Deuteronomy 17 Devotional

A King Under the Word

“It is to remain with him, and he is to read from it all the days of his life, so that he may learn to fear the LORD his God by carefully observing all the words of this instruction and these statutes.”Deuteronomy 17:19 (BSB)

Even the gravest charge in Israel, worshiping other gods, could not end in execution on the word of one witness. Two or three were required, and the witnesses had to be the first to act on their testimony (17:6-7). Hard cases went to the priests and the judge at the place God would choose (17:8-9). Justice was built to protect the accused from a single accuser.

Then Moses looks ahead to a king. Israel will want one like the nations have, and God allows it, but on his terms. The king must be chosen by the LORD, and he must not pile up horses, wives, or silver and gold (17:15-17). Instead he must write out his own copy of God's law and read it every day of his life, so that his heart will not be lifted above his brothers (17:18-20). In God's kingdom, power is meant to sit under his word, not above it. Whatever authority you hold, at home or at work, can be held the same way, beginning with time in his word.

To think about: Where do you hold some authority, and how might daily time in God's word keep your heart from rising above the people under it?