Deuteronomy23:1-14 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs!
Today’s passage is Deuteronomy 23:1-14. Let’s go!
Deuteronomy 23:1-3 (NIV)
1 No one who has been emasculated by crushing or cutting may enter the assembly of the LORD.
2 No one born of a forbidden marriage nor any of his descendants may enter the assembly of the LORD, even down to the tenth generation.
3 No Ammonite or Moabite or any of his descendants may enter the assembly of the LORD, even down to the tenth generation.
On verses 1-3: Moses lists different conditions that would disqualify a person from entering the assembly where people worship God. Notice that all these conditions were things that were generally beyond a person’s control — if a man’s genitals were mutilated (v1), or he was born out of wedlock (v2), or he was an Ammonite or Moabite (v3-5). Similarly, the Bible says that all of us have a condition that disqualifies us from God’s presence: our sin (see Romans 3:9 and Isaiah 59:2). But praise God that in love He sent Jesus Christ to die on the cross to pay the price for all our sins. Because of Jesus, regardless of our backgrounds or past history we all are invited to draw near to God. All because Jesus’ blood cleanses us of our sin, we are qualified to enter God’s presence and worship with His people.
Deuteronomy 23:4-9 (NIV)
4 For they did not come to meet you with bread and water on your way when you came out of Egypt, and they hired Balaam son of Beor from Pethor in Aram Naharaim to pronounce a curse on you.
5 However, the LORD your God would not listen to Balaam but turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the LORD your God loves you.
6 Do not seek a treaty of friendship with them as long as you live.
7 Do not abhor an Edomite, for he is your brother. Do not abhor an Egyptian, because you lived as an alien in his country.
8 The third generation of children born to them may enter the assembly of the LORD.
On verses 3-8: Moses told the Jews that they should not associate with Ammonites or Moabites because of the way they treated the Jews (v4-6). He also tells them to have compassion toward Edomites and Egyptians because of their previous relationships with them (v7-8). In other words, Moses gave the Jewish people reasons to associate or not associate with certain people based on their ethnicity. But everything changed when Jesus came. Jesus shed His blood on the cross for all people and all nations. In doing so, Jesus not only reconciled us to God but gave reason for nations who used to be enemies to reconcile with one another. As Paul says in Ephesians 2:14, “For he (Jesus) is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility”. Praise God that because of Jesus, we not only can we live at peace vertically with God but horizontally with our enemies as well.
Deuteronomy 23:9-14 (NIV)
9 When you are encamped against your enemies, keep away from everything impure.
10 If one of your men is unclean because of a nocturnal emission, he is to go outside the camp and stay there.
11 But as evening approaches he is to wash himself, and at sunset he may return to the camp.
12 Designate a place outside the camp where you can go to relieve yourself.
13 As part of your equipment have something to dig with, and when you relieve yourself, dig a hole and cover up your excrement.
14 For the LORD your God moves about in your camp to protect you and to deliver your enemies to you. Your camp must be holy, so that he will not see among you anything indecent and turn away from you.
On verses 9-14: Why did Moses lay down these rules regarding bodily cleanliness? On one hand it was to keep the camp clean, safe and sanitary. On the other hand, these rules were meant to reflect the holiness and purity of God.
Thank You Father for a passage like Deuteronomy 23:1-14 that shows us that You are so holy and so unlike us. Thank You even more that because of Jesus all our dirty sins no longer separate us from Your presence and that because of Jesus, Your Holy Spirit now lives in us and among us and we can live at peace with You and with one another. Now because of Jesus nothing can separate us from Your love! In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
