Apr 7, 2025
DEUTERONOMY 17-18:
In
yesterday's reading, we heard about the release of debts and slaves
in the Jubilee Year (also called the year of restoration), and a
reminder about 100% participation for the males in three
festivals.
PSALM 58:
This
poem celebrates that God will indeed give justice to His people,
even though many times it seems to us that there is no justice on
earth.
ACTS 13a:
In
yesterday’s reading, we heard how Herod decided to go after the top
apostles, killing James. But Peter escaped. As a result, 16
soldiers died. Then Herod met his richly deserved end.
GNT Translation notes:
Deut. 17:18 When he becomes king, he is to [order that//have] a copy of the book of God's laws and teachings [be] made from the original copy kept by the levitical priests.
[The Hebrew says that the king is to make a copy. Most translations translate that literally, so that the king would make a copy himself. However probably most things that a king is spoken of as ‘doing’ are actually things he orders to have done for him. So this can be taken either way. We can see how Jehoiada the priest encouraged the obedience of this command when Joash was anointed king.]
18:8 [NLT He may eat his share
of the sacrifices and offerings, even if he has a private source of
income.//He is to receive the same amount of food as the other
priests, and he may keep whatever his family sends
him.]
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Ps.
58:9 Before they know it, they are cut down like weeds; in [your
fierce anger, O God, You//his fierce anger God] will blow them away
while they are still living.
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Acts
13:11 The Lord's hand will come down on you now; [and for a
time//0] you will be blind and will not see the light of day
[0//for a time].” At once Elymas felt a dark mist cover his eyes,
and he walked around trying to find someone to lead him by the
hand.
14 They went on from Perga and arrived in [the
city of] Antioch [which is in the province of//in] Pisidia, and on
the Sabbath they went into the synagogue and sat down.