DEUTERONOMY 21
"Provide atonement, O Lord, for your people Israel, whom You have redeemed......"
In Chapter 21, Moses begins to set up godly politics for the people entering the land of abundance. For those who say, "Keep politics out of the church," are often people who don't truly understand the church. God's will and way applies to all parts of our world, even politics. There is nothing under the sun that the church should shy away from speaking on- even politics.
In this week's text, Moses is speaking about communal law through the lens of what God cares most about- LIFE. Moses spoke about war in Chapter 20, but in Chapter 21 the word transitions to how to care for innocent life. Moses speaks to the people about how to honor and respect life. This is God speaking about politics and a governing foundation for the people.
It's easy to read this week's text and get lost in the Old Testament practices of a culture that many of us have a hard time imagining. Because we have a hard time imagining, we quickly pass over the bigger meaning of what His word is teaching us. In Chapter 21, God's Word is showing us His heart and how communities are responsible for taking care of what God deeply cares about. Lost or saved, God's Word teaches us that man is made in the image of God. With that truth alone, we are called to take care of His creation. His creation which He Himself said "was very good!" Once again, this is God speaking about politics.
Abortion, poverty, abuse, and crime are all matters that God cares very much about. These are all politically layered issues. As born-again believers, this means that these issues are also important to His church and people! Moses is telling the people this week that God calls communities to govern what He cares about. God is calling godly leaders to be on the front line fighting for Christian values and to have political foundations that protect the life and land that He gave them. This is why politics matters today!
God cares about our life and our land just like He cared about life and land back then. Today, we are called to fight for Christian values that protect innocent lives and nurture the land that God has blessed us with. If we take the politics out of church, we are all in very grave danger!
In this week's text we also see a beautiful Gospel message as we get a picture of our need of a Savior in our favor to faithfully govern. Remember what we have said numerous times already in our study, even though we are called to obey God and take care of His blessings, we will always fall short. We are desperately in need of a Savior! In verse 8, we see the people cry out for atonement in the light of the people failing to uphold the law and through the broken hearts of sin.
"God, please help us."
Today, we find ourselves in very similar situations as we are surrounded by sin, pleading for a savior's aid!
Thank you, Jesus, for being our savior, our given atonement.
Stay faithful church,
Pastor Hunter
In this week's text, Moses is speaking about communal law through the lens of what God cares most about- LIFE. Moses spoke about war in Chapter 20, but in Chapter 21 the word transitions to how to care for innocent life. Moses speaks to the people about how to honor and respect life. This is God speaking about politics and a governing foundation for the people.
It's easy to read this week's text and get lost in the Old Testament practices of a culture that many of us have a hard time imagining. Because we have a hard time imagining, we quickly pass over the bigger meaning of what His word is teaching us. In Chapter 21, God's Word is showing us His heart and how communities are responsible for taking care of what God deeply cares about. Lost or saved, God's Word teaches us that man is made in the image of God. With that truth alone, we are called to take care of His creation. His creation which He Himself said "was very good!" Once again, this is God speaking about politics.
Abortion, poverty, abuse, and crime are all matters that God cares very much about. These are all politically layered issues. As born-again believers, this means that these issues are also important to His church and people! Moses is telling the people this week that God calls communities to govern what He cares about. God is calling godly leaders to be on the front line fighting for Christian values and to have political foundations that protect the life and land that He gave them. This is why politics matters today!
God cares about our life and our land just like He cared about life and land back then. Today, we are called to fight for Christian values that protect innocent lives and nurture the land that God has blessed us with. If we take the politics out of church, we are all in very grave danger!
In this week's text we also see a beautiful Gospel message as we get a picture of our need of a Savior in our favor to faithfully govern. Remember what we have said numerous times already in our study, even though we are called to obey God and take care of His blessings, we will always fall short. We are desperately in need of a Savior! In verse 8, we see the people cry out for atonement in the light of the people failing to uphold the law and through the broken hearts of sin.
"God, please help us."
Today, we find ourselves in very similar situations as we are surrounded by sin, pleading for a savior's aid!
Thank you, Jesus, for being our savior, our given atonement.
Stay faithful church,
Pastor Hunter
SCRIPTURE TO GO WITH THE MESSAGE
Read Romans 13 as Paul speaks about politics and how to stay faithful and peaceful in the midst of a broken world.
Posted in Deuteronomy