This program of daily devotions is designed to take you through the Bible in three years. It is our desire to help you gain a better general understanding of God's Word.
Please understand that in a study this brief, we will be concerned with only the major emphases and context of the Scriptures.
Each day a devotion for one or two chapters is posted, beginning with chapter one of Genesis and going through chapter twenty-two of Revelation. You are free to print each page as it appears. If you miss a day, you may contact us and request that devotion. Please send your request, along with $.50 (p&h) for each page to:
Bruce McGee,Pastor
205 Adams
Columbia, LA 71418
HERE
Bro. Bruce's commentaries for the
books of Genesis, Exodus, and Leviticus are
now available in hard copy for $7.50. Just mail your request for
COMMENTARY ON GENESIS to the address above.
DEUTERONOMY
1 Observe the month of Abib, and keep the passover unto the LORD thy God: for in the month of Abib the LORD thy God brought thee forth out of Egypt by night.
2 Thou shalt therefore sacrifice the passover unto the LORD thy God, of the flock and the herd, in the place which the LORD shall choose to place his name there.
3 Thou shalt eat no leavened bread with it; seven days shalt thou eat unleavened bread therewith, even the bread of affliction; for thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt in haste: that thou mayest remember the day when thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt all the days of thy life.
4 And there shall be no leavened bread seen with thee in all thy coast seven days; neither shall there anything of the flesh, which thou sacrificedst the first day at even, remain all night until the morning.
5 Thou mayest not sacrifice the passover within any of thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee:
6 But at the place which the LORD thy God shall choose to place his name in, there thou shalt sacrifice the passover at even, at the going down of the sun, at the season that thou camest forth out of Egypt.
7 And thou shalt roast and eat it in the place which the LORD thy God shall choose: and thou shalt turn in the morning, and go unto thy tents.
8 Six days thou shalt eat unleavened bread: and on the seventh day shall be a solemn assembly to the LORD thy God: thou shalt do no work therein.
The Feast of Passover and Unleavend bread is reiterated in short here. The added restriction here is that they eat the passover in the place that God chose.
9 Seven weeks shalt thou number unto thee: begin to number the seven weeks from such time as thou beginnest to put the sickle to the corn.
10 And thou shalt keep the feast of weeks unto the LORD thy God with a tribute of a freewill offering of thine hand, which thou shalt give unto the LORD thy God, according as the LORD thy God hath blessed thee:
11 And thou shalt rejoice before the LORD thy God, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates, and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are among you, in the place which the LORD thy God hath chosen to place his name there.
12 And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt: and thou shalt observe and do these statutes.
Likewise, they were to keep the feast of Pentecost (Feast of Weeks). This feast occurred 50 days after Passover. In 30AD this feast began on the very day that the disciples were filled with God's Holy Spirit.
13 Thou shalt observe the feast of tabernacles seven days, after that thou hast gathered in thy corn and thy wine:
14 And thou shalt rejoice in thy feast, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite, the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within thy gates.
15 Seven days shalt thou keep a solemn feast unto the LORD thy God in the place which the LORD shall choose: because the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thine increase, and in all the works of thine hands, therefore thou shalt surely rejoice.
The Feast of Tabernacles is the Feast of "Booths" and was a time when they built "lean-tos" and lived in them for a week near the holy place (location of the tabernacle).
16 Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD empty:
17 Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath given thee.
Here is a conclusive statement in which we learn that these three feasts were very important. God commanded that all the males appear at these feasts, and that they bring sacrifice and offerings.
18 Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, throughout thy tribes: and they shall judge the people with just judgment.
19 Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous.
20 That which is altogether just shalt thou follow, that thou mayest live, and inherit the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
In accordance with Exodus 8:21,22, they were to set up "judges" over thousands, hundreds, and even fifties. These men were to judge and pass sentence, and that WITHOUT PAY!
21 Thou shalt not plant thee a grove of any trees near unto the altar of the LORD thy God, which thou shalt make thee.
22 Neither shalt thou set thee up any image; which the LORD thy God hateth.
Each family was allowed an altar to seek God and praise Him. But it was not to be accomplished with a showy garden. Neither was there any image to accompany the altar.
Please continue to follow with us daily in Bible study.
CHAPTER 16
It became their practice to remain together at the holy place until the end of the Feast of Unleavened Bread (2Chronicles 35:17).
We should "remember the day when thou camest out of Egypt," or the day wne we were saved. And one way we remember it today is to observe the Lord's Supper (Luke 22:19)
Obviously, this feast is a time of rejoiceing for us (verse 11) because we remember our slavery to sin, and how God's Holy Spirit has given us power to live lives for Christ.
This was a "solemn feast" (verse 15) even though it was coupled with singing and dancing. The reason it was a solemn feast was that it was WHOLLY dedicated to God (verse 14). The joyful praise was in thanksgiving for God's bountiful blessings.
We who make Jesus our hope have reason to rejoice daily because, as the Bible says, His mercy is "new every morning" (Lamentation 3:23).
It is important that we Christians appear before God often to praise Him with our tithes and offerings (Hebrews 10:25).
Notice the requirements for "just judgment:"
1) Do not "wrest" judgment (or take it away when it is needed);
2) Do not respect persons - all are equal and deserve equal treatment;
3) Do not take "gifts" (bribes) - even the smallest may temper correct judgment;
4) Follow that which is "altogether just."
Perhaps if we had this system of judgment in the U.S., we wouldn't see such perverted judicial decisions!
God wants us to come to Him "one-on-one," and worship in spirit and truth. We need no articles to help us do that; just a place that is sanctified for that purpose.