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Deuteronomy 17:1

The sacrifice was unto the Lord, the creator of all of heaven and earth, our creator.  How could man present to the Lord the least, the flawed, broken, or lame?  Every sacrifice was a picture of the perfect sacrifice, Jesus, spotless and without blemish.

Deuteronomy 17:2-7

The worst transgression one could commit was that of idolatry.  It was choosing some idol over the Lord God, some demonic trinket, icon, or idol over the Almighty.  Yahweh was the creator of the Sun, moon, and stars, yet the people looked to the sky and worshiped them as divine beings.  This violated the first commandment.  To love God is to be devoted and obedient.

The violation was to be diligently investigated.  This was to gather all the witnesses and question them.  No conviction could be brought by the witness of one.  There had to be two or more witnesses.  If the violation was found to be true, the guilty was to be stoned to death, beginning with the accuser.  After the witness cast the first stone, then the people were to take part. 

This is an example of putting away evil from among them.  It conveys the seriousness of the offense in the eyes of God.  Idolatry was evil among them and needed to be removed. 

Deuteronomy 17:8-13

If the charge was serious, but the judgment wasn’t clear as to the degree of guilt or necessary degree of punishment, then the matter was to be brought to the priests.  The person charged was to submit to the priests who were in a position to seek the will of God in the matter.  The person charged was to come before them and submit to any pronouncement they might make.  Failure to heed what the priests determined would be considered either an admission of guilt or disrespect for the law and court of God.  That was to die.  The method was probably determined by the charge brought against them. 

This, again, was a means of purging the evil among them.  That person would be an example to others. 

Deuteronomy 17:14-20

The Lord knew a time would come when they would desire a king over them, to be like the nations around them.  The king was to be one the Lord would choose.  The Lord looked at the heart, while the people might look at their money, education, influence, etc.  The king was to be one of their own, not a foreigner.

The king was not to multiply horses or cause the people to turn back toward bondage in Egypt.  In addition, He wasn’t to multiply wives.  His trust wasn’t in a large army or political prowess attained through marriages.  His trust was in the Lord and His word.

The king was to write out a copy of the law.  He was then to read it all the days of his life.  In this way, he would know the law and know what obedience looked like.  He would revere the Lord and seek His ways.   This would keep the king humble, and he would not turn away.  The Lord would prolong his days in the kingdom as a leader of the Lord’s children.

Solomon was the wisest of men, yet he made these mistakes as the king.

©2007, 2023 Doug Ford, Calvary Chapel Sweetwater