Deuteronomy 18:1-13 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs!
Today’s passage is Deuteronomy 18:1-13. Let’s go!
Deuteronomy 18:1-8 (NIV)
1 The priests, who are Levites–indeed the whole tribe of Levi–are to have no allotment or inheritance with Israel. They shall live on the offerings made to the LORD by fire, for that is their inheritance.
2 They shall have no inheritance among their brothers; the LORD is their inheritance, as he promised them.
3 This is the share due the priests from the people who sacrifice a bull or a sheep: the shoulder, the jowls and the inner parts.
4 You are to give them the firstfruits of your grain, new wine and oil, and the first wool from the shearing of your sheep,
5 for the LORD your God has chosen them and their descendants out of all your tribes to stand and minister in the LORD’s name always.
6 If a Levite moves from one of your towns anywhere in Israel where he is living, and comes in all earnestness to the place the LORD will choose,
7 he may minister in the name of the LORD his God like all his fellow Levites who serve there in the presence of the LORD.
8 He is to share equally in their benefits, even though he has received money from the sale of family possessions.
On verses 1-8: In Deuteronomy 18:1-8, Moses tells the Israelites to care for the Levites – that is, their priestly leaders and those who dedicated their careers to serving in the house of God. He tells them to remember that their priestly leaders have a unique responsibility in life (v1), that they don’t get to enjoy all the privileges that the other Israelites enjoy (v2), that they are dependent on the offerings of the people for their livelihood (v3), that God has chosen them to minister to Him in a way that requires all of their working hours (v5) and thus the other Israelites are to treat them well (v6-8). So Moses tells them to give their priestly leaders the best that they have: “the firstfruits of your grain, new wine and olive oil, and the first wool from the shearing of your sheep” (v4).
What can we learn from this? Just as Moses tells the Israelites to treat the Levites well, let’s treat our pastors and church staff well. Go out of your way to encourage them. Pray for them often. Speak well of them to others. Give your tithes and your offerings consistently so that they can be well taken care of. Acknowledge the fact that they make sacrifices and take on unique pressures, responsibilities and work so that the rest of us can benefit. Bear with them in love since only Jesus is perfect. The better you love your pastors and church staff, the more you make it a joy for them to lead you, and the more you enable them to serve your church with power, vision and anointing.
Deuteronomy 18:9-13 (NIV)
9 When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there.
10 Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft,
11 or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead.
12 Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD, and because of these detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you.
13 You must be blameless before the LORD your God.
On verses 9-13: Here Moses warns the Israelites not to engage in divination practices like sorcery, witchcraft, fortune telling and other occultic activities that their neighbouring nations regularly practiced. The New Testament similarly warns followers of Jesus not to engage in divination practices. Why? What is so dangerous about divination? Click HERE to learn 3 dangers of divination.
Father, I pray that I and our church family would not take for granted but take good care of our pastors and church staff. I also pray that I and those in my care would do well to avoid divination practices, that we would put our trust in You and You alone. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
