Even before God had specifically appointed Jerusalem to be the site of the Jewish Temple, He had given Israel many instructions regarding their worship of Him there, in that special Place.

Today’s Verse proves an example: “Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles.” Deuteronomy 16:16, “all thy males!”

Remember, many of these people would be living miles away from that Temple. A sizeable number day’s journey, even more for some of the Tribes. And a Psalm of Protection was written for these pilgrims as they trekked toward the Holy City, Psalm 121. Gladly going “into the House of God!”

Yes, every man in the Nation was required to go worship God (“appear” before Him) at least three times a year! A major expectation in those days of primitive transportation, likely all by foot.

What would we do if we only got to attend God’s House thrice a year?

(Incidentally, today we Christians are under mandate to go regularly, every time church “meets” apparently! “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another.” Pretty clear, Hebrews 10:25.)

But back to our verse.

What were the “three times” each year a Jewish mad had to go, under law, Mosaic Law?

During the “Feast of Unleavened Bread,” virtually “Passover.”

Then again during the “Feast of Weeks,” also called “Pentecost.”

Lastly, be there at the “Feast of Tabernacles!”

Passover, Spring of the year.

Pentecost, 50 days later, what I’d call Summer.

Tabernacles, in the Fall, harvest time!

Year round, in other words.

Stop work, you Jews.

Pack your supplies.

Make the trip.

And stay until it’s over! Essentially a week for each Event!

Again, by Law!

Now to the “heart” of the Lesson.

WHY those three times?

I think … because of what they represent.

Passover … Jesus’ Death!

Pentecost … the Descent of the Holy Spirit!

And Tabernacles … Jesus Second Coming, the Millennium and eternal Joy!

Wow!

That’s the whole trajectory of Jesus’ earthly Career, known at the time of Moses, fifteen centuries before the Virgin Birth ever happened!

This surely shows us God the Father’s “Priority List,”

Calvary!

The Upper Room, when the Holy Spirit descended!

And a Dwelling Place (they made “booths” to inhabit) to joyfully worship God for His Goodness!

Hallelujah!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Soon as you’re finished reading … get alone with the Lord if possible and thank Him for these three (two past and one future) Events! Worship Him a while … for the Cross, the Holy Spirit and the Good Things to come! And do it all with a thankful, joyful spirit!

 

 

We are simply taking a “trip” through the Book of Deuteronomy. Basically covering a chapter a day, though occasionally a chapter has required several days to discuss.

Today I have a question.

Can God, does God bless Nations?

Not just individuals or families … but Countries?

Yes, the answer to that question, yes indeed.

Listen to the Lord teach Israel, Deuteronomy 15:6. “For the LORD thy God blesseth thee, as he promised thee: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, but thou shalt not borrow; and thou shalt reign over many nations, but they shall not reign over thee.”

Wow!

True, Israel’s financial and political health here described was predicated upon her obeying the Word of God … but still, God meant what He said!

Lending, not borrowing!

Let me show you a little vocabulary “nugget” here. The very same verb (in Hebrew “abat”) is used for both “lending” and “borrowing” here! And in the King James Bible “abat” is translated “lend” 2 times. And “borrow” 1 time! And “fetch” 1 more time!

Confusing?

Here’s a case where a translator had to base his work on the “context” of the verb(s) he’s explaining. Is God saying Israel will “borrow from” and never “loan to” to her neighbors? Of course not! The whole chapter (Deuteronomy 15) has been talking about God’s “blessings” on an obedient Israel, a little Nation in the world community.

Plus … the rest of our Text verse sets the “tone” for God’s meaning, God’s promise. Israel … “thou shalt reign over many nations, but they shall not reign over thee.” Deuteronomy 15:5b

Very clear now, because here the verbs (though identical) are more dogmatic! “Mashal” always has the idea of “ruling, governing, having power over” someone!

I am saying that God would not (suddenly) “mix” blessings and curses in a paragraph that contains only blessings! So any verbs in question would be expressed as being harmonious with their context!

Thank God for reliable translators!

And thank God even more for His multiple Blessings!

By the way, God has blessed Israel!

Even though her brightest days still are ahead!

“For the LORD thy God blesseth thee, as he promised thee: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, but thou shalt not borrow; and thou shalt reign over many nations, but they shall not reign over thee.”

Nations!

Psalm 9:17 promises: “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the NATIONS that forget God.”

Again I say, “Nations!”

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

As some of you already know, the Website experienced more technical difficulty early this morning.

The Lord willing, another new Lesson (from the Book of Deuteronomy) will be written and posted tomorrow, fairly early in fact.

I’d write it today, but it’s too near Church time now, the Revival tonight in Loris, South Carolina.

Look where the Church has us staying, our accommodations for the week!

Floor number 12, the corner condominium!

Wow!

Pray for us as we travel and preach week after week.

Thank you sincerely,

Dr. Mike Bagwell

“OTHERS MAY … YOU CANNOT!”

The words rang in my ears!

A Preacher was talking about having God’s “BEST” in one’s life.

He was teaching us some things about the Biblical principle of “separation.”

And now today, this morning, I have found that idea illustrated once again in the Word of God!

And of all places … Deuteronomy!

“Ye shall not eat of any thing that dieth of itself: thou shalt give it unto the stranger that is in thy gates, that he may eat it; or thou mayest sell it unto an alien: for thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God.” Deuteronomy 14:21

If an animal gets sick and dies, or for that matter simply expires from old age … it is NOT to be eaten by the Jewish people. And that’s a Law from God! “Ye shall NOT eat of any thing that dieth of itself.”

Such is clearly forbidden … to those who count themselves the people of God. To the people who are categorized “the apple of His Eye.” See Zechariah 2:8 for an illustration of this quote.

No doubt there are “health” reasons behind this prohibition.

As well as spiritual reasons, one being stark obedience to God.

But … do note.

If a Jew chose to give such meat (a creature that had died a natural death) to a foreigner in his midst, one who was not under the covenant of Mosaic Law … such a gift was all right in God’s Eyes! “Ye shall not eat of any thing that dieth of itself: thou shalt give it unto the stranger that is in thy gates, that he may eat it.”

Wow!

See it, the idea?

God is holding His Own people … to a higher standard!

Simply that.

And we prove our love to God … by doing what he says!

Jesus agrees, for John 14:15 He thunders: “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”

And this is astounding, to me anyway.

The Israelites could even SELL such meat (animals dying from natural causes) … to their alien neighbors! They just could not consume it themselves! Back to our Text verse for today: “Thou mayest sell it unto an alien.”

But not eat it personally!

OTHERS MAY … YOU CANNOT!

Our verse again, noticing the last clause. “Ye shall not eat of any thing that dieth of itself: thou shalt give it unto the stranger that is in thy gates, that he may eat it; or thou mayest sell it unto an alien: FOR THOU ART AN HOLY PEOPLE unto the LORD thy God.”

Amazing!

Here, being “different” is a testimony to being “holy” unto the Lord!

And God seems to have meant it that way.

All I ask you to do today … think about the whole concept.

There are some things GOD is not going to allow you to do … not and remain in full fellowship with Him. Because you are holy in His Eyes!

The Lord willing, another Lesson Monday morning.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Rules, rules, rules!

Deuteronomy is full of them!

Even including what the Jewish people were allowed to eat!

Basically their diet was as follows: Deuteronomy 14:6

“And every beast that parteth the hoof, and cleaveth the cleft into two claws, and cheweth the cud among the beasts, that ye shall eat.”  Further details, many in fact, are given in the context, but the verse you’ve just read sums everything well.

And concerning seafood, fish? “And whatsoever hath not fins and scales ye may not eat; it is unclean unto you.” Quoting Deuteronomy 14:9.

Are these arbitrary guidelines?

Without reason or logic?

No!

I believe God never does anything capriciously, haphazardly.

No doubt dozens of good reasons, both spiritually and physically, lie behind the many prohibitions (or inclusions) God gave Israel, even concerning her diet.

Two quick thoughts. today …

“And every beast that parteth the hoof, and cleaveth the cleft into two claws, and cheweth the cud among the beasts, that ye shall eat.”

Feet that “part the hoof” implies that the animal will NOT mire in the mud, sink into the turf, as easily as other animals with un-parted hoofs! In other words, they are not as much “of this world!” More fleet-footed, less involved, ready to leave at a moment’s notice!

Put that kind of meat into your bodies!

Even we as Christians are not to be “of this world!” Not deeply embedded into its systems and filth and philosophies (the parted hoofs idea)!

And “chewing the cud?”

Not gobbling one’s meat down whole!

Eating more slowly, deliberately, even re-digesting much of what one has consumed!

This is basically the word picture the concept of “meditation” presents to our minds! As in “meditating on God’s Word!”

Wow!

Separated from the World!

And  … Deeply enjoying the Word of God!

Then the fish … “And whatsoever hath not fins and scales ye may not eat; it is unclean unto you.”

I see similar principles at work here.

No fins? Then much less able to “guide” oneself through the “waters” (some of them very trying, difficult) of life! These creatures (with fins) do not simply “slither” along, serpent-like!

And scales?

Again, a simple “barrier” God has given certain sea-life to help them maintain some “separation” from their (at times noxious) environment!

Guidance and cleanliness!

Not a bad idea for fish … or Believers in Christ Jesus our Lord!

Some of you may think I’m carry this typology (if that’s what it is) too far.

I’d love to hear your opinions.

But if I am anywhere near right … the food I put into my mouth can (in a way) preach to me fresh sermons about the very ways of God!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Of course I am NOT saying that today (in the dispensation of God’s amazing Grace) we should all abide by Jewish dietary law. But I am saying that God had good reasons for mandating them. And if you had bacon for breakfast today … I assure you no sin was committed. Unless you ate too much!