Love By Seeking the Truth

Scripture Focus: Deuteronomy 19.15
15 One witness is not enough to convict anyone accused of any crime or offense they may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.

Reflection: Love By Seeking the Truth
By Susan P. Elliott

​​When Jesus was asked in the Gospels to rank the greatest commandment in the Old Testament, he responded that loving God and others was at the top of the list. All other commandments or laws explain how to do that. The book of Deuteronomy details how to love God and neighbor well.

Why were all these detailed instructions needed? After God rescued the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, they needed their own set of community rules to learn to govern themselves the way God intended in the promised land Moses was taking them to. 

Today’s scripture shows the wisdom of how to discern truth in a dispute. Two or three witnesses must agree when someone is accused of wrongdoing, ultimately revealing the truth of the situation and the witness’s heart for evil or good. This instruction expands on the ninth commandment not to bear false witness by giving accountability to the witnesses. God understands the nature of the human heart and wants to protect people from false accusations. When looking for truth, God’s wisdom reveals that you need more than just one side of the story.

In our context, we see the wisdom of this principle at play in our court system and in our homes, schools, and churches as we mediate disputes.  A wise person will listen to each side of the story before making a judgment. Listening to victims, whistleblowers, and the testimonies of the suffering, especially where multiple witnesses agree, shows God’s wisdom in this loving action.

Most people don’t turn to Deuteronomy for wisdom, but shouldn’t we? God gives clear instructions to his people so that justice can be served in his name. Love for God and others requires diligently pursuing the truth. Living as a citizen in the Kingdom of God requires wisdom. God shows us how to love him and others well in seeking truth.

You might remember the law about bearing false witness was broken in Jesus’ crucifixion trial. None of the witnesses could agree. (Mark 14.6) Truth can be found when we take the time to see what everyone has to say. Do we still rely on this practice today? If not, why? God knows it is both loving and wise to speak and listen to the truth. Obeying God in this way uncovers the truth and reveals the heart of those giving testimony.


Divine Hours Prayer: The Greeting
In you, O Lord, have I taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness. — Psalm 31.1

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summertime by Phyllis Tickle.

Today’s Readings
Deuteronomy 19 (Listen 3:04)
2 Corinthians 12 (Listen 3:54)

Read more about Justice of God
Sometimes when we find penalties in the Bible harsh, it is because we have been fortunate enough to never suffer serious harm or experience evil firsthand.

Read more about Love Great or Terrible
It doesn’t matter how true your words are if they wound people…If you use truth to put people in this condition, what use is your “truth?”

Tithe In Love, Not Guilt

Scripture Focus: Deuteronomy 18.1-2
1 The Levitical priests—indeed, the whole tribe of Levi—are to have no allotment or inheritance with Israel. They shall live on the food offerings presented to the Lord, for that is their inheritance. 2 They shall have no inheritance among their fellow Israelites; the Lord is their inheritance, as he promised them.

Reflection: Tithe In Love, Not Guilt
By Laura Hamilton Hui

“I’m a pastor’s kid, so we moved a lot.”

I hear this response all the time when I ask a pastor or missionary’s kid where they’re from. Ministry families can often feel nomadic, moving every few years to follow God’s call to the next ministry assignment—often leaving extended family far behind. 

When the Israelites portioned out the Promised Land among the twelve tribes, the priests and their families (the Levites) weren’t included. Instead, they were scattered across 48 cities, ministering to the people and taking care of the ark of the covenant.

In that time and culture, feeding a family required land. Because the Levites didn’t have land to farm and raise livestock, God provided for their needs through the sacrifices of Israel: portions of meat, grain, wine, oil, and wool (Deuteronomy 18.3-4). And as a trade-off, the Levites were free to serve God with full devotion.

Ministry today can look similar. 

Pastors and missionaries are dependent on the tithes and offerings of church members to provide for their needs so they can dedicate their time to ministry. Big churches may pay well, but most churches are small and many ministry families live on tight budgets. Many ministry families feel the financial strain and are also struggling relationally as they live far from their extended family.

Yes, God provided for the Levites, but notice how he provided—through the people of God. 

God provides for ministry families today the same way—through us. We often think of our tithes and offerings as gifts to God, which is true! But our gifts to God also directly provide for the needs of our ministers and their families. By tithing, we give our ministers the freedom to dedicate their time to serving God and the people of our church. 

Love your pastor’s family well. Chances are, they’re sacrificing finances, family, and comfort to serve the church. Tithe consistently. Invite ministry families over for dinner. Become their family.

If you’re a minister, remember that God sees the needs of you and your family. Ministry is a sacrifice, but the Levites considered the Lord their inheritance. We have a similar privilege, and God is faithful to provide as we are faithful to Him. “God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them” (Hebrews 6.10).


Divine Hours Prayer: The Refrain for the Morning Lessons
Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. — Psalm 92.12

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summertime by Phyllis Tickle.

Today’s Readings
Deuteronomy 18 (Listen 3:08)
2 Corinthians 11 (Listen 4:46)

Read more about Work, Ministry, and Generosity
Generosity transforms our work into an instrument for cultivating faith—planting seeds for the spreading of the gospel of Christ.

Read more about Whole Life Generosity
Christian generosity is not merely passively giving a portion of our income as if we were being taxed by a government.

A Sacrifice of Perfection

Scripture Focus: Deuteronomy 17.1
1 Do not sacrifice to the Lord your God an ox or a sheep that has any defect or flaw in it, for that would be detestable to him.

Reflection: A Sacrifice of Perfection
By Evie Dykhouse

When watching a baking show, it is easy to notice how every contestant wants their pie to be perfectly baked or their chocolate to be perfectly set before they present their creations to the judges. But any person could tell you that things often don’t go as planned. Perfection is impossible for human beings to achieve. Then here comes Deuteronomy.

It’s tempting to dismiss Deuteronomy as a negative set of laws with unrealistic expectations designed solely for ruining the Israelites’ fun. Instead, we should see Deuteronomy as guidelines crafted out of God’s love. Deuteronomy does raise an important question though.

Why does God require a perfect sacrifice from imperfect people?

Sacrifices were a key part of the Israelites’ culture. To atone for their sins, sacrifices were required. Modern readers have the blessing of being able to see the Bible’s full picture. Reading the New Testament, we see the Old Testament come to fruition. Jesus becomes the flawless sacrifice. (1 Peter 1.19)

It was a tremendous act of love for God to sacrifice his one and only Son for sinful people who constantly rejected him. In sacrificing animals without defect, the people in Deuteronomy are pointing to a need for Jesus the perfect Savior.

Christians today know that God is worthy of even more than the best we can offer. We may struggle, wondering what to give God out of love and gratitude, however, God’s sacrifice for his beloved people was blameless Jesus. Because of Jesus’ sacrifice, we can sacrifice our best, even though we fall short of perfection.

Thinking back to the story of Cain and Abel, it’s clear that, from the beginning, God has revealed himself to be deserving of perfection. Like Abel, we should sacrifice the best of what we have to give. Through Cain, we learn that, if we do what is right, God will look upon our human sacrifices with favor and grace. (Genesis 4.3-7

We are not a perfect people, but we worship a perfect God. Through the redemption of Jesus Christ, we, as his children, can make sacrifices that are holy and pleasing to Him. This means the best of our time, the best of our talents, the best of our attention, and more.


Divine Hours Prayer: The Call to Prayer
Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness; let the whole earth tremble before him. — Psalm 96.9

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summertime by Phyllis Tickle.

Today’s Readings
Deuteronomy 17 (Listen 3:24)
2 Corinthians 10 (Listen 2:45)

Read more about The Smell of Our Sacrifices
The smell of sacrifices that pleased God was not pleasing to his stomach, as if God were hungry…So what did it please?

Read more about Sacrifice of Self
Ultimately we have been called to imitate our self-sacrificing savior, Jesus, by giving of ourselves to do good for the benefit of others.

Cutting Down Idols and False Prophets

Scripture Focus: Deuteronomy 13:3-5
3 you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. The Lord your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul. 4 It is the Lord your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him. 5 That prophet or dreamer must be put to death for inciting rebellion against the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt and redeemed you from the land of slavery. That prophet or dreamer tried to turn you from the way the Lord your God commanded you to follow.

Reflection: Cutting Down Idols and False Prophets
By Robert Hillier

Often we read the Old Testament and think, “Thank God Jesus has fulfilled these laws.” This is often the case with Leviticus and Deuteronomy. An example is here, in Deuteronomy 13, where Israel is commanded to go to great lengths to protect God’s most important commandments. False prophets and others are condemned to death. It’s violent, unsettling, and appears extreme. Why? 

One reason is false prophets are not ordinary sinners, tempting people with ordinary sins. They are performing miraculous signs in order to lead people to follow their gods. This means they are connected to spiritual powers that are opposed to God’s rule. This is something unique and uniquely dangerous. This command to purge evil is for the people’s protection.

The Bible doesn’t condone killing sinners, however, taking extreme measures to prevent falling into sin are a common biblical theme. Today’s passage says Israel is being tested to see if they will follow the Shema from Deuteronomy 6.4-9. Jesus called the Shema the greatest commandment in Mark 12.39-40 and tested his followers saying they should “hate” their own families, and even their life, and follow him instead. Paul commanded the Corinthian church to expel unrepentant sinners.

Even the harsh discipline described by Paul is intended to lead sinners to repentance. But the New Testament does mesh with Old Testament commands to rid our lives of any person or thing that hinders us from following God. Therefore, Deuteronomy’s command is not exclusive to the Old Testament. Idols are anything that keeps us from loving God with all our hearts. They surround us and appear as social status, money, entertainment, technology, sports, work, or even our own families. 

Jesus says to cut off your hand and gouge out your eye if they cause you to sin. Jesus fulfilled this law. He became sin and died in the place of sinners. However, Jesus still calls us to be holy, to rid ourselves of anything that prevents us from loving and following him with our whole heart. What in our lives is a temptation or an idol that needs to be done away with?

Divine Hours Prayer: The Cry of the Church
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us.

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summertime by Phyllis Tickle.

Today’s Readings
Deuteronomy 13-14 (Listen 6:35)
2 Corinthians 7 (Listen 2:58)

Today’s Readings
Deuteronomy 15 (Listen 3:202 Corinthians 8 (Listen 3:25)
Deuteronomy 16 (Listen 3:252 Corinthians 9 (Listen 2:26)

Read more about Temptation Has No Gender
Seduction and temptation are not feminine (or masculine), nor are they limited to sexual pleasures.

Read more about Jesus with Axe and Fire
We worship brands, companies, and CEOs with fervor equal to the most ardent of ancient adherents of Baal or Asherah.

Giving Blood

Scripture Focus: Deuteronomy 12.15-16
15 Nevertheless, you may slaughter your animals in any of your towns and eat as much of the meat as you want, as if it were gazelle or deer, according to the blessing the Lord your God gives you. Both the ceremonially unclean and the clean may eat it. 16 But you must not eat the blood; pour it out on the ground like water.

Reflection: Giving Blood
By Vienna Scott

In Deuteronomy’s ceremonial laws, God lists rules for his people on how to worship. He tells the Israelites to create a unique dwelling place for their God, to bring God sacrifices from their herds and flocks, and to rejoice in his blessings. These rules carefully disentangle the Israelites from pagan practices. They must not worship at the pagan temples. They should destroy idols and any symbols of idolatry. God is teaching the people how to uphold the first commandment: “Thou shalt have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20.3). 

Among many ceremonial rules, God warns the people not to eat the blood of any meat. Instead, in town they should pour it on the ground like water. Some pagan tribes consumed blood of animals, enemies, and human sacrifices because they believed it was a source of might or power. They used death to get at the source of life for themselves; taking advantage of the weak to advance their own strength. God set the Israelites against these practices.

Blood was for God alone (Genesis 9.4, Job 33.4). The source of life belonged to the giver of life. When sacrifices were offered, blood was drained and given to God on the altar as a means of atonement (Leviticus 17.10-14). God allowed the blood of guiltless animals to stand as a payment for sin. Each time an animal was sacrificed and its blood poured out, the Israelites were reminded that they were weak. They had sinned and needed to make themselves right with their mighty and powerful God. Every time an animal was killed for meat or sacrifice, it communicated a glimpse of the Savior.

How striking must it have been for Christ to say, “This is my blood. Take this, and drink.” to people who had reserved blood only for God. Blood was a gift of God to the Israelites so that they could make themselves right with him by always giving it back to him. Through Jesus, God gave the blood of life back. 

By teaching the people how to worship him, how to obey his commandments, and how to set themselves apart, he carved a path to teach them about redemption. Let us rejoice in the true God above all other gods. Let us rejoice in the God who made himself weak so that we could be saved. Let us rejoice in the blood sacrificed for us.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Request for Presence
Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. — Psalm 86.4

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summertime by Phyllis Tickle.

Today’s Readings
Deuteronomy 12 (Listen 5:11)
2 Corinthians 6 (Listen 2:31)

Read more about Life in the Blood
May we revive a holy respect for blood, no matter where, how, or by whom it is shed…God will require an account.

Read more about There is a Fountain Filled with Blood
Our faith in the Fountain redeems even our most tragic wounds.