3/30/2021 – Day 317 – Deuteronomy 13 – 15 – Punishment of Apostates; Tithing Principles; Debts Cancelled Every Seven Years; Generosity to the Poor.
Punishment of Apostates: As Matthew Henry comments on the beginning of Chapter 13: “A very strange supposition, v, 1, 2. 1. It is strange that there should arise any among themselves, especially any pretending to vision and prophecy, who should instigage them to go and serve other gods. Could an Israeliite ever by guilty of such impiety? Well they (many) could and they did, as we have seen that in our tour of the prophets’ Books of Bible , and the history before the collapse of Samaria and Judah , respectively. At the end of this section, Henry notes that “It is to fortify the against the danger of impostures and lying wonders (2 Thessalonians 2:9).”
Tithing Principles: The Israelites are commanded to tithe their annual grain harvest, including support of the Letites and the widows, because they “had no portion or inheritance”.
Debts Cancelled Every seven years – Chapter 15:
Matthew Henry notes here that “The reasons of this are, 1. To put an honour upon the sabbatical year: Because it is called the Lord’s release, v 2. 2. It was to prevent the falling of any Israelite into extreme poverty: so the margin reads (v. 4) To the end that there shall be no poor among you. 3. God’s security is here given by a divine promise that , whatever they lost by their poor debtors, it should be made up to them in the blessing of God upon all they had and did, v, 4-6.
And Even the Law Concerning Firstborn Animals!: Henry comments: “Let us therefore realize the gospel meaning of the law, devoting ourselves and the first of our time and strength to God, as a kind of first-fruits of his creatures. “
Soli Deo Gloria!