(REFLECTIONS ON Deuteronomy 17:1-20)

Israel was to be one nation under God. That is to mean that as individuals, they were not to live two different lives depending on if they were at the temple or at home. As a nation, this meant that all their laws, how they functioned as a nation, and even how their king reigned, was to be one nation under God. There would be no separation of church and state, because they were not just a political state, but a covenant people—a nation defined by God’s calling, law, and presence.

As we read in today’s Scripture about violations to the Lord’s covenant, we see that idol worship would not be tolerated, legal decisions needed to be made within the context and order of what the Lord established through the priesthood and system of judges, and even the king should rule under God, not equivalent to or above God.

Regarding the kingship, today’s Scripture states,

18 When he takes the throne of his kingdom, he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law, taken from that of the Levitical priests. 19 It is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the Lord his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees 20 and not consider himself better than his fellow Israelites and turn from the law to the right or to the left. Then he and his descendants will reign a long time over his kingdom in Israel.

From the king, to the judges and priests, to the daily worship of the citizens of this covenant nation, they were all to be done as one nation under God. This reminds us of our own life and faith in the Lord as well. We also are to be one nation under God, even though sometimes we live multiple lives depending on if we are at church, the workplace, or home.

Our Christian life should be consistent throughout all areas of our lives, no matter the circumstances, environment, time or day of the week; all should be under God. We should be a people that worship and pray, not only in church on Sundays, not only at home, but even in our workplaces, schools, and even when we are out and about doing chores.

Will that create conflict with the world? Yes! But if we only act like a Christian when it is convenient, then isn’t that equivalent to moving God around, and even hiding Him, as we please? Perhaps the church has become so used to only “sometimes” being under God, that the idea of being one nation under God seems impractical or impossible.

Have we succumbed to the powers of this world, and become a people that are living more as one nation under the world instead of one nation under God?

Pastor Michael Lu
Enduring Word Bible Commentary: Deuteronomy 17