Reading of the Law Deuteronomy 31:9-13
Notes
Transcript
The Reading Of The Law
The Reading Of The Law
Recap last week.
We went over Deuteronomy 31:1-8, Joshua being commissioned or ordained.
Moses is going to die, he is not able to cross the river Jordan, and God has set structure to a people, that was once a tribe, to a large group of slaves, to a nation that has rules and laws.
It is important to have the correct leadership and here in verses 9-13 we will see why it is also important to have a dedicated and learned group in charge of God’s Word, the teaching of it and the ceremonies involved.
Have someone read Deuteronomy 31:9-13
Then Moses wrote this law and gave it to the priests, the sons of Levi, who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and to all the elders of Israel. And Moses commanded them, “At the end of every seven years, at the set time in the year of release, at the Feast of Booths, when all Israel comes to appear before the Lord your God at the place that he will choose, you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing. Assemble the people, men, women, and little ones, and the sojourner within your towns, that they may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God, and be careful to do all the words of this law, and that their children, who have not known it, may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God, as long as you live in the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess.”
Then Moses wrote this law and gave it to the priests, the sons of Levi, who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and to all the elders of Israel.
The first 5 books are completed.
Time to give it to the people who will be in charge of teaching, instructing and enforcing.
Then Moses wrote this law. He has completed the first 5 books, known as the Law or Pentateuch. (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy)
gave it to the priests, the sons of Levi, who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord. particularly the Kohathites, (the other 3 descendants of Levii were the Gershonites, the Merarites, and the Aaronites) who in journeying carried the ark; see Num 4:5; yet sometimes it was borne by the priests; see Jos 3:13.
Kehath's birth when his father Levi was 35 years old was accompanied by a vision of Kehath "on high in the midst of all the congregation";[5] in the vision, Kehath's name is given as meaning "the beginning of majesty and instruction" and prophesies his being raised above his siblings. Kehath Aramaic word meaning obey.
and to all the elders of Israel.
Priests had duties to perform. Judges and civil magistrates had other duties. They were all charged with putting their parts into execution and to teach it.
The Jews say Moses wrote thirteen copies of the law, twelve for the twelve tribes, and one to be put into the ark, to convict of fraud or corruption, should any be made
And Moses commanded them, “At the end of every seven years, at the set time in the year of release, at the Feast of Booths,
Maximum Power and Reach. This is when all of God’s chosen people were to participate in the Feasts of Booths at the main temple.
Only men were required to make the pilgrimage to the central sanctuary for all major feasts…Except on the the 7th year, at the Feast of Tabernacles (september-October). Men, women, and children were to attend. It is The year of release, the Sabbatical year. This is the year of canceling debts, letting slaves go free and paying them, not working the land, and what is grown is given away. This was a way of blessing others with your blessings that God had provided you, for your obedience.
this was a very proper time for the reading of the law, when all the increase of the earth and fruits thereof were gathered in; and so their hearts filled, or at least should be, with gladness and gratitude; and when there was no tillage of the land, being the seventh year, and so were at leisure for such service; and when all poor debtors were released from their debts, and so were freed from all cares and troubles, and could better attend unto it.
when all Israel comes to appear before the Lord your God at the place that he will choose, you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing.
Few had copies of the Law
Learning from the Priests helped on comprehending.
The pilgrimage put them in the right frame of mind to hear and obey the Law.
This experience was important for two reasons. First, it was rare for an individual to possess a copy of the Scriptures. A person gained a knowledge of the Scriptures through being taught by his parents and the priests and through its public reading at times like this. So the public reading of the Law was of great significance.
Second, the experience of the pilgrimage to the central sanctuary—which meant trusting God for their homes left behind and for the journey ahead—reenacted something of the original Exodus from Egypt. It was an ideal time to receive the Word in a spirit of faith so that they might learn to fear the Lord ( follow carefully all the Law. “Follow carefully” is an admonition occurring frequently in the latter chapters of this book (16:12; 17:19; 19:9; 24:8; 28:1, 13, 15, 58; 29:9; 31:12). This repetition shows Moses’ concern for strict obedience. Children too would benefit from this for they also, by hearing it, would learn to fear the Lord
They stood on platforms. Also, we see in Nehemiah 8:3 there are instances when it was most important to read the Law to all of Isreal, when they were going astray.
Assemble the people, men, women, and little ones, and the sojourner within your towns, that they may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God, and be careful to do all the words of this law,
Everyone. Man, woman, child and sojourner.
Attain the true understanding
Serve & Worship internally and externally.
It was a reverent and solemn occasion, more important than family or sabbath day readings.
This means everyone. Man, woman, child. Even the visitor from out of town. They were all obliged to hear the word of the Lord, especially when read by the King or leader.
It was important that sojourners could hear the Laws of God and possibly see His Glory and convert.
and attain the true knowledge and right understanding of them: to serve and worship him internally and externally, according to these laws:
to put them in practice; reading them in such a solemn and reverent manner made them the more servable, and raised the greater attention to them, the importance of them; otherwise they were read in their families, and on sabbath days in their synagogues; see Deu 6:7 Act 13:15.
and that their children, who have not known it, may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God, as long as you live in the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess.”
The children are to know God, His Law and their duty to Him, their parents and fellow creatures.
Its never too early to learn God’s Law and the the proper fear of God.
Learning to serve and worship God early will ensure posterity in the land of Canaan
So the children to know God and His Law and their duty to God, parents and fellow creatures.
To hear the law, its true meaning and to have the proper fear of God now, in their youth.
So they can serve and worship God and continue to live in the land of Canaan and receive His blessings.
Lead into the Larger Catachism, question 156.
Q156. Is the Word of God to be read by all? A. Although all are not to be permitted to read the Word publicly to the congregation,1 yet all sorts of people are bound to read it apart by themselves,2 and with their families:3 to which end, the holy scriptures are to be translated out of the original into vulgar languages.
Moses was the start of the Bible
It is to be read out loud to the people.
It is a means of Grace from God.
Moses was a faithful servant, so how much more is Jesus Christ as the greater Prophet, Priest and King?
Without the Holy Spirit, the Word is Dead.
The Word of God is designed for God to meet man on man’s terms.
We have to believe, incorporate , meditate, think over and hearing them expressed helps us facilitate His Word.
but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
Due to our total depravity, we are in need of a transformation that is only brought by:
His Word
Holy Spirt
Jesus is the good man and we are called to the same imitation of Him.
We have a serious problem, and it’s called total depravity.
The teacher is to understand this and keep us corralled, or on the same page.
We are dumb, God is repetitive.
Scripture is serious revelation.
Scriputre is a matter of life and death.
Scripture directs pertinent information on who we are, who God is, Who the Mediator Christ is and how we are to useless without the Word and our Savior.
If we knew His word we would not err so much.
Matthew 22:29 (ESV)
But Jesus answered them, “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God.
If we knew His Word, we would sin less
Psalm 119:11 (ESV)
I have stored up your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.
What else do we learn from His Word?
For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light,
and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life,
The wise men shall be put to shame;
they shall be dismayed and taken;
behold, they have rejected the word of the Lord,
so what wisdom is in them?
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.
We are to constantly be in the word
Deuteronomy 6:6–9 (ESV)
And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
Proof Texts 1
Deuteronomy 31:9 (ESV)
Then Moses wrote this law and gave it to the priests, the sons of Levi, who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and to all the elders of Israel.
when all Israel comes to appear before the Lord your God at the place that he will choose, you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing. Assemble the people, men, women, and little ones, and the sojourner within your towns, that they may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God, and be careful to do all the words of this law, and that their children, who have not known it, may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God, as long as you live in the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess.”
Proof Texts 2
2 Deuteronomy 17:19: And it shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God by keeping all the words of this law and these statutes, and doing them.
Revelation 1:3: Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.
Isaiah 34:16: Seek and read from the book of the LORD: Not one of these shall be missing; none shall be without her mate. For the mouth of the LORD has commanded, and his Spirit has gathered them.
Proof Texts 3
3 Deuteronomy 6:6-9: And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
Genesis 18:17: The LORD said, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do.
Psalm 78:5-7: He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children, that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments.
Proof Texts 4
Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching?
So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be speaking into the air.
but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me. So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.
What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also. Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider say “Amen” to your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying?
But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all,
If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God.