Deuteronomy
chapter 18 reminds us again of the unique inheritance of the Levites
and warns against listening to false prophets. The chapter begins,
“The
whole tribe of Levi are to have no allotment (of
land)…
they shall live on the offerings made to the Lord by fire… the Lord
is their inheritance, as He promised them“.
As the nation of Israel took possession of the Promised Land, the
tribe of Levi was not given any portion. They were not to be
distracted from the responsibility of ministering to God and His
people. Instead, they were given a portion of the offerings: “The
shoulder, the jowls and the inner parts. You are to give them the
first fruits of your grain, new wine and oil and wool, for the Lord
has chosen them to minister“.
It is important to remember our responsibility to support our
Pastors and ministers as well. It also reminds us that as believers,
we are “a
royal priesthood“,
and we have a responsibility to spiritually guard our homes seven
days a week, not just on Sunday.
The
chapter next discusses “detestable
practices”
and warns the nation not to imitate the practices of those that
worship false gods. “Let
no one be found among you that 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 spiritualist,
or who consults the dead“.
There is no ambiguity here. This is not a harmless exercise; this
is spiritual warfare. Satan uses all means to deceive those that are
spiritually searching. As always, he mixes some truth with a lie
with the sole purpose of turning people away from the one true God.
Jesus said, “The
thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they
may have life, and have it to the full”
(John 10:10). As believers we must be vigilant not to open the
gateway to the demonic.
The
chapter ends with a discussion on true prophets. Before we had God’s
written Word, God promised the people at Mount Sinai, “I
will raise up for you a Prophet… I will put My words in His mouth
and He will do everything I command Him“.
The chapter gives two simple tests to identify a false prophet. “A
prophet that speaks in the name of any other god must be put to
death”
and, “If
what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place
or come true… that prophet has spoken presumptuously“.
If someone claims to be a prophet of God, he must be 100% accurate,
or he is a false prophet and all of his message must be disregarded.
Today we have a third way to verify a prophet. If what they claim is
not in accordance with God’s written Word, it is not trustworthy.
All of the cults “add to” the finished Word of God. In the last
section of the last book of the Bible the apostle John seals God’s
Word as complete. He declares anyone that takes away from or adds to
this book of prophecy, “God
will take away from him his share in the tree of life“.
Beware of any teacher that “teaches” from anything other than
the Bible. Jesus prayed for His disciples, “Sanctify
them by the truth; Your Word is truth“.
May the truth of God’s unconditional love for you lift you up
today.