MEMORY VERSE: “And thou shalt rejoice in thy feast, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite, the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within thy gates” (Deuteronomy 16:14).         

TEXT: Deuteronomy 16:1-22; 17:1-20

God commanded Israel through His servant Moses to observe and keep divinely ordained feasts. These feasts, which include the feast of Passover or unleavened bread, the feast of Pentecost or the feast of weeks and the feast of tabernacles are divinely instituted festivities to commemorate and re-enact God’s acts of mercy, deliverance and salvation for Israel. The feasts were “pilgrimage feasts” and required travelling and gathering at a chosen place. This underscores the necessity of assembling together of God’s children for the purpose of worship, exhortation and edification. Thus, the Scripture enjoins, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is…” (Hebrews 10:25). Meetings of God’s people such as retreats, congresses, conferences, Bible studies, worship services, revival meetings and home caring fellowships are non-negotiable for serious- minded Christians. Apart from the feasts, Israel was also commanded by God to follow the principles of good administration of justice. These principles are meant to preserve and protect the sacredness and sanctity of human life, right to property and enjoyment of family life. Even in war situation, God prescribed the rules of engagement for the protection of the weak, women and children. Consequently, in the passages under consideration, God instructed Moses to prescribe the general principles of social justice and human welfare.

1.SPECIFIC COMMANDMENTS ON JEWISH FEASTS, THEIR CONDITIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE

(Deuteronomy 16:1-17; 17:1; Exodus 12:14; Psalm 78:40-43; 2 Corinthians 9:7)

“Observe the month of Abib, and keep the Passover unto the LORD thy God: for in the month of Abib the LORD thy God brought thee forth out of Egypt by night” (Deuteronomy 16:1). The Lord specifically commanded the children of Israel to keep the Passover as a memorial for their redemption from Egyptian bondage. Believers in like manner should constantly remember their redemption from the bondage of sin and Satan, and should show gratitude to God. The Jewish feasts were not occasions for reveling but very significant in many ways: first, they served as memorials throughout their generations (Exodus 12:14); second, they kept Israel in constant fellowship with God and with one another; third, they taught the younger generation of Israel about God’s previous acts of faithfulness; fourth, they helped avert the danger of forgetfulness that leads to spiritual weakness, decline, defeat, loss of vision, disobedience, backsliding and outright apostasy. Fifth, they reminded them of their peculiar identity and relationship with God. “And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever” (Exodus 12:14). The command of the Lord on the Passover specifies the place and preparation of the victuals. It was to be in the place which the LORD shall choose to place his name there”. Believers are to be selective to ensure they worship the Lord at only the place appointed by God, which is His house (Deuteronomy 12:5,6,25,26). “And there shall be no leavened bread seen with thee… Six days thou shalt eat unleavened bread: and on the seventh day shall be a solemn assembly to the LORD thy God: thou shalt do no work therein” (Deuteronomy 16:4,8). Leaven was to be excluded and unleavened bread eaten for six days during the Passover, while the seventh day was to be a solemn assembly with no servile work to be done. Believers are to live their lives free from the leaven of sin and hypocrisy. Conditions of sacrificing the Passover include the following:

One, the sacrificial animal must be of Israel’s flock and herd.

Two, it must be at God’s chosen place.

Three, it shall be eaten with unleavened bread seven days to the time.

Four, no sacrificed animal shall remain till the next morning to avoid rottenness.

Five, it must be at the going down of the sun and the very month they came out of Egypt.

Six, the animal used for sacrifice must be perfect.

The Christian Sabbath, being the Lord’s Day, is to be hallowed for worship and the Lord’s service. Those who engage in their businesses during fellowship times are dishonouring the Lord. Besides, these feasts were also “gratitude feasts” and they involved voluntary giving to the Lord according to the individual’s ability; none was to appear empty before God (Deuteronomy 16:17). Here we learn that all believers, despite the prevailing economic situation should develop the habit of gratefully giving to God at every opportunity. The feast of Passover (unleavened bread) was instituted by God at the time of Israel’s exodus from Egypt to commemorate the night when God smote all Egyptian firstborns and spared all Israel’s firstborns. It is also called “the feast of unleavened bread” as no leaven was allowed to remain in their environments for seven days from the fourteen days of the month of Abib being the first month of the Jewish calendar (Exodus 23:15).

2.COMMANDMENTS AGAINST IDOLATRY AND GUIDELINES ON ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE

(Deuteronomy 16:18-22; 17:2-13; Exodus 18:21,23; 2 Chronicles 19:5-7; John 7:51; Matthew 18:15-17; 1Corinthians 6:1-8)

“Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, throughout thy tribes: and they shall judge the people with just judgment.” Judges were to be appointed and courts of justice established at the gates of each city. The judges were empowered to hear and determine cases according to the law given through Moses. The judges were to be God-fearing men of proven integrity, who would not wrest judgment nor take gifts in order to pervert justice. In the New Testament dispensation, peaceful co- existence among brethren is advocated. Christ commands us to settle disputes among ourselves (Matthew 18:15-17). Believers are not to take each other to the courts of our communities and nations (1 Corinthians 6:1-3,7). However, if there are lingering controversies, the affected brethren should make deliberate efforts to bring in the church leadership.

The administration of justice was to be hinged on the following procedures:

One, a thorough and wise enquiry concerning every allegation.

Two, eliciting verifiable and reliable evidence from witnesses;

Three, sentences or judgment passed only according to God’s law.

Four, prescribed punishment meted out at the gate of the city.

Five, avoidance of perversion, partiality, double standard and victimization. The principles of justice highlighted above are applicable in the resolution of disputes and controversies in the New Testament. Believers and church leaders should ensure that cases of misconduct are examined diligently and dealt with appropriately. God’s word should be used as the standard for dealing with every matter. Fairness and firmness should guide our decisions, which must be made in the spirit of meekness, love and truth (Galatians 6:1). When justice and impartiality hold sway, the injured is comforted and appeased, the offender is blamed and punished, the society will enjoy safety, peace and divine favour. Therefore, the decisions of the judges be binding on every one. Those who acted presumptuously and would not obey the priest or judge were put to death so that it will serve as a deterrent to the other evildoers.

Thus, the fear of God will become the established culture in society. “If there be found among you, within any of thy gates which the LORD thy God giveth thee, man or woman, that hath wrought wickedness in the sight of the LORD thy God, in transgressing his covenant… And it be told thee, and thou hast heard of it, and enquired diligently, and, behold, it be true… Then shalt thou bring forth that man or that woman, which have committed that wicked thing, unto thy gates, even that man or that woman, and shalt stone them with stones, till they die” (Deuteronomy 17:2-5).

Although Moses had warned the children of Israel of the danger of idolatry and turning away from the Lord on many occasions, the warning became more compelling because the Canaanites, whose land they were about to possess, were avowed and devoted idolaters. To prevent them from yielding to the sin of idolatry, Moses spelt out the punishment to be meted out to anyone or group of people involved in idolatry. The sin of idolatry is a gross violation of God’s command: “Thou shalt have no other gods before me, Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image… (Exodus 20:3,4). Idolatry leads to spiritual death. In this regard, those who indulge in it received capital punishment. The inhabitant of any city that would descend into this evil was to be brought out of the gate of the city and stoned to death without pity. This severe punishment was to serve as a deterrent to others. However, it is instructive that the Lord commanded that diligent enquiry be made and that two or more witnesses should be heard before the offender is put to death. This was to prevent trumped-up charges against the innocent.

3.DIRECTIVES FOR THE SELECTION AND REIGN OF KINGS IN ISRAEL (Deuteronomy 17:14-20; Numbers 27:16-19; Joshua 1:8)

Through His foreknowledge, God knew that Israel would seek to be ruled by kings when they settle in the land of Canaan; therefore, He gave instructions in advance. “Thou shalt in any wise set him king over thee, whom the LORD thy God shall choose: one from among thy brethren shalt thou set king over thee: thou mayest not set a stranger over thee, which is not thy brother” (Deuteronomy 17:15). In order to fulfil His promise to His people, God stipulated certain conditions to guide them in choosing their kings so they can remain in His will and purpose. In choosing a king, they were to seek God’s choice, not theirs. Two, their king was to be selected from among them, not to be a stranger (non-Jew). On no account should they appoint a stranger over them as king who may lead them astray and cause them to return to Egypt. Similar conditions were required in the early Church when Judas Iscariot was replaced (Acts 1:21-26). God further warned that the king “shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch as the LORD hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way. Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold” (Deuteronomy 17:16, 17). Those who are appointed as leaders over God’s people should be careful not to lead others astray and incur His wrath.

The appointed king should be free from greed and materialism, which will make him end up oppressing the poor. He was also required to guard his morals and not multiply wives nor infest the land with the sin of adultery. Above all, every Israelite king was required to obtain a copy of the law of God, study, interpret and apply it. This was necessary because any deviation from God’s law and precepts will attract grave consequences. The word BIBLE has been aptly described with the acronym Basic Instruction Before Leaving Earth.

It is the complete word of God given to humanity to guide us to salvation and show us the way of Christ and His righteousness. When we study the Bible diligently, God reveals Himself to us, empowers us, directs our steps, quickens and strengthens us, keeps us from sin and takes us to heaven at last. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:16, 17).

Questions for review:

1. Mention the three major annual feasts of the Jews and their significance.
2. What are the conditions for commemorating the feast of the Passover?
3. What should guide leaders in the selection of people into the church workforce?
4. What are the procedures and benefits of scriptural administration of justice?
5. Why are believers warned against idolatry?
6. What vices did God specifically warn the kings of Israel against?
7. Why is it necessary for kings and those in authority to be given the word of God?