Deuteronomy 17-20 / March 16 (Day 76)

Deuteronomy 17:16-20 gives advice to the kings that Israel would have. It gives him the advice so “that his heart may not be lifted above his brethren.” Whenever we acquire greater gifting or positions, we must take heed that our heart is not lifted up at the same time.

Deuteronomy 18:10-14 says those who practice witchcraft, soothsaying, interpreting of omens, sorcery, being a medium, being a spiritists, or calling up the dead is an abomination to the LORD. He goes to say in verse 15 who we are to listen to instead: "The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear;” He has given us Jesus His Son to listen to. How sad that people listen to the enemies counterfeits; he just wants to kill, steal and destroy. We can listen to Jesus Christ; He said the Holy Spirit would make known everything the Father and Him speak to us. 

Chapter 19 reiterates about the cities of refuge; God wanted these established so there would be no innocent bloodshed. (Deut. 19:10) The LORD has been very merciful with the United States considering all the innocent blood that has been shed.

Deuteronomy 19:11-13 says "…if anyone hates his neighbor and lies in wait for him and attacks him and strikes him fatally so that he dies, and he flees into one of these cities,  12)  then the elders of his city shall send and take him from there, and hand him over to the avenger of blood, so that he may die.  13)  Your eye shall not pity him, but you shall purge the guilt of innocent blood from Israel, so that it may be well with you.”  The carnal mind thinks that if we respect life we won’t let anyone die, but God says “it will be well with you” when you kill the murderer. We are commanded to never murder, but for a nation to bring justice to a murderer by killing him is not murder. King David killed thousands of his enemies, but he only became a murderer when he had Uriah, Bathsheba’s husband, killed in battle. David said in Psalms 51:14, “Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God.” It was only after he had Uriah killed that he made this prayer. I don't want to sound like i think capital punishment is a small thing, but when it is used in cases that deserve it, we are actually honoring life. We can't think we are honoring life when capital punishment has decreased (43 people last year), but we've legalized abortion and the death of Terri Schiavo.