Deuteronomy 18-19

 Deuteronomy 18-19

Observations and Interpretations

(1) After dealing with the religious leaders (Levites and priests in 18:1-8) the commandments turned to deal with the prophets v.9-22. First, the false foretellers needed to be expelled v.9-14. Then a prophecy about a new prophet like Moses would be raise up v.15. This is a prophecy about Jesus Christ. When John the Baptist were asked if he was "that prophet" by those who were sent by the pries, he answered, "No." (John 1:21)

(BKC) The ultimate Prophet like Moses (18:15, 18) is Jesus Christ—the One who spoke God’s words and who provides deliverance for His people. Not even Joshua could be compared to Moses, for since Moses “no prophet has risen in Israel like” him (34:10) with such power before men and intimacy with God. However distinguished a future prophet’s role might be in Israel, none would be like Moses until the Mediator of the New Covenant, Jesus Christ, came. Moses set the standard for every future prophet. Each prophet was to do his best to live up to the example of Moses until the One came who would introduce the New Covenant. During the first century A.D. the official leaders of Judaism were still looking for the fulfillment of Moses’ prediction (cf. John 1:21). Peter said their search should have stopped with the Lord Jesus (Acts 3:22–23).

Note what Israelites supposed to do to Jesus: 

15 The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you—from your fellow Israelites; you must listen to him.
"19 I will personally hold responsible anyone who then pays no attention to the words that prophet speaks in my name."

When Someone Who could speak to God face to face and stand between God and Man came to us we ought to listen to Him. It is because He spoke the works of God!

Application: How do show our faith to Jesus? If we believe He was sent from the Father we should listen to His words. Do we? Otherwise, do we honor God as God?

(2) The purpose of refuge city was to avoid the innocent blood be shed 19:6, 10. These included

A. The careless innocent killer v.4-10

(NET) “innocent blood must not be shed.” The Hebrew phrase דָּם נָקִי (dam naqiy) means the blood of a person to whom no culpability or responsibility adheres because what he did was without malice

 10 You must not shed innocent blood in your land that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, for that would make you guilty.

B. Those who were murdered by the hateful murderer v.11-13

When the murderer faked as innocent careless killer they should be taken out from the refugee city and handed over to be executed v.12-13, because the innocent blood (the one being murdered) should not be shed. 

13 You must not pity him, but purge from Israel the guilt of shedding innocent blood, so that it may go well with you.

(NET) Purge out the blood of the innocent. Because of the corporate nature of Israel’s community life, the whole community shared in the guilt of unavenged murder unless and until vengeance occurred. Only this would restore spiritual and moral equilibrium (Num 35:33).

(3) Those who give false testimony needed to be punished. 

19 you must do to him what he had intended to do to the accused. In this way you will purge the evil from among you.

Note: The purpose of taking care of the (2) and (3) was to avoid the guilt or the evil. Then those who live there will go well. People as a whole has a responsibility to uphold the justice and purge out the evil. 

Application: When God lived among Israel they needed to follow His commandments to uphold the "holiness." Avoiding guilt and purge out the evil are the way of living. How shall Christians have Jesus Christ dwells in our hearts? Do we see it is important that Jesus is living in my heart and therefore I should keep it "clean" or "holy?" Do we try to avoid sins? Or do we harbor any sins in our heart? 

Audrey