OceanSide church of Christ
Read devotionals for November 2023
December 1, 2023
Deuteronomy 13:14 – Then shalt thou inquire, and make search, and ask diligently, and behold, if it be truth, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought among you.
Thought: In the previous two verses, the Lord notes that it was reported that men of Belial have led a city away from God to serve false gods. In this verse, He authorizes a thorough and honest investigation to take place. Assertions and accusations can be false. Thus, God tells His people to “inquire,” “make search,” and “ask diligently.” Before a city was convicted, God wanted evidence of wrong doing. If the evidence was conclusive regarding the sin, then punishment was warranted.
Isaiah 11:3-4
December 2, 2023
Deuteronomy 13:15, 16 – Thou shalt surely smite the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, destroying it utterly, and all that is therein, and the cattle thereof, with the edge of the sword. And thou shalt gather all the spoil of it into the midst of the street thereof, and shall burn with fire the city, and all the spoil thereof every whit, for the Lord thy God: and it shall be a heap for ever; it shall not. be built again.
Thought: There are some sins that are so heinous that they deserve severe punishment. Encouraging others to go after false gods was one of those sins. When a city involved itself in idolatry, it was to be destroyed. The inhabitants of the city were to be killed. The cattle were to be slain. All of the spoil within the city was to be burned. Notice the two words, “every whit.” That city was not ever to be rebuilt. All of this was done “for the Lord thy God.” His name alone was to be honored in Israel.
Exodus 22:20
December 3, 2023
Deuteronomy 13:17 – And there shall cleave nought of the cursed thing to thine hand: that the Lord may turn from the fierceness of his anger, and shew thee mercy, and have compassion upon thee, and multiply thee, as he hath sworn unto thy fathers.
Thought: The false gods of the Canaanites were dangerous to Israel. God wanted them completely removed from the Promised Land. Too, he wanted all those who would lead the nation into idolatry removed from the land. If Israel would destroy the idolatrous cities and slay those who practiced idolatry, God would bless them. God would give Israel three things: mercy, compassion, and multiplication. If they failed to remove the idolatry, they would face the fierceness of His anger.
Joshua 6:18
December 4, 2023
Deuteronomy 3:18 – When thou shalt hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, to keep all his commandments which I command thee this day, to do that which is right in the eyes of the Lord thy God.
Thought: Moses continues to exhort Israel to “hearken to the voice of the Lord,” and “to keep all his commandments.” Some might wonder why this needs to be done. Israel was to do these things because they involved “that which is right.” Often man does what he believes to be right or what he feels to be right. These often prove to be ways that are terribly wrong. Doing what God authorizes, however, is always right. The reason is because His commands spring from His righteous nature.
Psalm 19:8
December 5, 2023
Deuteronomy 14:1, 2 – Ye are the children of the Lord your God: ye shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness between your eyes for the dead. For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God, and the Lord hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.
Thought: When God called Israel to enter into a covenant with Him, He was calling them to leave heathenism behind. He wanted them to be holy. A holy nation is pure, separate, and used for a special purpose for God. In the Law of Moses, God often clearly legislated on the things Israel could do and could not do. Here, God forbids two heathen practices: cutting themselves and baldness between the eyes. God’s people were His treasure and had to be different. The same is true for His people today.
I Peter 2:9
December 6, 2023
Deuteronomy 14:3 – Thou shalt not eat any abominable thing.
Thought: God called Israel to be to be a holy nation. Part of the definition of holy is separate. He wanted them to be separate from the idolatrous nations in the Promised Land. Israel’s diet would be one thing that would separate them. The heathen nations ate all kinds of food. Some were unhealthy. Some were related to their idolatrous practices. God, therefore, exhorted Israel not to eat any abominable thing. He would define these forbidden foods so they could comply with His will.
Leviticus 20:25-26
