October 11, 2013
YOU HEARD ME TWICE THE FIRST TIME
Deuteronomy 17:14-20
Alix Foster
Central Truth
God's Word is clear, and we should not only hear, but do what He asks.
Key Verse | Deuteronomy 17:19
"It shall be with him and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, by carefully observing all the words of this law and these statutes." (Deuteronomy 17:19)
Deuteronomy 17:14-20
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 1 17:18 Hebrew from before 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.
Dive Deeper | Deuteronomy 17:14-20
When I was a little guy, my mom would sometimes tell me to do something that I didn't want to do, and I would pretend I didn't hear her. My reply to her would be, "Huh?" My mom would often smile and reply, "You heard me twice the first time." She was making two points: 1) She knew I heard her clearly the first time. 2) She was SERIOUS about me doing what she asked. In other words, hearing wasn't enough.
We pick up with the people of God, the children of Israel. We just finished an election year so most of us can identify with the search for a leader in verse 15. The children of Israel were told what to look for in a king about 300 years before they actually asked for a king (1 Samuel 8). It's great to know that God knows what we need before we ask (Matthew 6:8). In verse 19, God's words had been clearly spoken and even written down about 300 years prior, and here in Deuteronomy, God was making two points: 1. He knew the Israelites had plenty of time to hear Him clearly. 2. God was serious about them doing what He had asked.
As much as I would like to tell you that my selective memory impairment days are behind me, people who know me well can tell you they are not. I often get it wrong and sometimes when God talks to me through His Word, I hear Him "twice the first time." Even though I have a copy of the Bible, my reply is, "Huh?." The funny thing is that I could never fool my mom, and I'm pretty sure that God's not fooled either. As I read through the passage, I see moments in my life when I've heard God's Word clearly and clearly didn't follow it. But in those moments I thank God for the forgiveness that Christ offers (1 John 2:12), but am also reminded that hearing is not enough (James 1:22).
So I don't leave you hanging . . . back to the "Two Truths and a Lie" game. It's a pretty fun way to get to know people. If you are still wondering which is the lie, I'll throw you a bone. Read Romans 7:1-5 and that should eliminate one of the answers. After you figure it out, play this game with some folks at your job or who live near you. Feel free to use one of my TRUTHS OR LIES in your version of the game. Have fun!
Discussion Questions
1. Was there a time this past week when you clearly heard God's words about something you should do, but you did not do it?
2. Why does God give us statutes or boundaries?
3. What area of your day-to-day routine would you like to see James 1:22 in action this week? What's stopping you?