https://esv.literalword.com/?q=Deuteronomy+17
Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Friday, 9 May 2025:
Deuteronomy 17:1 – “You shall not sacrifice to the Lord your God an ox or a sheep in which is a blemish, any defect whatever, for that is an abomination to the Lord your God.”
God says He is worthy of worship that is pure, and holy, and wholehearted, and costly. Under the New Covenant today we no longer offer sacrifices like this; Jesus is our Perfect Sacrifice. Yet, what does Romans chapter 12 tell us? “Therefore, in view of God’s mercy, let us offer our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, for this is your spiritual act of worship.” So how do we worship today? Not by giving pure, holy, unblemished sheep, but by giving our lives in purity and wholehearted, sacrificial devotion to God.
Worship that honors God must be marked by wholehearted devotion, purity, and real sacrifice. To bring a blemished sacrifice—an animal with disease, injury, or imperfection—was not merely an oversight, it was a deliberate offering of second-best. It reflected a heart that treated God casually, offering Him leftovers instead of the first and best. God calls this not just inappropriate, but an abomination.
God deserves our best, and anything less in worship is offensive not because of the gift itself, but because it reveals the attitude of the giver. Blemished offerings say, “You’re not worth my best.” This is why the Lord rejected such sacrifices in Malachi’s day and warned the priests, “Cursed be the cheat who has a male in his flock, and vows it, and yet sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished” (Malachi 1:14). God is not appeased by formality—He is honored by sincerity, excellence, and joyful reverence.
Christ is the perfect and unblemished Lamb (1 Peter 1:18–19), and our worship is now a life offered wholly to Him (Romans 12:1). Giving God our “best” today doesn’t mean animals—it means offering Him the full weight of our love, time, obedience, and service without compromise. If we give God only what costs us nothing, we give Him nothing at all (2 Samuel 24:24).
So examine your offerings. Are you giving God only what’s convenient—your surplus resources, your spare time, leftover energy, or partial obedience? Or are you giving Him what truly honors His name—your first income, your first thoughts, your best efforts, your whole heart?
Deuteronomy 17:6 – “On the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses the one who is to die shall be put to death; a person shall not be put to death on the evidence of one witness.”
God’s justice is not rash or impulsive. This law ensured that decisions—especially involving life or death—were not based on hearsay or personal vendetta. Requiring multiple witnesses established fairness, truth, and careful deliberation. It protected the innocent and restrained human pride or vengeance.
This principle continues in the New Testament as Jesus affirms it in church discipline (Matthew 18:16) and Paul in confronting elders (1 Timothy 5:19). For Christians, it reminds us to be slow to judge, careful with accusations, and committed to truth verified in love. Righteous judgment must be just as patient as it is bold.
- Matthew 18:16 — But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.
- 1 Timothy 5:19 — Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses.
Deuteronomy 17:14–20 – “And when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself in a book a copy of this law… and it shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life…”
In this remarkable passage, God anticipates that Israel will one day request a king. But rather than condemning monarchy itself, God lays down a vision for kingly humility, obedience, and dependence on His Word. The king was to write his own personal copy of the Law, read it daily, and submit to it all his life.
Long before Israel ever demanded a king from Samuel, God had already made provision for one in His law. The problem was never that the people wanted a king, but that they wanted a king like the nations around them—one who would fight their battles and make them appear strong rather than trusting God to be their Deliverer and King. Their desire revealed a heart that rejected God’s kingship in favor of human power and control. But Deuteronomy makes clear that the Lord Himself would choose Israel’s king, and that this king would not be above the law but subject to it. He must be one of their own—an Israelite—so that he would share in the covenant identity and resist foreign influence that could lead the people into idolatry. He must not accumulate military might, wealth, or wives, as these were the symbols of worldly strength that often corrupted rulers’ hearts and diverted their trust away from God. Instead, the king was to hand-copy the law, read it daily, and live by it. His heart must remain humble and obedient, not proud or self-reliant.
This passage redefines leadership as humble submission to God rather than the pursuit of status. The king of Israel was not to act like the rulers of surrounding nations, who used their power to exalt themselves. God’s ideal king was to be a man of the Word, shaped by Scripture and led by reverence. Solomon’s failure to obey these commands led to idolatry and division in Israel, illustrating the consequences of disobedient leadership. Today, the same principles apply to those who lead in the church, in families, and in public life. God does not call leaders to elevate themselves but to walk in humility, under His authority, and in obedience to His Word. Our modern culture often honors charisma and influence more than character and holiness, but God’s standard remains: the greatest leader is the one who fears the Lord and walks in His ways.
Christ fulfills this passage as the Perfect King—not one who came to be served but to serve and to give His life for others. He obeyed the law fully, humbled Himself, and now reigns with righteousness. His example reminds us that leadership is a calling to serve, not a license to rule. In response, we should pursue lives of obedience to God’s Word, pray for godly leaders, and disciple others who will lead with integrity and submission to Christ. The heart of godly leadership is shaped not by ambition or power but by Scripture, humility, and the fear of the Lord.
“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 9 May 2025: Prayerfully ask, where in your life are you giving God less than what He deserves from you? Where are you settling for impurity in your life and your sacrifice to Him? In what ways are you giving God less than wholehearted worship?
Today, give God your first and best—not your leftover energy, time, or talent. Choose one area today where you’ve been offering “blemished sacrifices” (half-hearted service, rushed prayer, distracted worship), and intentionally give God your best instead.
When you honor God with excellence and humility, shaped by daily devotion to His Word, you grow in the image of Christ—the unblemished King who gave everything for you.
- 1 Corinthians 10:31 — So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
Defenders Bible Reading Plan 