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Weekly Guide：2024-2025 Week 17
April 28, 2024
Week 17 Day 1: Avert from Snare ⇧ ⇩
Question
What did Moses say about the place of worship, Idols, meat, blood, and the Levites? What did he say about how to deal with those who seduce the Israelites to worship other gods?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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Chapters 12-16 are the detailed records of the requirements, decrees, and laws outside of the commands. Although much of the content has been recorded in Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers, what recorded here is not simply a repeat of the same but targeted toward the specific situation in the land of Canaan.
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Moses commanded the Israelites to destroy completely the places where Canaanites worshiped their gods, break down their altars, smash their sacred stones, burn and cut down their idols. He ordered them to worship at places where God would choose for each tribe, eat in presence of God the meat offered to God, must not eat blood at anywhere, but other meats at any place. They must share with the Levites for whom did not inherit any land. “Be careful not to neglect the Levites as long as you live in your land.” Do not worship as the Canaanites. “Be careful not to be ensnared by inquiring about their gods.” “If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears among you and announces to you a sign or wonder, and if the sign or wonder spoken of takes place, and the prophet says, “Let us follow other gods” (gods you have not known) “and let us worship them,” you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer.” “That prophet or dreamer must be put to death for inciting rebellion against the Lord your God.” They must not follow the Canaanites when mourning for the dead. “Do not cut yourselves or shave the front of your heads for the dead, for you are a people holy to the Lord your God.”
Meditation: My Story
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Walking with God - “How do these nations serve their gods? We will do the same.” (12:30) Our environment influences us greatly. If we let our curiosity muddle us, we would then stray unknowingly away from God. Do I have any unrighteous thoughts that’s popular today?
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Community - Although there’s no longer Levites, is there any fellow Christian who serves our Lord in need of material help from me? Can I help anyone around me materially?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 17 Day 2: Rely on God ⇧ ⇩
Question
What did Moses say about clean foods, treating the Levites, the poor and the slaves, the Passover, the Pentecost (Festival of Weeks), and the Festival of Tabernacle?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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14:3-29 repeats what can be eaten and what can’t. Consumption of the tenth produced as well as the first born of herds and flocks in presence of God at the place where God has chosen. At end of every three years, the tithes were to satisfy the Levites, foreigners, fatherless and widows.
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Chapter 15 reiterates the once every seventh year, the Sabbath year, the year of cancelling debts. Freeing the slaves and setting apart the firstborn male of the herds and flocks.
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16:1-17 talks about the regulations on Passover, Pentecost, and Festival of Tabernacle.
Meditation: My Story
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Walking with God - God gave me everything I have. Am I willing to offer a tenth to Him?
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Walking with God - We need to watch over and take care of the helpless to live out the life from merciful God. How have I paid attention to those around me who may need my help?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 17 Day 3: Just and Righteous ⇧ ⇩
Question
What did Moses say about appointing judges and setting a King? What prophets God promised through Moses would raise up?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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16:18-20 and 17:8-13 talks about priests and judges. Judges must judge fairly, must not pervert justice or show partiality, must not accept bribe. One shall act according to the decision and instruction given by the judge and priest.
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16:21-17:7 and 18:9-13 commands to not set up idols, to not offer sheep with defect or flaw, to punish those who worship idols, and to not imitate the detestable ways of the other nations.
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17:14-20 talks about God’s permission to appoint a King. Notice that King Solomon violated these regulations in his later years.
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18:1-8 talks about what should the Levites live on with no inheritance of their own.
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18:10-22 is about God’s promise that points to Jesus Christ: “I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites, and I will put my words in his mouth. He will tell them everything I command him. I myself will call to account anyone who does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name.”
Meditation: My Story
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Walking with God - Jesus is the prophet God promised. God will call to account anyone who does not accept His salvation. Anyone who accepts Jesus must obey His teaching. Examine my own attitude toward Jesus’ teaching and turn to Him through prayers.
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Integrity - God again put emphasis on punishing those who worship idols. We have too many idols in the world today to displace God. Looking in my own life, am I still being bond by my job, my status, my family, my properties, and entertainments and view them as source of joy instead of God?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 17 Day 4: Considerate and Forgiving ⇧ ⇩
Question
Who were the cities of refuge established for? What is the proper way of going to battle in the eyes of our Lord?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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God established the cities of refuge for those who killed unintentionally. However, those who willfully kill would be put to death.
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Any crime or offense needs two or three witnesses to convict the accused. No false witness is allowed.
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Do not be afraid when going to battle. However, those who have just build a house, just planted vineyard, just got married may stay behind. Anyone who is afraid may stay behind. Offer peace to enemy first, engage in battle only if they refuse.
Meditation: My Story
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Walking with God - God established the cities of refuge because He knows that people would avenge on those who harmed them unintentionally. Have I forgiven those who might have hurt me?
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Integrity - God is fully considerate of those who have just built, planted, and married to allow them to stay behind. Am I being considerate of others and put myself in their shoes?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 17 Day 5: Clean and Just ⇧ ⇩
Question
What did Moses say about the rights of various people and marriage violations?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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Verses 21:1 to 22:12 are regulations on unsolved murder, captive woman, firstborn, rebellious son, dead body on pole, stray animal, clothing as opposite sex (God hates sexual indistinction), mercy to animals, roof parapet, mixing of kinds (God dislikes disorder: Gen 1:4, 12, 21; Luke 16:13; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18), and tassels of the cloak.
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Verses 22:13 to 30 are about proof of virginity, adultery (exclude rape), forbid marrying father’s wife.
Meditation: My Story
- Integrity - It can be seen clearly from the rights of captive woman and firstborn, and the lost things as well as the roof parapet that God wants us to treat others like ourselves and not take advantage of them. Have I recently forced others to follow my will? Atone to God for what I have done wrong.
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 17 Day 6: Holy and Merciful ⇧ ⇮
Question
What did Moses say about the assembly, camp, shrine prostitute, loan, and vow?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
- Not everyone may enter the Assembly of the Lord. Holiness and cleanliness must be kept as God is around. Properly treat the runaway slaves. Ban on shrine prostitutes. Ban on loan interest. Vow payment must not be delayed. Grapes and kernel of grains may be eaten but not taken away.
Meditation: My Story
- Integrity - The Israelites’ camp must be kept clean and holy because God moves about in the camp. God is among us every day. Am I constantly examining myself to ensure there’s no uncleanliness or unholiness in my heart or behavior to separate myself from God?