Scripture: “If any case arises requiring decision between one kind of homicide and another, one kind of legal right and another, or one kind of assault and another, any case within your towns that is too difficult for you, then you shall arise and go up to the place that the LORD your God will choose. And you shall come to the Levitical priests and to the judge who is in office in those days, and you shall consult them, and they shall declare to you the decision. Then you shall do according to what they declare to you from that place that the LORD will choose. And you shall be careful to do according to all that they direct you. According to the instructions that they give you, and according to the decision which they pronounce to you, you shall do. You shall not turn aside from the verdict that they declare to you, either to the right hand or to the left. The man who acts presumptuously by not obeying the priest who stands to minister there before the LORD your God, or the judge, that man shall die. So you shall purge the evil from Israel. And all the people shall hear and fear and not act presumptuously again.
Deuteronomy 17:8-13 ESV
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Observation: Recapping yesterday’s Daily Focus, Moses instructs the people to appoint judges and officers in all their towns for which they will settle to uphold adherence to the Levitical law. He then speaks to those who will soon become judges and reminds them (as he did at Sinai) not to abuse their privileged positions of authority by perverting justice, whether by showing partiality or accepting bribes. Lastly, Moses sternly reminds all of Israel that upholding justice is a matter for all God’s people if they want to live well and keep possessing the Promised Land. So, follow God’s path to justice.
Today’s reading again skips a repetitive passage (forbidding forms of pagan worship that warrant stoning the offender) and returns to the matter of priests and judges. Following his triage system outlined by his father-in-law, Jethro (Exodus 18), Moses directs the people to bring any cases (particularly homicides) that they cannot resolve between themselves to the place God will choose (i.e., Jerusalem) and meet with the priest and judge in office to seek their counsel and submit to their decision. Anyone who disregards their verdict shall face the death sentence—to serve as a deterrent to fellow Israelites and thereby purge the nation of evil.
Takeaway: This brief directive does not review the initial two steps to resolving matters between Israelites. The first stage would entail peacefully settling the conflict between themselves. If this fails, the offended party must take their complaint to the local court convened at the city gate. If the matter remains unsettled, they must appeal to the highest level of authority as outlined above. Still, the emphasis here is not on obtaining justice but on submitting to divinely appointed authority. According to theologian Daniel Block, the Hebrew word niplāʾ (as Moses uses in this passage) denotes a concrete judicial decision rather than justice (The NIV Application Commentary: Deuteronomy, p.408).
The implication? To appeal to the highest authority under Yahweh’s appointment is en facto to appealing to Yahweh. Thus, disregarding the priest and judge’s directives is tantamount to thumbing Yahweh’s commands, which would invoke the death sentence. With this in mind, Moses adds that capital punishment will deter others from following any dissident’s example. Otherwise, any lesser consequence would put the nation at risk of dissolving into disorderly disobedience toward Yahweh, as occurred earlier (e.g., Numbers 11 and (Numbers 21:6-9) and later when they did what was right in their own eyes (Judges 17:6 and 21:25) and consequently suffered the fallout of sin that destroys lives.
Our takeaway? Thankfully, under our New Covenant of Grace, the only offense that will result in death is the second death of our spirits due to unbelief in Christ. Still, when we rebel against the Father and Son’s commands, we can count on negative consequences—whether self-inflicted or meted by others. Nevertheless, God’s grace and mercy will sustain us through recovery. That said, the best way to avoid the fallout is to not fall out with God. His laws do not restrain our freedom but protect us from the burdens we naturally encounter when we violate his commands.
Our part? Submit to our just Mediator, the Holy Spirit, who will guide us in the ways of the Lord and help us persevere through godly discipline that bears the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and self-control, for against such things there is no law (Galatians 5:22-23). When we do, we will follow the path to freedom in Christ (Galatians 5:1)!
Prayer: Father God, we thank you for your Son, who came to free us captives to sin (Luke 4:18-19) from the law’s curse (Galatians 3:13-14). And we thank you for your Holy Spirit, who guides us in all truth (John 16:13) so that we might mature in our faith and bear fruit that sets us free to enjoy life abundantly in your Son (John 10:10). So, please help us submit to your Holy Spirit and follow his path to freedom in your Son. Amen.
Rev. Gordon Green, M.Div., M.A. Counseling
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