Deuteronomy 16 - 18

Kings ... And A True Prophet Is Promised
Note: Today we start week 8 in the spreadsheet.

Today's reading provides a prophetic instruction that will not be followed and a prophecy that has been fulfilled.

Nothing catches God by surprise. He is omniscient. In 17:14-17, instructions for appointing a king and for kingly behavior are presented.  Although Israel had not possessed the Promise Land or even crossed into it, the Lord presages this inevitability by providing clear criteria for selecting a king: He must be a "he;" He must be someone the Lord chooses (accepts); He must be an Israelite (no foreigners) (vs 15).

The rest of the instructions are for the king himself:

1. He cannot build up a large stable of horses for himself only. (vs 16)
2. He must not take horses from Egypt. (vs 16)
3. He must not take many wives. (vs 17)
4. He must not accumulate large amounts of wealth.  (vs 17)
5. He must copy these instructions on a scroll himself. (vs 18)
6. He must keep the copy with him. (vs 19)
7. He must read the instructions daily (vs 19)

I could find no instance in Scripture where any of Israel's kings followed instructions 5, 6, and 7. They may have, but I could find no record of it.  We know that David and Saul disobeyed the instructions concerning "many wives."  (If you know of a scripture showing obedience by one of the kings of Israel to these instructions please comment on this post or email me.)


In 18:15, a prophecy is made which is fulfilled, "The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your fellow Israelites.  You must listen to him."  The prophecy was fulfilled by Jesus, however the admonition to "listen to him" was rejected by the Jews at His first coming, but will be obeyed and fulfilled when He returns to them and reveals Himself after His second coming.  Lord, come quickly.