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Deuteronomy episode 6 - Sacred Boundaries & Spiritual Mathematics: When Infinity + Nothing = Everything
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God is our ultimate treasure – this profound truth reverberates throughout Deuteronomy chapters 18-21 as we explore what it truly means to be God's people walking in His ways.
When we make God our inheritance, we discover a spiritual mathematics where "infinity plus nothing equals infinity plus everything." The person who has God and nothing has no less than the person who has God and everything. This insight transforms how we view the prohibitions against detestable practices listed in chapter 18. It's not merely about avoiding evil; it's about embracing the ultimate good found only in relationship with our Creator.
Our conversation examines the cities of refuge established in ancient Israel – places where those who accidentally killed someone could find safety until proper justice was administered. These cities beautifully foreshadow Christ himself, our ultimate refuge to whom we run when pursued by forces seeking our destruction.
We also unpack the significance of prophets, priests, and kings – all roles anointed with oil symbolizing the Holy Spirit, all pointing to Jesus as the ultimate fulfillment of these positions. The passage reminds us not to move boundary stones established by our predecessors, a powerful metaphor about respecting the wisdom and traditions handed down through generations.
The warfare instructions in chapter 20 reveal God's concern that His people serve with undivided hearts, while chapter 21 emphasizes our responsibility to engage with the communities where we live. We cannot detach ourselves from societal problems but must actively seek the welfare of our cities.
The study concludes with the sobering reality that sin demands a cursed death – which Christ took upon Himself to redeem us. This central gospel truth reminds us that repentance isn't just a one-time event but the ongoing posture of the Christian life: turning daily from our own ways to follow Jesus.
Join us in this rich exploration of Deuteronomy where ancient wisdom speaks directly to our modern hearts and challenges.
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Welcome to Deuteronomy Bible Study
Speaker 1Hello and welcome to Book by Book , the joy of meeting Jesus in all the scriptures . My name's Steve Nicholls and you're joining us for our sixth Bible study in the book of Deuteronomy . It's great to have you with us . Today we're thinking about what it means to be God's people , to walk in God's ways , why turning away from our sin means turning to the Lord , and here to help us today is Herman Allen , who works in social care and education , and , as always , dr Paul Blackham and Dr Sunil Raheja . Thank you for joining me today .
Detestable Practices to Avoid
Speaker 1Well , the reading I'd like us to look at now is Deuteronomy , chapter 18 , from verse 9 . So if you have a Bible at home there , do open it up . Let's read it together . Deuteronomy , chapter 18 . When you enter the land the Lord , your God , has given you , do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there . Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire , who practices divination or sorcery , interprets omens , engages in witchcraft or casts spells , or who is a medium or a spiritist , or who consults the dead . Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord , and because of these detestable practices , the Lord , your God , will drive out those nations before you . You must be blameless before the Lord , your God . Well , there's solemn words , sunil , people might want to escape bad behaviours and attitudes , but what does Deuteronomy 18 teach us about the importance of turning to the Lord as well as turning away from these things ?
Speaker 2Yes , stephen , because I think it is very much about turning away from wrong practices and obviously there's quite a list of wrong things there but we also positively turn towards God , who is the source of all goodness , who ultimately it says earlier in who is , as it were , our treasure , who is the one from whom all goodness comes and flows from . I think we've got to remind ourselves that it's not enough to say that well , I don't do any of these evil practices , therefore I'm okay . No , it's actually about embracing God in all of his goodness and in all of his goodness and grace , and celebrating that and enjoying that . I often think
God as Our Ultimate Treasure
Speaker 2of . You know , if you think in our world today , if you think about worship , I think one of the best examples of worship is not necessarily in churches . If you look at a football crowd when their team scores a goal , they don't just say , well , that was interesting . No , no , they're embracing that , they're excited about that , and I think it's seeing that ultimately , it's God who is our treasure . It's God is the one who we celebrate and we adore .
Speaker 2The analogy that , again , I find very helpful is if you think of God . As you know , god is infinite . He's the ruler of the entire universe in all its infinite wonder and glory , and infinity plus nothing equals infinity plus everything . So the person who has God and nothing has no less than the person who has God and everything . Wow , that's God's mathematics , if you like , and so he becomes our treasure . That earlier on this talk . It talks about the levites and that god is their inheritance . Well , if god is my inheritance , if god is my everything , and so I don't need to go to the practices of this world and all the terrible things that are talked about in this passage sorcery , witchcraft , child sacrifice , all these kind of things when every good thing I could ever desire and want is already found in him .
Speaker 1That's wonderful to hear . Yeah , so he's our treasure . Is there another sense to understand treasure ? Herman , I know you've been thinking about this a little bit .
Speaker 3Yes , I think there is , Because Jesus says that the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in the field . When a man found it , he hid it again and then , with joy , went and sold all he had and bought that field . Well , normally that is interpreted that the treasure is something that we're seeking and we're the man that finds the treasure , when actually the treasure I think could be us , and the person that's seeking it is God , Jesus . So Jesus gave up everything to seek us . Who is the treasure ?
Speaker 1Isn't that wonderful . He's always the one who's seeking , isn't he ? He's seeking us . That's great . Yes , paul , just as we move on , deuteronomy talks , uh , about prophets , priests and kings . Why are those positions so important ?
Speaker 4yeah , it does focus on these things . And if , as you read through the scriptures , prophets , priests and kings all get anointed with oil and uh , oil symbolizes the holy spirit , uh , and we see that because , like when David is anointed as king , as he's anointed , he's filled with the Spirit . Actually , the same happens to King Saul as well , you know , he becomes like a different person by the power of the Spirit and all this kind of thing . So it's very clear . But then you go the prophets , like a prophet , someone who is declaring truth .
Speaker 4Often people think of prophets as , like , always telling the future , but in the Bible , prophecy is really mostly declaring now , now speaking into situations . So that's the prophet , like a truth speaker . And then there's the king who exercises authority and again it's always this idea that this can only be done by the power of the spirit , truth speaking only by the power of spirit . But it's just in terms of the amount of oil the priests got like a bucket load poured on top of them , because it's almost as if they've got it . They the the most amount the spirit is needed for this priestly work and , of course , all of those to be anointed with the spirit anointing .
Speaker 4That's the word messiah . Messiah . He's the anointed one . So when we're thinking about this , we're always like , oh , each of these give us little glimpses to the truth speaker , the one who can rule with authority and the one who can solve this problem of sin and uncleanness and priestly work
Prophets, Priests, and Kings
Speaker 4to bring us to the living God . So all the times it talks about prophets , priests and kings have in our minds this is actually telling me something about Jesus .
Speaker 1That's so helpful . So their little signpost to the prophets , priests and kings . Signpost to the prophet priest and king .
Speaker 4Oh , that's beautiful Thank you .
Speaker 3I like that .
Speaker 1Herman , is there anything you'd like to add to that ?
Speaker 3Yeah , prophet priest . Oh , that's beautiful , thank you , I like that . Yes , helman , is there anything you'd like to add to that ? Yeah , definitely , certainly on the priest question , because the thing is about the priest . The priest wasn't going to be given land like everybody else .
Speaker 3In verse 2 of chapter 18 , it says that the lord is their inheritance , as he has promised their mission out on land . And the narrative for 40 years , as the pastor of the wilderness , is that I'm taking you to a promised land , a land flown with milk and honey . Obviously , I don't know what kind of honey , was it from wild bees , but certainly for the milk part , you would need to have cattle in order to produce the milk . But there's a whole group , a whole tribe , that's missing out on that . They're not getting it and the Lord's going to be their inheritance .
Speaker 3Well , that doesn't seem very tangible . You're going through the wilderness , the Lord is your inheritance , he's providing manna , but now you're in the promised land , surely you're going to get something tangible . Sounds like you're missing out , doesn't it ? It does , but here it says that , no , the Lord's going to compensate for that . So he's going to provide you the food that's been offered to the Lord , which is going to be special because it's going to be actually the first fruit , the best fruit , the best stuff that's offered to the Lord .
Speaker 2They did quite well .
Speaker 3They're going to appreciate that . Jesus was asked that question one time and he says you know , I have food that you know not of . And they thought well , when did he go to the shop ? How did he get the food ? And he then says actually , my food is to do the will of my father and to finish his work . So in a way , the Levites are a special case . They're going to get food and they're going to be provided for and compensated . When I was growing up , I remember saying I want to surrender all , because there was a song that we used to sing quite frequently I surrender all , but I actually don't want to be a missionary , I don't want to go out and do that kind of stuff . But here what I think is being conveyed is that you're not losing out . No , and Jesus said one time that anybody that follows him , leaves mother , father field will get in this life more . Yes , and that's probably a spiritual , has a spiritual aspect to it and in the age to come , eternal life .
Speaker 2So you're not losing that Because God is our treasure . That's right , and if God is our treasure , then we'll never miss out . You know it's that . You know his infinity is that he who has God and nothing has no less than he who has God and everything . It's the same kind of sentiment there . Problem is we always try to make other things our treasure . That's the real problem .
Speaker 2I remember one time I'd been asked to speak to somebody who was very interested in following Jesus . I was told he was very interested in following Jesus , so I got my Bible and I was telling him about all the wonderful things that God had done for him and for all of us in Christ . I remember it was quite funny really . He turned to me and he said what car do you drive ? And the conversation shifted to what his real treasure was . Somebody had thought he was interested in Jesus . He wasn't interested . He was actually much more interested in worldly and material things . That was his real treasure and that's , I think the challenge you always have is that God says I will be your treasure and we think , well , I'm missing out .
Speaker 3I wish I had the other stuff . I think he's trying to turn us into a kingdom of priests where we all have him as our focus and our treasure . Our treasure , yes , and and that's the essence of what he's trying to convey . No , that's very , very helpful , thank you so now can I come back to you ? Yes , um .
Speaker 1Chapter 19 . Uh , how does this chapter show us the value of human
Cities of Refuge and Justice
Speaker 1life ? You're a christian and a doctor , so how does this chapter speak to you ?
Speaker 2particularly yeah , it's about chapter 19 , is about these cities of refuge and it's talking about if someone gets killed or murdered and the person who's accused of doing that needs to , as it were , escape to these cities of refuge . And the principle behind there is that human life is sacred and valuable and anybody who is killed , you know , we are made in the image of God . Because we're made in the image of God , our life is precious . Now the question is somebody's dead ? Are they dead because they were willfully ? You know , was there , as it were , malice aforethought ? Were they murdered or was it an accidental killing ? And so , to respect what's happened and to , as it were , give space and time to investigate the matter , there's these cities of refuge where they can run to until the matter is clearly decided . And I think that's the principle behind that is that human life has to be respected and treated with respect , Because , remember , we're in a culture around with the tribes where it's vengeance okay , you take my thing , I'm gonna punch you in the face and I'm gonna get . I'm gonna , I'm gonna do all I can to to preserve my honor and my dignity . No , no , it's . It's life for life , eye for eye , tooth for tooth , hand for hand . That's , that's the principle there . There is a limit to retribution .
Speaker 2And I think what's fascinating in chapter 19 is that if we go into the New Testament and we remember Jesus standing for the Sanhedrin before his trial , witnesses are brought forth to accuse Jesus and the witnesses don't add up . And Deuteronomy 19 , verse 15 says in verse 15 , one witness is not enough to convict a man accused of any crime or offence he may have committed . A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses . Now , in Jesus' trial , these were false witnesses because what they said didn't add up . And 19 , verse 19 says it's worse . It's worse from 18 . The judges must make a thorough investigation . If the witness proves to be a liar giving false testimony against his brother , then verse 19 , then do to him as he intended to do to his brother . So the false witnesses in front of Jesus . They were screaming for Jesus' murder . They should have been executed but , as we know , under the plan of God that didn't happen , Although they thought they were getting their comeuppance . Ultimately Jesus was crucified .
Speaker 2Because again , 19 verse 21 again says it says from verse 20 , the rest of the people will hear of this and be afraid and never again will such an evil thing be done among you . Show no pity . Life for life . Eye for eye , tooth for tooth . And yet our Saviour Jesus , obviously very much knowing this , then says you've heard , it was said eye for eye , tooth for tooth , life . I say to you love your enemies , Pray for those who persecute you . Completely turns it around .
Speaker 1So no , thank you . Thank you very much , and this chapter teaches us about the value of life . Life is every life , from before birth to the very end , is precious and valuable , every single life , not because of what we're capable of doing or anything like that , but simply because we're made in the image of God . But , herman , I know you've been thinking a bit about these cities of refuge in this chapter . How do they speak to us today ? I ?
Speaker 3think it's a phenomenal concept , because the cities of refuge needed to be quite close so that , as if anybody was accused of anything , they could get there before being , you know , decapitated by the relatives of the person that they in the heat of anger and the emotion that's there , yeah , but when I was growing up , the main expression of being a christian was are you saved ?
Speaker 3Have you found your safe place ? Have you got to your city of refuge ? So for me , the city of refuge is Jesus , and we run to him because we're being pursued . The Bible says that the thief comes to kill , to steal , to destroy . It also says that there's a roaring lion out there seeking to devour us . And so we're being pursued . And as we get to the city of refuge , as we get to Jesus , he then holds the trial and as the high priest holding the trial , he acquits us through his blood and we're in that safe place where we don't have to worry , we don't have to fear , we don't have to fret , because we're free .
Speaker 1Yes , and safe , that's a wonderful reminder . Thanks , herman . Thank you , if we look down Paul to verse 14 , just as we move on to verse 14 , it says Do not move your neighbour's boundary stone set up by your predecessors in the inheritance you receive , and so on .
Speaker 4Why are boundary stones mentioned in this chapter and this idea that our ancestors have done things and don't just mess with that ? And I think it reminds me of 2 Thessalonians 2.15 , where Paul says stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you , whether by word of mouth or by letter , and just that way in which it's easy to just go oh no , I've got a new idea , let's do it this way and then the way , way the bible's like just be really careful , because something's been handed on to you yeah , traditions and boundaries and things and you're they , you know it matters . Don't , don't just change boundaries that have been handed down to you and this , you know , that concept of what has been handed on to you , you hand on .
Speaker 2and isn't that so different to our to and age ? I think CS Lewis talked about chronological snobbery , the fact that something is new , we immediately embrace and we just discard oh , it's old-fashioned , it's old . Well , no , as you're saying , it's been handed down to you for a reason and you move this boundary stone there will be consequences . There's consequences for that Boy ? Are we facing consequences in our day and age ? That's ?
Speaker 1right . So this chapter is full of justice and integrity and so on in the life of the church .
Speaker 2What do we ?
Speaker 1learn from this chapter about these things justice and integrity .
Speaker 4Yeah , I mean I just think this way in which , and as you were making these points , that the lord it , because sometimes , sometimes people have a lack of very kind of spiritualized idea . Oh yeah , I sometimes say some people only think about , uh , the lord in terms of eternal fire insurance , and then he's like , no , there is eternal fire insurance , but that it relates to now and to be saved . Sometimes people go , oh , I'm saved , but he's like I'm only thinking about something like eternal yes .
Speaker 4But if you're really saved from sin , it means you're saved now from sin , and it's like the change is your behavior now in terms of truth , telling , compassion , like sharing what we have . Instead of me hoarding it , I'm giving it , and that comes up over and over again . That salvation is now because if I'm saying I'm safe from sin , but you're still gripped by it , you're not safe from it . Do you see what I mean ? And I love the way that these laws are constantly diving into , like getting at the heart of the person . Until we're transformed from the inside out in our behaviour , in our community , we're not really saved .
Speaker 2Yeah because we're saved as we are but we're not left as we are . God is in a process of transforming us , and that's why God is a God of justice and integrity , because he wants to make us like him oh boy , do we fail so much . But he's on that process of transforming us bit by bit , till we are with him in eternity .
Speaker 1So , if I can stay with you , just moving on a bit to chapter 20 . Yes , 20 . What can we learn in this chapter chapter 20
Warfare and Communal Responsibility
Speaker 1, about the way that ancient Israel handled warfare ? Yes , and why is it so important to make sure that the soldiers weren't distracted or double-minded ?
Speaker 2Yes , and it's interesting because in the passage it gives examples . It says you know , if you've built a new home , you know we're going to go into battle . But if you've built a new home , staying focused in your home , if you've started a business , you've planted vineyards and you're in your first year , go back to that . If you recently got married , then spend time with your wife as opposed to coming out into the battle . Because in a sense , god wants our full attention , our full , wholehearted commitment and devotion . And it's being realistic about the context that the people are in and saying I don't want divided loyalties . And you know it's interesting , jesus picks this up as well in Luke , chapter 14 , verses 16 to 24 , where he talks about the parable of the great banquet and this man who's giving this great feast . Again , it's the issue of divided loyalties and the Bible's very strong on that . James talks's the issue of divided loyalties and the Bible's very strong on that . James talks about the danger of divided loyalties in our following him .
Speaker 1Paul , if I can come to you , I've got to ask you . Deuteronomy 20 , verses 10 to 18 , it can sound quite harsh , all these instructions about what to do when attacking a city and capturing your enemies . What's going on in these verses ?
Speaker 4It does sound very harsh , but it's always like this . It's not just warfare , they're enacting something that's a reminder of Judgment Day . It's like Noah's Ark , where there was a worldwide flood and that was like even bigger casualties , in a way , and everyone died , even the animals and everything . And these are like mini versions of it , because we can often imagine oh well , you know , there is never going to be a judgment day , it's never going to happen .
Speaker 4But in this time when the ancient people of god were used to kind of bring a judgment day on people , and the lord's like when that happens , it's got to be done like a judgment day . So he's not saying that's how all wars should be done by anybody anywhere . He's like saying no , in these limited cases of these canaanite people who've done these terribly wicked things . And the lord had waited 400 years and they said now is a judgment day . And but as we go on through the bible , we discover the gibeonites are one of them . They managed to repent and join church . So even then the lord's like I really don't want you to have a judgment day like this . Anything I can do to save you , I will .
Speaker 1So , again , it's a signpost judgment . Yeah , herman , if we move on to chapter 21 , what would you say this chapter teaches us about our responsibility to the places where we live and to the people we live among .
Speaker 3It's interesting that they set a scenario where , if there is somebody that's been murdered and you don't know who the person is , that the elders from the nearest town would have to come and make an offering so as to appease the Lord and get involved with what was happening in their community . And I think the same is true of us . We can't be isolated from our community . We have to get involved with what was happening in their community , and I think the same is true of us . We can't be isolated from our community , we have to get involved .
Speaker 3There was an interesting thing that happened in 2017 when there was a terrorist attack in London Bridge .
Speaker 3The church there really rallied around and did what they needed to do , and , in particular , this guy called Andrew Nunn the very Reverend Andrew Nunn who said I put on my dog collar and headed towards Bankside to try to open the cathedral so we could be in a place of refuge . But initially I didn't get far , so I went through the back alley , but Everly Harm Police barred my way and forced me back , saying run , run . That's what they shouted and what struck me about that that he was determined to allow the church to be a part of that very difficult and dangerous issue that was going on for them and he had said in his sermon that the church had been there for 1,400 years and they'd seen pestilence , they'd seen great fires and it always was there as a connecting point with the community . The community people says when they heard the cathedral bells ringing again , they felt a sense of togetherness , a sense of connection , a sense of we're in this thing together . So we can't detach ourselves . We can't detach ourselves from the young boys being murdered on our streets .
Speaker 3We can't detach ourselves from any of the issues of deprivation and difficulties that we experience as a community . No , Jesus didn't . He didn't step over the man . He told the story of the Good Samaritan , he went to the aid of the person . And Jeremiah said even in exile , you ought to pray for the peace and prosperity of the city . So it's important that we realize that we're not set and detached from our city and our places of influence .
Speaker 2We're supposed to be involved . We're not isolated individuals , we're not islands on our own . We're connected together .
Speaker 1That's so helpful , herman . Thank you , paul . Very briefly , if we may , just as the chapter ends it ends with the idea that sin must be punished by death , a cursed death . How does that point us ?
Speaker 4It's just lovely , isn't it ? Because there's all these times sins end up the Lord's like if you do this sin , if you do this sin , that's worthy of death , that's worthy of death , that's worthy of death . And in a way , the message is oh , like if sin is worthy of death . And it ends with this idea that really , a person who sins is rejected from earth and heaven , hung on this tree , a cursed death . To sin against the Lord means a cursed death and of course we're immediately thinking that's how he himself dies . The Lord comes and says but I don't want you to die a God-forsaken , cursed death . Let me die the God-forsaken cursed death so you don't have to .
Speaker 1Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Lord by becoming a curse for us Wow .
Speaker 1What a place to end , fantastic Herman . Thank you so much . Paul Sunil , thank you for your time today and for sharing in this study together . What's our
Sin, Death, and Christ's Redemption
Speaker 1key truth today ? Well , I think it's this To turn away from evil , we must turn to the Lord . The very first words of Jesus in Mark's Gospel are repent and believe the good news . And repentance means changing your mind , turning around 180 degrees , turning away from sin and turning to Christ . And it's not just a one-off thing at the start of the Christian life . Repentance is how we follow Jesus every day .
Speaker 1In 1517 , martin Luther , a German monk , nailed the famous 95 theses or ideas to the door of the castle church in Wittenberg in Germany . It was an action that was to launch the reformation that changed the world . And number one at the top of the list that he nailed to that door said when our Lord and Master , jesus Christ , said repent , he intended that the entire life of believers should be repentance . It comes down , of course , to those little decisions every day , throughout the day , where we're faced with a choice my way or Jesus' way . To turn away from evil , we must turn towards the Lord . Loving Father , please forgive us our sins today . We want nothing more to do with them . Fill us with your Holy Spirit as we turn to Christ , and may our lives be pleasing and bring glory to you , amen . Thank you for being part of Book by Book Until next time . God bless you and goodbye Bye .
