“When you come to the land that the Lord your God is giving you, and you possess it and dwell in it and then say, ‘I will set a king over me, like all the nations around me,’ you may indeed set a king over you whom the Lord your God will choose. One from among your brothers you shall set as king over you. You may not put a foreigner over you, who is not your brother. Only he must not acquire many horses for himself or cause the people to return to Egypt to acquire many horses, since the Lord has said to you, ‘You shall never return that way again.’ And he shall not acquire many wives for himself, lest his heart turn away, nor shall he acquire for himself excessive silver and gold.
“And when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself in a book a copy of this law, approved by the Levitical priests. And it shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God by keeping all the words of this law and these statutes, and doing them, that his heart may not be lifted up above his brothers, and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, either to the right hand or to the left, so that he may continue long in his kingdom, he and his children, in Israel.” Deuteronomy 17:14-20
Establishing Israel had much to do with establishing her leaders and their hearts. Immersed in the wicked nations around them, they would turn away; steeped in the words of their God, they would continue long in His kingdom and favor. They’d been supernaturally delivered from Egypt and all it represented by slavery and false gods, unto freedom under the true God and the blessings of His covenant. They must take care not to be enticed by idols and return. (Deuteronomy 18:9-14)
The safeguard? Staying in the word! Soaking in truth, God’s good guidelines, warnings, and promises. Let them permeate thinking and desire. Let them be a tether to impulse and instruction to curiousity. The world is full of devious seductions and deceptive distractions and there is nothing as potent as truth to combat falsehood. It gives clarity, wisdom, and fortitude. (2 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 4:12)
Are we reading God’s word every day of our lives? What difference is it making in outlook, passions, and behavior? What excuses do we make for using our time otherwise, for prioritizing activity over attention? How committed are we to long obedience?
“How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
is laid for your faith in God’s excellent Word!
What more can be said than to you God hath said,
to you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?
“Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,
for I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.
“The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to its foes;
that soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no, never, no, never forsake.” ~George Keith (1787)
Lord, keep Your word and glory my chief delight.
As the rain and snow 