Today’s Reading: Deuteronomy 19-20
Key Verse: Deuteronomy 20:3
And he shall say to them, “Hear, O Israel: Today you are on the verge of battle with your enemies. Do not let your heart faint, do not be afraid, and do not tremble or be terrified because of them…”
In today’s reading there are at least two points to make: (1) The rule of Law, and (2) God’s presence and protection. In our courts today, a charge of “manslaughter” may be brought against someone who accidentally kills another person. While we don’t have “cities of refuge” today, there is a strong tradition of taking refuge in a church building. Recent examples been examples of this, usually involves people facing deportment taking sanctuary. War is a sad commentary on the human condition. The most difficult moral decision is choosing the lesser of two evils. If we fail to choose the “lesser,” the “greater evil” will win. Had Israel not fought, the surrounding nations would have destroyed God’s people by attacking, killing all or by converting them to false religion. As followers of Jesus, our enemies, if they are people, are to be loved (Matt. 5:38-48). Our most destructive enemy is sin. We are constantly in a state of war (Gal. 5:16-21). Prepare for battle equipped with the knowledge of our key verse, and we will win.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord Jesus, You are God’s Word made flesh. You, as the Light of the world, illuminate truth to me. Please help me to always examine the written Word in the light of Your person and work. In Your brilliant light I see, I perceive, I understand, and I conquer evil in Your strong Name. Amen!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
While a state may wage war, in my personal life, I do not “fight…against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness” (Eph. 6:12). This fight can be scary. Read Ephesians 6 to counteract fear. For emphasis I’ll type out Eph 6:18, the secret to winning the war, “praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.” The dictionary definition of “supplication” is “humble prayer, entreaty or petition with pleading fervently.” Having done this, I will no longer fear, but I will truly be a brave heart in every circumstance of life.
