AM Bible Study Group; June 15, 2011
Deuteronomy 13:1-18
Theme: This chapter sets before the Israelites God’s requirements concerning those who would draw them away from Him.
In setting the law before the people, Moses warned the people to beware of turning from the one true God to the false gods of the surrounding people (12:29-32). And now, he sets before them what to do in the case of those who make the appeal that they to turn to false gods.
The thing to be on the alert against is mentioned three times in this passage: those who say, "’Let us go after other gods’—which you have not known—’and let us serve them’" (v. 2, see also v. 6 and 13). In all of it, the people were to take the strongest action possible. Some of the things that are commanded may sound harsh to us; but those commands were absolutely necessary to protect the people in their covenant relationship with God. If that covenant was made to be broken, the whole nation would suffer.
God’s command to them, then, was, "You shall walk after the LORD your God and fear Him and keep His commandments and obey His voice; you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him" (v. 4). This was to be done . . .
I. EVEN IF MIRACLES ARE PERFORMED (vv. 1-5).
A. Moses speaks of a situation in which "a prophet or a dreamer of dreams" arises among the people (v. 1). Note that the prophet or dreamer may give a sign or a wonder that comes to pass (v. 2). This is one of the signs of a true prophet (see 18:21-22). But note that, in this case, the prophet or dreamer is proven to be false—not by the fact that a sign or wonder isn’t performed, but by the fact that, along with it, they make the appeal to turn to other gods (v. 2). The Bible warns that signs and wonders will be used by the enemy to turn—if possible—even the people of God away from Him (see Matthew 25:24; 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12; 1 John 4:1-3; Revelation 13:11-14).
B. It isn’t that the false prophet or dreamer actually had any power. God is said to have allowed their dream or vision to come to pass in order to test the faithfulness of His people (v. 3).. Will they stay true to Him—even if it seems that miracles are being done by those who call them away from Him? They were not to listen to the false prophet who calls them away; but were to put that false prophet to death. "So you shall put away the evil from your midst" (v. 5). We must never allow ourselves to embrace false doctrine simply because the ‘results’ seem impressive in a worldly sense.
II. EVEN IF LOVED ONES MAKE THE APPEAL (vv. 6-11).
A. The people were to remain steadfast with the Lord even if the appeal to depart came from those in the closest possible relationship with them—brother, half-brother, son, daughter, beloved wife, or friend (v. 6). It wasn’t just a matter of not adopting the ways of the false worship of the people in the immediate vicinity; but also those of people groups far away (v. 7).
B. If this were to happen, that close relation was to be put to death (v. 8). The one who heard the appeal to turn away was to be the first to put their hand to them for death; and then, the rest of the community was to join in (vv. 9-10). This was so that all would hear and fear to turn from god (v. 11). This illustrated the New Testament principle to love the Lord Jesus above all others in our lives (Luke 14:25-33).
III. EVEN IF IT COMES FROM A PART OF THE COMMUNITY (vv. 12-18).
A. The people were to remain faithful even to the cost of one portion of their community. If it turned out that "corrupt men" (literally "sons of Balial") were to go out from among them, and entice the inhabitants of one of their cities to turn away from the Lord (vv. 12-13), then they were to investigate the matter to see if this truly happened (v. 14). And if it did, then they were to utterly destroy that community (vv. 15-17a). This occurred in the history of Israel. In the days of Joshuah, the three north eastern tribes built an altar that the other tribes thought was a rebellion against the Lord; and an investigation revealed that it was not a rebellion at all (Joshua 22:10-34). But in the days of the judges, an entire tribe was nearly wiped out because of its rebellion against the Lord (Judges 19:1-20:48).
B. This strong stand against communal rebellion was necessary for the continued life and health of the whole community (vv. 17b-18). Such a rebellion was like a cancer that would destroy the rest of the nation. This illustrates Jesus principle that we must cut off from ourselves anything—even that which is most precious to us—if it were to cause us to stumble (Mark 9:42-48).
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As Christians who are called by God to live faithfully in the midst of an ungodly culture, we are not called upon to use the kind of measures that were appropriate for the nation of Israel. But we must take just as seriously any attempt to turn us away from a pure faithfulness to the Lord, and be just as determined to separate ourselves from any such efforts. As Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 5:6b-8; "Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth."