Deuteronomy 17:14 – You will enter the land that the Lord your God is giving you. You will take possession of it and live there. You will say, “Let’s have our own king like all the other nations around us.”
So said, so done. They clamoured for a king.
“Rules” for the King
- Must not own a lot of horses. Nor go to Egypt to get more (Deuteronomy 17:16).
- Must not have a lot of wives (Deuteronomy 17:17)
- Must not own a lot of silver and gold (Deuteronomy 17:17)
- Must keep a copy of the teachings and read it his entire life (Deuteronomy 17:18)
Sad truth? None of the kings followed the rules for kings, not even David. Probably the one who came closest was Josiah, but he had more than one wife (though two wives are significantly less than most of the other kings).
Deuteronomy 20:19 – This is what you must do whenever you blockade a city for a long time in order to capture it in war. Don’t harm any of its fruit trees with an ax. You can eat the fruit. Never cut those trees down, because the trees of the field are not people you have come to blockade.
Of course we know the scripture about the sparrow, but here Yahweh shows he cares about the trees also and by extension us as he is also providing. Don’t move forward anyhow, take stock and move forward accordingly.
Deuteronomy 28:53 – Because of the hardships your enemies will make you suffer during the blockade, you will eat the flesh of your own children, the sons and daughters, whom the Lord your God has given you.
First thing, this actually happened (2 Kings 6:28-30). Second thing. WTH? I may be on a high horse, but I don’t want to eat my child! (Granted I don’t have any, but if I had, I don’t want to). What am I going to say, “Hmmm, tastes like chicken”?!!! No. No. Just no. I will happily convict myself not to do something in advance. Just no. No to drugs. No eating children. Just say no.
Deuteronomy 29:14-15 – You aren’t the only people to receive this promise and its conditions. It is for those of you who are standing here with us today in the presence of the Lord our God and also for those who are not here today.
Those who are not here today. Like me. Every one in the generations after who choose Yahweh as there God. We become part of the promise even though we weren’t there at the time. The promise covers us all.