HE will set you in praise, fame and honor high above all the nations (Deut 12-18q)

Deut 12:1-18:22

Key Verses 18:18-19:  18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites, and I will put my words in his mouth. He will tell them everything I command him. ¹⁹ I myself will call to account anyone who does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name.

26:18-19:  18 And the LORD has declared this day that you are his people, his treasured possession as he promised and that you are to keep all his commands. 19 He has declared that he will set you in praise, fame, and honor high above all the nations he has made and that you will be a people holy to the LORD your God, as he promised.

The passages that we are covering in the next two studies are the specific stipulations of the Covenant. In the first study, we will go over the laws concerning the central figures of the kingdom, i.e. the Lord and worship, and the kingdom officials (ch12-18). The next study comprises all the laws on societal matters (ch19-26). Please read it and give a careful thought on each subject to find a specific teaching(s) on each section and meditate it regarding its relevance or its application to the current life in our time.

Laws for worshiping the Lord (12:1–16:17)

1.       What are the laws concerning the worship and sanctuary (12:1-31)?

2.       What are they to discern in dealing with the world (12:32–14:21)? How might these be related to worshipping the Lord (Cf. Jonah 1:9)?

3.       What else do they have to do (14:22–16:17)?  Discuss why doing these things has to do with worshipping the Lord (Ref. Is 2:5-11; 3:1;  29:13)

Laws for Kingdom Officials (16:18–18:22)

4.       Find the role of judges and Other Officials (16:18–17:13)

5.       What should a Kings do or should not do (17:14–20)

6.       What’s the primary concern for priests and Levites (18:1–8)

7.       What might be the situation when they feel a great need of a prophet[s] (9-13; Ref 1 Sam 28:3-15-19)? What does God teach them in such a situation (18:14)? Instead, what should they remember and do (15-16)? Why (17-19)? The, how can they discern him from the false ones (18:20–22; Ref. Mat 3:17; 17:5)?

8.       Discuss the role of these leaders for the kingdom of God (Ref. Is 3:1-14; 29:13; Jer 2:8; Mic 3:1) and find what might be important in carrying out their duty as leaders (16:20; 17:4-5, 12b; 18:18,19; Jer 34:18-19) and their implication for you.