HE will set you in praise, fame and honor high above all the nations (Covenant stipulations II ch,19-26q)

Deut 12:1-18:22

Key Verse 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.

This is the second part of the specific stipulations of the Covenant. In the first study, we went over the laws concerning the central figures of the kingdom, i.e. the Lord and worship, and the kingdom officials (ch12-18). This study comprises all the laws on social matters (ch19-26).

Civil Law (19:1–22:8)

1.       Read the Laws concerning Manslaughter (19:1–13), the Laws concerning Witnesses (19:14–21) and the Laws concerning conscription to War (20:1–20), the Laws concerning Unsolved Murder (21:1–9) and find what was the first importance in these laws.

2.       Please read the Laws concerning Wives and Children (21:10–21), the Laws concerning Preservation of Life (21:22–22:8) and find the commanding principle that God applies in these.

Laws of Purity (22:9–23:18)

3.       What principle do you see in these Illustrations (22:9–12)?

4.       Read the law on the purity in the Marriage Relationship (22:13–30), the purity in Public Worship (23:1–8), the purity in Personal Hygiene (23:9–14), the law for the purity in treatment of the Disadvantaged (23:15–16), the purity in Cultic Personnel (23:17–18) and discuss what ‘purity’ God seeks in the life of men.

Laws of Interpersonal Relationships (23:19–25:19)

5.       Read the laws regarding the others’ possessions (23:19–24:7), regarding the dignity of other (24:8–25:4) or the sanctity of other’s life (25:5–16) and discuss why people do not give proper regard to these properties of others. In what respect, do the things that the Amalekites serve as the prime example of such disrespect to others’ (25:17–19)?

Laws of Covenant Celebration and Confirmation (26:1–19)

6.       When they entered the land, how are they to present the Firstfruits to the Lord (26:1–10)? What is this act to reflect (11)? What do they have to do with the third-year Tithe (26:12a)?  Why (12b)? Then what must they affirm to and ask the Lord (13-15)?

7.       What do these two acts in declaration symbolize (26:16-17)? What did the Lord declare this day (18-19)? Discuss what might be the purpose or will of God in giving out these laws and in demanding them to follow these laws (Cf. 1 Pet 1:7; 2 Pet 3:14; Rom 12:2; Heb 5:9; Heb 10:1, 14; NAS Col 4:12).