October 10, 2013
COULD I CAST THE FIRST STONE?
Deuteronomy 17:1-13
Robert Green
Central Truth
God is serious about removing the sin from our lives and helping our brothers do likewise.
Key Verse | Deuteronomy 17:7
"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." (Deuteronomy 17:7)
Deuteronomy 17:1-13
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 1 17:7 Septuagint drive out; also verse 12 the evil 2 17:7 Or evil person; also verse 12 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.
Dive Deeper | Deuteronomy 17:1-13
I struggle with the idea of stoning someone. I read verses 2-7 and try to put myself in the sandals of an Israelite. Let's say I'm walking through my neighborhood for a nighttime stroll and see my neighbor on his rooftop worshipping the moon. When I see him the next day, what do I say? "Hey Methuselah, look, I really don't want to crush your skull with a rock, but if you don't lay off the moon worship, that's what will happen."
Yet, stoning is what God expected of His people. So is this what He expects of me? Actually, He expects more. Wait, what? Consider Galatians 6:1-2 (NIV): "Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." What God requires of us is that we come alongside our brother and help restore his relationship with God.
Quite honestly, it is easier for me to throw a rock than to love my brother enough to help him through a sin struggle. Why is this hard for me? Because helping my brother takes time and I am selfish with my time. I need to be more like the "friend who sticks closer than a brother" (Proverbs 18:24).
God also calls me to restore my brother gently. This is an area where I've struggled. I've used worldly tools like sarcasm to make indirect points or have hidden behind a lofty phrase like "just telling the truth" to make harsh comments. I have found victory in this area by making my speech "as though seasoned with salt" (Colossians 4:6) and realizing that I can love someone best with total honesty (see Proverbs 27:5-6).
As Deuteronomy 17:7 & 12 tell us, God is serious about purging evil from among us. May God give each of us strength today to first purge it from ourselves and next to encourage our brothers and sisters as they struggle well!
Discussion Questions
1. I have sometimes struggled to feel worthy to help another because of sin in my own life. Do you feel that way today? If so, meditate on Matthew 7:3-5.
2. Do you know someone who is struggling with sin and needs your help? If so, get a game plan together today and be the hands and feet of Christ.
3. In Deuteronomy 17:7, why do you think God wanted the witnesses to throw the first stones?