Thursday, January 7, 2010

Deuteronomy 23 & Isaiah 43

Deuteronomy 23
- A List of people not allowed to enter the assembly of the Lord
1) Man with crushed testicles or "male organ" cut off
2) No one born of forbidden union (even to the 10th generation decedents)
3) No Ammonite or Moabite (even to the 10th generation)
- they are excluded because they didn't meet Israel with bread and water when they left Egypt.
- they also hired Balaam against Israel.
- reminds them how God turned Balaam's curse into a blessing
- Israel shall not seek peace or prosperity for either group
4) Edomite first and second generation
- Israel should NOT abhor them because Edomites are their brother and they were sojourners in Egypt
- A List of things that make you Unclean
1) Nocturnal emission
- this man should go outside the camp.
- at evening he shall bathe himself with water and come back at sunset
2) Excrement
- go outside the camp, sit down, dig a hole, and bury it.
- The camp shall be kept clean and holy, so nothing "indecent" should be there that might make God turn away
- Miscellaneous laws
1) You may not return an escaped slave but should keep him with you.
2) Daughters shouldn't become cult prostitutes.
- they shouldn't bring money made from these into house of the Lord.
- both the prostitution and money made from it are an abomination
3) No interest shall be charged to your brother
- you may charge a foreigner interest
-charging brothers interest takes away God's blessing in what they undertake and land they want to possess.
4) Do not delay any vow made to God
- God will require your vow be fulfilled
- If not it is sin
- Not vowing ensures you won't be guilty of sin
- caution - be careful what to do what has passed from your lips because you have vowed voluntarily
5) Eating Neighbors grapes from his vineyard & fields
- you may eat your fill but not take any with you.
- grain - you may pluck ears but not take the sickle to the standing grain

Isaiah 43
- God tells them not to fear because He has redeemed them and they are His.
- He will protect them when they cross rivers and walk through fire.
- Because He is God and their Savior
- Egypt is their ransom
- God loves them and gives men in return for Israel.
- God will gather them up from the east and west, north and south.
- He will bring His "sons and daughters" from the ends of the earth.
- He will call everyone He has called by name for His glory
- God tells people to come and declare what has taken place in the past.
- God says they are his servant whom He has chosen that they might know and understand Him.
- No "god" was made before Him and there will be none after Him either.
- There is no savior besides the Lord.
- No one can be delivered from God's hand.
- God is the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel
- God brings them all down from Babylon; even the Chaldeans.
- God is the Creator your King (God is constantly reminding them of His "labels")
- God quenches chariots and might warriors like a wick.
- Why does God tell them NOT to remember the old things? (v.18)
- He says He is making a new way and asks why they don't see it
- The wild beasts honor God even jackals and ostriches (which are "lower" animals)
- He gives water in the dry wilderness
- His people should declare Him praise
- All these truths and Israel and Jacob still did not call out to God.
- They have not brought offerings or sacrifices before God
- Why would frankincense weary them?
- They also didn't bring God sweet cane or fat from sacrifices.
- Instead the people have burdened God with their sin and iniquities.
- He blots out transgression for His own sake and will not remember their sins. (v.25) Why?
- God tells them to remember Him, set forth a case that they may be proved right. What does He mean by this?
- Your first father (Adam?) sinned and mediators (everyone else) transgressed against God.
- Therefore God will profane their princes, let Jacob be destroyed, and revile Israel.

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