Tuesday - Deuteronomy 17 - Prophets, Priests & Kings (Part 1)

Deuteronomy 17 & 18 definitely go together. On the surface both passages might seem to be random and disjointed, but, as a whole, there is a distinct overall emphasis on leadership. Moses actually began this theme back in Deuteronomy 16:18, 19 & 20. Judges and officers were the precursors of the kings. Moses was writing down a warning to all leaders to guard their hearts and to devote themselves to impartial justice. After all, the preservation of justice is really the whole purpose behind human leadership.

So, in Deuteronomy 17:9 priests and judges were authorized to pass judgment on legal questions. Overall in the Pentateuch, leaders were given say-so in religious, domestic, civil and criminal matters. They weren't allowed to come up with their own rules, they had to propagate and interpret the existing laws that God had already issued (Deuteronomy 17:11). And, God was so serious about this impartation of His own authority that He ordained the same punishment for people who ignored the judgment of their leaders as He had previously ordained for anyone guilty of idolatry: death (Deuteronomy 17:2, 3, 5 & 12) No wonder leadership isn't altogether a thing to be desired (James 3:1).

The second half of the chapter is devoted to regulations for the monarchs that God knew would eventually reign over Israel. God (through Moses) spoke to those kings before they were even born saying, "Don't multiply horses to yourself (especially Egyptian horses}, don't marry multiple wives and don't seek after wealth.  Do write yourself a copy of the Scriptures, keep it with you, read from it every day and (above all) obey it. In this way your heart won't become distracted... and I will be able to bless you and lengthen your reign." But, from Saul to Johanan (700 years after Saul), one after another Jewish kings dug traps for their own feet by disregarding these words.