthearted?
Let him go and return to his house, lest his brother's heart faint
as well as his heart."
9 It will be, when the officers have made an end of speaking to the people,
that they must make captains of the armies to lead the people.
10 When you come near to a city to fight against it,
then proclaim peace to it.
11 It shall be, if it gives you a reply of peace and opens to you,
then it must be that all the people that are found within shall
become slaves to you and they shall serve you.
12 If it will not make peace with you but makes war against you,
then you are to besiege it.
13 And when the Lord your God has delivered it into your hands,
you are to slay every male there with the edge of the sword.
14 (Jos 8:2; 22:8) But the women, and the little ones, and the livestock,
and all that is in the city, all the spoil within, you are to take
to yourself, and you will eat the spoil of your enemies,
which the Lord your God has given you.
15 Thus you are to do to all the cities which are far away,
which are not the cities of these nearby nations.
16 (Jos 11:14; Nu 21:2-3) But of the cities of these people,
which the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance,
you must not leave alive anything that breathes.
17 But you shall completely destroy them: namely,
the Hittites, and the Amorites, the Canaanites, and the Perizzites,
the Hivites, and the Jebusites, just as the Lord your God
has commanded you,
18 (Ex 23:33; Dt 12:30-31) so that they do not teach you to participate
in all their abominations, which they have done to their gods,
causing you to sin against the Lord your God.
19 When you lay siege to a city for a long time, in making war against
it in order to take it, you shall not destroy the trees there by chopping
them down with an axe, for you may eat from them, and you shall not
cut them down. For the tree of the field is not a man in which to lay siege.
20 However, you may destroy and cut down only the trees which you know
are not fruit trees, so that you may build siege engines against the city
that makes war with you until it falls.
Deuteronomy 20
[1] When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses,
and chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them: for the
LORD thy God is with thee, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
[2] And it shall be, when ye are come nigh unto the battle, that the priest
shall approach and speak unto the people,
[3] And shall say unto them, Hear, O Israel, ye approach this day unto
battle against your enemies: let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not
tremble, neither be ye terrified because of them;
[4] For the LORD your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you
against your enemies, to save you.
[5] And the officers shall speak unto the people, saying, What man is there
that hath built a new house, and hath not dedicated it? let him go and
return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man dedicate it.
[6] And what man is he that hath planted a vineyard, and hath not yet eaten
of it? let him also go and return unto his house, lest he die in the battle,
and another man eat of it.
[7] And what man is there that hath betrothed a wife, and hath not taken
her? let him go and return unto his house, lest he die in the battle, and
another man take her.
[8] And the officers shall speak further unto the people, and they shall
say, What man is there that is fearful and fainthearted? let him go and
return unto his house, lest his brethren's heart faint as well as his heart.
[9] And it shall be, when the officers have made an end of speaking unto the
people, that they shall make captains of the armies to lead the people.
[10] When thou comest nigh unto a city to fight against it, then proclaim
peace unto it.
[11] And it shall be, if it make thee answer of peace, and open unto thee,
then it shall be, that all the people that is found therein shall be
tributaries unto thee, and they shall serve thee.
[12] And if it will make no peace with thee, but will make war against thee,
then thou shalt besiege it:
[13] And when the LORD thy God hath delivered it into thine hands, thou
shalt smite every male thereof with the edge of the sword:
[14] But the women, and the little ones, and the cattle, and all that is in
the city, even all the spoil thereof, shalt thou take unto thyself; and thou
shalt eat the spoil of thine enemies, which the LORD thy God hath given
thee.
[15] Thus shalt thou do unto all the cities which are very far off from
thee, which are not of the cities of these nations.
[16] But of the cities of these people, which the LORD thy God doth give
thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth:
[17] But thou shalt utterly destroy them; namely, the Hittites, and the
Amorites, the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the
Jebusites; as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee:
[18] That they teach you not to do after all their abominations, which they
have done unto their gods; so should ye sin against the LORD your God.
[19] When thou shalt besiege a city a long time, in making war against it to
take it, thou shalt not destroy the trees thereof by forcing an axe against
them: for thou mayest eat of them, and thou shalt not cut them down (for the
tree of the field is man's life) to employ them in the siege:
[20] Only the trees which thou knowest that they be not trees for meat, thou
shalt destroy and cut them down; and thou shalt build bulwarks against the
city that maketh war with thee, until it be subdued.
2) Our Daily Bread for 16 March 2024 titled
Share Your Faith
Acts 16:1-10
Timothy Accompanies Paul and Silas
1 (Ac 14:6; 17:14) Then he came to Derbe and then to Lystra.
A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewess who believed,
but his father was a Greek.
2 He was well spoken of by the brothers who were at Lystra and Iconium.
3 (Gal 2:3) Paul wanted him to travel with him. So he took him
and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places,
for they all knew that his father was a Greek.
4 (Ac 15:28-29; 15:2) As they went through the cities,
they delivered to them the decrees to observe,
that were set forth by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem.
5 (Ac 9:31; 2:47) So the churches were strengthened in the faith,
and increased in number daily.
[1] Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was
there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and
believed; but his father was a Greek:
[2] Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and
Iconium.
[3] Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him
because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his
father was a Greek.
[4] And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for
to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at
Jerusalem.
[5] And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in
number daily.
Paul's Vision of the Macedonian
6 (Ac 18:23; 1Pe 1:1; Gal 1:2) They went through the region of Phrygia
and Galatia and were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia.
7 (Ro 8:9; Gal 4:6) When they came near Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia,
but the Spirit did not allow them.
8 (2Co 2:12; 2Ti 4:13) So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas.
9 (Ac 18:5; 19:21) During the night a vision appeared to Paul:
A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying,
"Come over to Macedonia and help us."
10 After he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go into Macedonia,
concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.
[6] Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and
were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,
[7] After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the
Spirit suffered them not.
[8] And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas.
[9] And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of
Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.
[10] And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavored to go into
Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the
gospel unto them.
In 1701, the Church of England founded the Society for the Propagation
of the Gospel in order to send missionaries around the globe. The motto they
chose was transiens adiuva nos-Latin for "Come over and help us!" This has
been the call on gospel ambassadors since the first century, as followers
of Jesus take the message of His love and forgiveness to a world
in desperate need of it.
The phrase "come over and help us" comes from the "Macedonian call" described
in Acts 16. Paul and his team had arrived at Troas on the west coast of Asia
Minor (modern-day Turkey, v.
. There, "Paul had a vision of a man of
Macedonia standing and begging him, 'Come over to Macedonia and help us'"
(v. 9). Having received the vision, Paul and his companions "got ready
at once to leave for Macedonia" (v. 10). They understood the vital importance
of the call.
Not everyone is called to cross the seas, but we can support those who do with
our prayers and finances. And all of us can tell someone, whether across the
room, the street, or the community, about the good news of Jesus. Let's pray
that our good God will enable us to cross over and give people the greatest
help of all-the opportunity for forgiveness in Jesus' name.
By: Bill Crowder
Reflect & Pray
Where is God calling you to share your faith?
How might He empower you to do this today?
Loving Father, You sent Your Son for
our rescue and forgiveness. Equip me to be an agent of Your great
good news that forgiveness and freedom are available to whoever
will receive Jesus by faith.
For further study, read Gospel Conversations: Sharing the Story of Jesus.
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 2 - Saved by Grace - Day 7 - Oh, Freedom!
Rom 8:1-2
Life in the Spirit
1 (1Co 1:30; 2Co 5:17) There is therefore now no condemnation
for those who are in Christ Jesus,
who walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
2 (1Co 15:45; Ro 6:18; Jn 8:32) For the law of the Spirit of life
in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death.
The Spirit of God Within You
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus,
who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free
from the law of sin and death.
In the classic movie, I want to live! actress Susan Hayward
plays a woman convicted of murder and sentenced to be executed.
The suspense builds; the execution is delayed as the officials
wait for a word of pardon. Finally, the woman in executed;
the call comes, and the pardon has been granted, but it is too late.
When no pardon is granted, condemnation leads to death. Our sin
marks us as "guilty" before God, and we deserve the wages of sin,
which is death. But in Jesus Christ, the pardon does come - and
it comes in time. Our sin deserves condemnation by God, and yet
he forgives us because Christ paid the penalty for us,
But we face other kinds of condemnation as well - self-condemnation,
that internal accusation that we still, somehow, must pay the price
of our own sin. Others often condemn us as well, offering much less
forgiveness and mercy than God does. And the Enemy of our souls condemns
us, trying to convince us that we don't, after all, have real freedom
from sin.
Yet Paul tells us in Romans 8, "There is therefore now no condemnation
for those who are in Christ Jesus". God has forgiven us freely; he has
granted his pardon. And in light of his forgiveness, how can we live
under the condemnation of others - or even of ourselves?
We are free, Paul says - free from the "law of sin and death,"
free to live in the liberty of the Spirit. The stay of execution
has come: the pardon has been granted. Never again can we tried
for the same crimes: never again must we live under the burden
of condemnation.
Application
a) Have I ever lived under the burden of condemnation from myself
or others? Why?
b) How can Romans 8:1-2 help me live in freedom of such condemnation?
4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland
Gen 26:12-14
12 (Ge 26:3; 24:1) Then Isaac sowed in that land
and reaped in the same year a hundredfold; the Lord blessed him.
13 The man became rich and continued to prosper until he became very wealthy.
14 (Ge 37:11; Ecc 4:4) For he had possessions of flocks and herds
and a great number of servants so that the Philistines envied him.
12 Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year
an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him.
13 And the man waxed great, and went forward,
and grew until he became very great:
14 for he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds,
and great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him.
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
God's Unfailing Love
Ps 36:5-9
5 (Ps 42:11; 43:5) Your mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens,
and Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.
6 (2Sa 17:22; Dt 3:8-9) Your righteousness is like the great mountains,
Your judgments like the great deep; O Lord, You preserve man and beast.
7 (Ps 88:7; Jnh 2:3) How excellent is Your lovingkindness, O God!
Therefore mankind seeks refuge in the shadow of Your wings.
8 (Job 35:10; Ps 63:6) They will drink their fill
from the abundance of Your house,
and You will cause them to drink from the river of Your pleasures.
9 (Ps 38:6; 18:2) For with You is the fountain of life;
in Your light we see light.
5 Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens;
And thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.
6 Thy righteousness is like the great mountains;
Thy judgments are a great deep:
O LORD, thou preservest man and beast.
7 How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God!
Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.
8 They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house;
And thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.
9 For with thee is the fountain of life: In thy light shall we see light.
Remember God's promises when You pray
The Lord's prayer
Matthew 6:9-13
9 "Therefore pray in this manner:
Our Father who is in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;
Your will be done
on earth, as it is in heaven.
11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.
12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."
9 After this manner therefore pray ye:
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
6) This come from Praying for Muslims in Canada 2015 (Is there a 2021 edition?)
Saskatchewan
Quick facts on Muslims in Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan 2015 population 1125400
est Muslim Population 17279
CNMM Networks: Saskatoon
Saskatoon has seen quick growth in its Muslim population over the past
5 years, which maybe as high as 5000 today. Islamic leaders have
focused specifically on this city , having twice already sent cohorts
of about 70 families to start mosques. There are now 7 Islamic centres
of worship and an ISlamic madrassah (school) located right next to a
Christian school.
Of particular concern recently is the number of young adults who grew up
in evangelical churches and converted to Islam. Most of these are young
women who were wooed by Muslim man and became emotionally bonded.
Both prior to and after marrying, these women are known to convert to ISlam.
Agree in prayer with us for:
- entire congregations and individual believers to catch God's heart
and passion for reaching Muslims in Saskatoon and the other growing
Muslim population centres of Saskatchewan.
- for the eyes and understanding of Canadian youth to be opened to the
spiritual reality of Islam, and not deceived nor manipulated into
converting to a religion which cannot offer assurance of salvation.
- for the few workers among Muslims now engaged there, and for many more
to be raised up into effective witness.
- for prayer and training events that are starting in Saskatoon
to spread and grow to other cities.
Adding further
Pray for the Minangkabau
Revelation 3:20
20 Listen! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice
and opens the door, I will come in and dine with him, and he with Me.
[20] Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and
open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Wan is an elder in a fishing village in West Sumatra, the Indonesian homeland
of the Minangkabau people. He won $150,000 in a slogan-writing competition
but died before claiming the prize. His fellow villagers plotted to hide his
death so that the prize money could still be claimed for the communal good.
Interestingly, their scheme almost perfectly mimics the plot of a recent
Indonesian comedy, 'Onde Mande!' (Oh No!). The dialogue of the film is mostly
in the local language, so that the Minangkabau director's father
(who comes from a village just like the one portrayed in the film)
can enjoy it more fully. The film showcases Minangkabau pride in their local
language and ancestral village, their values of mutual cooperation and shrewdness,
and their Muslim identity.
Video
The Minangkabau face many challenges in life, such as tensions between their
traditional creative problem-solving skills and the rules regulating Muslim
society. Other tensions between Islam and Minangkabau culture exist, as well.
For example, in the Mingangkabau culture, only women inherit ancestral land,
which stands in stark contrast to more paternalistic Islamic values.
As cultural values, traditions and religious complexities intersect, pray
that God would reveal various aspects of His character
and lead many Mingangkabau to Himself.
How to Pray
May God give the Minangkabau people grace to see that Jesus
is the exact image of the invisible God.
The Bible is available in the Minangkabau language, but a major revision
is needed for it to be useful. Ask God to raise up followers of Jesus who
will engage with the Minangkabau people in the Minangkabau language
and in culturally appropriate ways.
Ask God to call Minangkabau people to become followers of Jesus.
And that they will then influence others to come to Him.
My paternal side is of Muslim heritage and will offer this section to further
call for Muslim converts to Christian and any other converts to Christianity
(Hindus, Jews, aboriginals Canadian, ...) .
7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada
http://www.ehc.ca
16th Day of the Month
a) Pray that God will convict the hearts of Canadians of the false
idea that all moral choices are equal and
without consequences
( John 16:7-8
7 "Nevertheless I tell you the truth: It is expedient for you that I go away.
For if I do not go away, the Counselor will not come to you.
But if I go, I will send Him to you.
8 When He comes, He will convict the world of sin
and of righteousness and of judgment"
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away:
for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you;
but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin,
and of righteousness, and of judgment:
)
b) Pray that people's hearts would be opened to see the folly
of denying God's supremacy
(
John 14:6
6 Jesus said to him,
"I am the way, the truth, and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through Me."
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life:
no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Rom 3:19-20
19 Now we know that whatever the law says,
it says to those who are under the law,
so that every mouth may be silenced,
and all the world may become accountable to God.
20 Therefore by the works of the law
no flesh will be justified in His sight,
for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.
19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are
under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become
guilty before God.
20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified
in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
2 Cor 5:10
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ,
that each one may receive his recompense in the body,
according to what he has done,
whether it was good or bad.
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one
may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done,
whether it be good or bad.
2 Cor 10:5
5 casting down imaginations and every high thing
that exalts itself against the knowledge of God,
bringing every thought into
captivity to the obedience of Christ,
5 casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against
the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought
to the obedience of Christ;
)
Conclusion:
Pray to the Lord and pray to live your life worthy the Lord.
Pray to the Lord: "Loving Father, You sent Your Son for
our rescue and forgiveness. Equip me to be an agent of Your great
good news that forgiveness and freedom are available to whoever
will receive Jesus by faith."
Pray to the Lord and pray to know there is no condemnation
in the Salvation of Jesus Christ.
Pray to the Lord and pray to understand the Lord's Blessing to Isaac.
Pray to the Lord and pray to understand his Love.
Agree in prayer with us for:
- entire congregations and individual believers to catch God's heart
and passion for reaching Muslims in Saskatoon and the other growing
Muslim population centres of Saskatchewan.
- for the eyes and understanding of Canadian youth to be opened to the
spiritual reality of Islam, and not deceived nor manipulated into
converting to a religion which cannot offer assurance of salvation.
- for the few workers among Muslims now engaged there, and for many more
to be raised up into effective witness.
- for prayer and training events that are starting in Saskatoon
to spread and grow to other cities.
May God give the Minangkabau people grace to see that Jesus
is the exact image of the invisible God.
The Bible is available in the Minangkabau language, but a major revision
is needed for it to be useful. Ask God to raise up followers of Jesus who
will engage with the Minangkabau people in the Minangkabau language
and in culturally appropriate ways.
Ask God to call Minangkabau people to become followers of Jesus.
And that they will then influence others to come to Him.
Pray that God will convict the hearts of Canadians of the false
idea that all moral choices are equal and
without consequences.
Pray that people's hearts would be opened to see the folly
of denying God's supremacy
Pray that Tunisians will be receptive to the message of the Gospel.
Pray to the Lord that to know the Holy Spirit.
and Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness
Remember eternity starts now -
Pray for the direction you take to the Ever lasting loving God