Good morning,
I travel a lot and my NKJV MacArthur Study Bible, given to me by my son Jason several years ago, goes with me wherever I go.
If you are following a read through the Bible plan you're probably in to or heading into the book of Deuteronomy. The NKJV commentary notes that "the name Deuteronomy means "the second law". This name is drawn from the Septuagint, the ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament, which interprets the words in 17:18 "a copy of this law" as the "second law".
The book actually does not contain a copy of the law but explains the law in how the Israelites are to live, to the next generation. It is basically the "last will and testament of Moses, as he shares his hearts desire for his people, God's people, that they remain faithful, keep the covenant, and receive God's blessings.
Deut 17:18 "Also it shall be, when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write for himself a copy of this law in a book, from the one before the priests, the Levites. 19 And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God and be careful to observe all the words of this law and these statutes, NKJV
These verses advise the future kings, that they are to keep God's Word close to them, and they are to be close to God's Word, "and it shall be with him and he shall read it all the days of his life'.
As you read these verses think of the various kings of Israel and Judah. It shouldn't take long to see how important these instructions were. Many did not obey these words of wisdom and lead the nation astray. Others, like Josiah, found the "book of the Law" and sought restoration.
MacArthur comments that "the king was pictured as a scribe and scholar of Scripture, Josiah reinstituted this approach at a bleak time in Israel's history (2 Kings 22).
How important should God's Word be to the leaders of our country, to the leaders of our church, and to us individually?
If you have the time, read 2 Kings 22, it is an amazing account of what God did through a young king to restore the heart of the nation.
How will it affect your life and those around you if you read and apply God's Word every day of your life? What if you don't?
In Christ,
Mike
Deut 17:14-18:1
Principles Governing Kings
14 "When you come to the land which the Lord your God is giving you, and possess it and dwell in it, and say,'I will set a king over me like all the nations that are around me,' 15 you shall surely set a king over you whom the Lord your God chooses; one from among your brethren you shall set as king over you; you may not set a foreigner over you, who is not your brother. 16 But he shall not multiply horses for himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses, for the Lord has said to you,'You shall not return that way again.' 17 Neither shall he multiply wives for himself, lest his heart turn away; nor shall he greatly multiply silver and gold for himself.
18 "Also it shall be, when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write for himself a copy of this law in a book, from the one before the priests, the Levites. 19 And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God and be careful to observe all the words of this law and these statutes, 20 that his heart may not be lifted above his brethren, that he may not turn aside from the commandment to the right hand or to the left, and that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he and his children in the midst of Israel.
NKJV
mikevw@bellsouth.net
Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace NIV
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