Deuteronomy 24

  • Marriage and Divorce Laws (verses 1-5)
    • What rules are we reading here in verses 1-4?
    • Write out verse 5
  • Safeguarding Life (verses 6-9)
    • There are three rules here, describe them
  • Consideration for People in Need (verses 10-22)
    • Describe how to receive a loan based on verses 10-12
    • How do you treat a hired hand according to verses 13-15?
    • Write out verses 16
    • How do you treat orphans and widows according to verses 17-18?
    • In verses 19-22, what happens to harvest you leave behind?

Deuteronomy 25

  • Fairness and Mercy (verses 1-4)
    • How do you handle disputes in court?
    • Write out verse 4
  • Preserving the Family Line (verse 5-12)
    • What happens when a woman’s husband dies?
    • What is happening in verses 11-12?
  • Honest Weights and Measures (verses 13-16)
    • What is the rules on how you measure things out that will be sold?
    • Write out verse 16
  • Revenge on the Amalekites (verses 17-19)
    • What are they to do to the Amalekites?
    • Why are they to do this?

Deuteronomy 26

  • Giving the Firstfruits (verses 1-11)
    • What are they commanded to do and when?
    • Write out verse 11
  • The Tenth in the Third Year (verses 12-15)
    • What are they to do with the tenth?
  • Covenant Summary (verses 16-19)
    • Write out verse 16
    • What did they affirm?
    • What did the Lord affirm?

What did you learn new today: about God, yourself or others? What lessons will you walk away with today? Is there something the Lord is calling you to do because of today’s lesson?

Reflection: Is Fasting a Commandment? When Jesus taught about fasting in the Sermon on the Mount, it was in direct correlation to giving and praying. He also states “when you fast”. It is making the assumption His people will be fasting. Here in Matthew 6 He is giving instruction how to fast, not constituting a command.

In Matthew 9 there is discussion about why the Pharisees fasted and not the disciples. Jesus’ response was that a day will come when the bridegroom would be taken from them and then they would fast. After Jesus’ ascension is when we find the disciples fasting. Jesus did model fasting for us, as in all the other things He wanted us to imitate Him in. But He never commands it.

Where are the people today who will respond to the call of Christ? Have we become so accustomed to “cheap grace” that we instinctively shy away from more demanding calls to obedience? “Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross.” Why has the giving of money, for example, been unquestionably recognized as an element in Christian devotion and fasting so disputed? Certainly we have as much, if not more, evidence from the Bible for fasting as we have for giving. Perhaps in our affluent society fasting involves a far larger sacrifice than the giving on money.

Psalm 21 – personalize this prayer and pray for victory over your life today. Pray this victory over the lives of others who need it as well. Spend time really thinking about the words you are saying. Don’t just say them just because.