Deuteronomy 17:18–19: “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. 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.”

March 4th, 2023 by Pastor Ed in devotional

God warned the people of Israel that when they came into the land, they would want kings to rule over them like the nations around them had. So He established rules for these kings, knowing they would be tempted to amass armaments, multiple wives, and personal wealth, which He forbade. He also put in place a roadblock to these sins that would threaten to take over the monarchy. It was simple but effective, if they would practice it. The King was commanded to personally write out his own copy of the law. This would guarantee that the king was familiar with every single verse of the scriptures. And, more importantly, he would have a copy of the law that he could “read all the days of his life.” Knowing and following God’s principles, would help him stay humble, not becoming prideful and “lifted up above his brethren.” What a clear picture for every believer of how to remain humble and submitted before the Lord.

Everyone lives by some guiding philosophy or set of principals that determines what is acceptable and unacceptable to them. This is true even among the most rebellious members of society. Some might disagree, pointing to the seemingly lawless motorcycle groups, yet, when we look closely, we find they actually have a very strict code among themselves.

God wants us to choose the timeless truths He has placed in His word as the guiding principles of our lives. The Psalmist made that choice when he chose the word of God to be his guide for life, saying, it “is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105). God said through Jeremiah the prophet, to the nation of Judah, even as it was failing:

Thus says the LORD, “Stand by the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls.” But they said, “We will not walk in it” (Jer. 6:16).

In these statements, God warns as well as promises a blessing if they, and we, follow His word.

“LORD, we look to You to bless our lives as we read and put into practice what You have given us in Your word. Use us this day, in Jesus’ name.”

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Deuteronomy 17 KJV

¹ Thou shalt not sacrifice unto the LORD thy God any bullock, or sheep, wherein is blemish, orany evilfavouredness: for that is an abomination unto the LORD thy God. ² If there be found among you, within any of thy gates which the LORD thy God giveth thee, man or woman, that hath wrought wickedness in the sight of the LORD thy God, in transgressing his covenant, ³ And hath gone and served other gods, and worshipped them, either the sun, or moon, or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded; ⁴ And it be told thee, and thou hast heard of it , and enquired diligently, and, behold, it be true, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought in Israel: ⁵ Then shalt thou bring forth that man or that woman, which have committed that wicked thing, unto thy gates, even that man or that woman, and shalt stone them with stones, till they die. ⁶ At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death. ⁷ The hands of the witnesses shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the people. So thou shalt put the evil away from among you. ⁸ If there arise a matter too hard for thee in judgment, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke, being matters of controversy within thy gates: then shalt thou arise, and get thee up into the place which the LORD thy God shall choose; ⁹And thou shalt come unto the priests the Levites, and unto the judge that shall be in those days, and enquire; and they shall shew thee the sentence of judgment: ¹⁰ And thou shalt do according to the sentence, which they of that place which the LORD shall choose shall shew thee; and thou shalt observe to do according to all that they inform thee: ¹¹ According to the sentence of the law which they shall teach thee, and according to the judgment which they shall tell thee, thou shalt do: thou shalt not decline from the sentence which they shall shew thee, to the right hand, nor to the left. ¹² And the man that will do presumptuously, and will not hearken unto the priest that standeth to minister there before the LORD thy God, or unto the judge, even that man shall die: and thou shalt put away the evil from Israel.  ¹³ And all the people shall hear, and fear, and do no more presumptuously. ¹⁴ When thou art come unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, and shalt possess it, and shalt dwell therein, and shalt say, I will set a king over me, like as all the nations that are about me; ¹⁵ Thou shalt in any wise set him king over thee, whom the LORDthy God shall choose: one from among thy brethren shalt thou set king over thee: thou mayest not set a stranger over thee, which is not thy brother. ¹⁶ But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch as the LORD hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way. ¹⁷ Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold. ¹⁸ And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which isbefore the priests the Levites: ¹⁹ And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them: ²⁰ That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel.