Deuteronomy 30:19 - “Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.”

Deuteronomy 30 is part of Moses’ “farewell address” to the Israelites. As God’s prophet, he brought an important message to the people for that moment.  Israel was completing a period of wandering in the wilderness.  At that moment, they were finally preparing to enter the Promised Land.  Most of the original generation that left Egypt in the Exodus was now dead – they had died in the wilderness due to their disobedience.  A new generation had arisen, those who were children at the time of the Exodus.

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Deuteronomy 22:9 - “You shall not sow your vineyard with different kind of seed, lest the yield of the seed which you have sown and the fruit of your vineyard be defiled.”

This regulation was taken literally by the Israelites in the Old Testament period, but we understand that every command in the law pointed to Jesus and the Work of Salvation, which he now accomplishes through the Holy Spirit.  John 5:39 “You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me.”  Colossians 2:17, “These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.”

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Deuteronomy 15:16-17 - “But if your servant says to you, “I do not want to leave you,” because he loves you and your family and is well off with you, then take an awl and push it through his ear lobe into the door, and he will become your servant for life.  Do the same for your maidservant.

This talks about servants or slaves in the Old Testament, but illustrates how we become the Lord’s servants today.  There is a similar passage (with a few more details) in Exodus 21:2-6.  Israelites had to release any Hebrew slaves or servants after seven years.  Even so, the servant could remain in the position permanently if he wanted to. The original languages of the Bible do not have differentiated terms for “slave” and “servant” as we do in English. continue

Deuteronomy 21:11-13       

“…if you notice among the captives a beautiful woman and are attracted to her, you may take her as your wife.  Bring her into your home and have her shave her head, trim her nails, and put aside the clothes she was wearing when captured.  After she has lived in your house and mourned her father and mother for a full month, then you may go to her and be her husband and she shall be your wife.“ 

This passage gives us a prophetic illustration of the salvation we have in Jesus Christ, that is, how the Spirit transforms our lives when we are born again.  It also shows the preparation of the Bride of Christ, the faithful church, for the Rapture.  Shaving the hair represents the complete change of mentality, attitudes, and opinions that must accompany our conversion experience and spiritual growth.  Trimming the nails refers to the “work of our hands,” as we devote our efforts to God’s Work instead of sinful things.  Clothes refer to our lifestyle, the testimony given by the way we live. continue

DEUTERONOMY 20:5-8  - The officers shall say to the army: “Has anyone built a new house and not dedicated it? Let him go home, or he may die in battle and someone else may dedicate it. Has anyone planted a vineyard and not begun to enjoy it? Let him go home, or he may die in battle and someone else enjoy it.  Has anyone become pledged to a woman and not married her? Let him go home, or he may die in battle and someone else marry her.”  Then the officers shall add, “Is any man afraid or fainthearted? Let him go home so that his brothers will not become disheartened too.”  When the officers have finished speaking to the army, they shall appoint commanders over it.

The Lord identified the following types of people who were excluded from battle in ancient Israel:

-      Built a new house and has not dedicated it.

-      Planted a vineyard and has not yet eaten of it.

-      Betrothed to a woman and has not yet married her.

-      Fearful and fainthearted.

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