Deuteronomy 18

Review & Intro:  Moses has been reviewing the law, the feasts, and all the things of the law that he had shared with them in Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers before they enter the Promised Land.  In Chapter 17, he explained to them what the Lord said concerning the time they would choose a king to rule over them.  In Chapter 18, Moses tells them why and how they should all take care of the Levites among them.  They are the ones who belong fully to the Lord for ministry and the the Lord is their only inheritance.  He takes care of them through the people.  The subject of witchcraft is covered as well; it is an abomination to the Lord.

Deuternonomy Chapter 18 - Observation Questions

1.  The Levitical priests, the whole tribe of Levi, were to have no portion or inheritance with Israel.  The Lord was to be their only inheritance.  How were their needs to be met? vs.1-2

They were  to  be giving  from tha sacfice of the people

2.  What parts of each sacrifice from the people were to be given to the priest to eat? vs. 3 - Name 3

The shoulder  the stomack and the cheecks.

3.  Other than the meat of the sacrifices, what were the people to give to the priests? vs. 4 - Name 4 things

Thfe first fruits  of their gran and  their wine and theiroil and their  first fruits of  ther flecces

Note:  The Levites who served in the tabernacle were men, and their time of service was from the age of 30 to 50 (Numbers 4:3).  At the age of 50, they were to retire (Numbers 8:25).  But regardless of whether they were young or old, male or female, all of the Levites were dependant upon the other tribes for support. The land they farmed was in each of the other tribes' territorites (Numbers 35:2-8). The money they received and the meat that they ate was from the offerings that the other tribes made to the Lord (Numbers18:24).

4.  How are we to take care of those in the ministry today?  Comment on the verses below:

• 1 Corinthians 9:13,14 -

  The  chuch is suppost to meet their needs (the church is  the  men and women in the  building we are the church.)
• 2 Corinthians 9:7 -

  We are to give from the heart  and do it cheerfully  and in this way help those that are preaching and teaching God's word all over the world but we also need to sart  at homefront.  There are people in the mountains  that have  not  heard God's word nor the love  of  a christain  coming and just saying hi  to them or asked if they need anything.
• 1 Timothy 5:17,18 -

Note:  We should be thankful for our ministers and be faithful to tithe and offerings, realizing that for things to be well organized and effective to care for the needs of the people, the staff must be paid and cared for along with all the bills to keep things operating smoothly.  We should be cheerful in giving for the Lord loves a cheerful giver.

5.  Back to Deuteronomy 18.  In regard to the Levites and the priest that served them, the Lord had chosen him and his sons to stand and serve the Lord forever. (vs.5) ... The Levites would live in their towns, but would go to the place the Lord chose for them to serve whenever he desired along with his fellow Levites who stood before the Lord. (vs.6,7).  How would their needs be met? vs. 8

Thfey would be feed  by  the other tribes and  this was besides the  offerins that  the they were to recieve  of the sacerficee.

6.  What did the Lord want them to not learn to do when they entered the Promised land? vs. 9

Not  to  do that  was wicked  that  the other nations were doing.

7.  What did the Lord make clear that His people were not to be a part of in anyway? vs.10,11 - Name 9 things
Make there sons or daughter pass thought the fire.
witchcraft
soothsaying
interpet omens
confour spells
socerary

8.  What would the result be if they did these "detestable" things? vs. 12
They would be driven out fro the Lord.

9.  The nations that they would be dispossessing were people who did practice witchcraft and these other things, but God did not allow His people to do them.  How did He want His people to act? vs.13,14 -

The way God told them to in his word.  Just as we are today.  We are not  supost  to do these things either .

10.  Who did the Lord promise was coming that they would be able to listen to? vs.15
The Prohet( The Lord Jesus Christ)

11.  What had the people asked of the Lord back when He gave the commandments to Moses on Mt. Horeb? vs. 16
They did not want to hear the Lord God  voice  in the mist of the fire.

12.  At that time, the Lord said the people had spoken well, and that He would raise up a prophet from among their countrymen that would be like Moses.  The Lord would put His words in his mouth and speak to them. (vs.17,18) ... What would happen to anyone that would not listen to God's Words through this prophet speaking for Him? vs. 19
He would  require it  of them.

13.  Is this prophet spoken of in the New Testament?  Comment on the following verses:

• John 1:19-21 ... What were the Jewish people looking for when they asked John the Baptist about his identity? vs. 21 -
• John 5:46,47 ... Who did Jesus say wrote about Him and should be believed?
• John 6:14 ... What did the men who saw the signs that Jesus performed say that He must be?
• Matthew 17:1-6 ... At the transfiguration that Peter, James, and John got to be a part of ... they saw Moses, Elijah, and Jesus in His Glory ... Who did God tell them to listen to? ...
• Acts 3:18-26 .... Who does Peter say in his sermon is the prophet that God had sent them?
• Based on these verses, who are you convinced is the prophet that God would send like Moses that would give them His Words and they would be destroyed if they did not believe Him? .....

14.  A prophet that spoke a word presumptuously in God's Name what He had not commanded to speak, or one that spoke in the name of other gods, was not the true prophet and was to die. (vs.20) ... If someone wondered how they would know if the word was from the Lord, how were they to know? vs. 21,22

Application:

15.  Things such as witchcraft, palm reading, astrology forecasts, and things like that are meant to seem "harmless" in our day.  Do you think the Lord would want us to give attention to these kind of things?  Sorcery is mentioned in the New Testament also.  Comment on the following verses:

• Acts 19:18-20 - What did the Spirit's conviction lead the people to destroy? ..
• Galatians 5:19-21 - Make this list and highlightwhere sorcery is mentioned. ....What happens to those who practice these things as a habit of life? ...
• Revelation 21:7,8 - What habitual sins are listed that keep one out of heaven? ... again highlight sorcerers in the list you make

16.  If you have made "light" of these things, this would be a good time to see the seriousness of them and ask the Lord to forgive you and help you turn from anything that would be considered idolatry or sorcery, etc.

17.  Jesus told those in His day that if they had believed the writings of Moses, they would believe in Him because Moses wrote of Him.  Jesus was the Prophet like Moses and yet Jesus is also God in the flesh.  Romans says "Faith comes by hearing the Word of God", but Paul also asks "How will they hear without a preacher?" ... Read Romans 10:8-17 ... and summarize what it is saying in your own words.

18.  Just like they were to support the Levites who gave their time to serving the Lord, we must support our pastors and missionaries and everyone who is sharing the Gospel with those who need to come out of darkness into God's marvelous light.  What are you doing to share with them? ... to support those who are in the ministry? ... Are you giving with a cheerful heart ?  Why or why not?

19.  Summarize this lesson and post a prayer if you would like.