Week 48: Cursed on a Tree

This week's reading plan is as follows:

* Sunday (epistles): 1 John 1-3
* Monday (the Law): Deuteronomy 20-22
* Tuesday (history): Nehemiah 1-4
* Wednesday (psalms): Psalms 137-139
* Thursday (poetry): Ecclesiastes 11-12
* Friday (prophecy): Malachi
* Saturday (gospels): Acts 19-20

So many good passages this week! The book of 1 John is all about loving each other and walking in the light. Not just talk the talk, but walk the walk by forgiving one another and loving one another. The book of Nehemiah is very actual. There are so many passages that deal with real-life situations and give practical advice. I love the little 'silent prayers' that Nehemiah send up to God, like Neh. 2:4 or 4:4.

Malachi is the last of the 'minor prophets' and officially closes out the Old Testament. There's a great chapter on 'tithing', and the blessing it holds for honoring God with the first fruits of your income.

Our SOAP this week, however, will be from the book of Deuteronomy:

Scripture
Deuteronomy 21:22-23 "If someone has committed a crime worthy of death and is executed and then hanged on a tree, the body must never remain on the tree overnight. You must bury the body that same day, for anyone hanging on a tree is cursed of God. Do not defile the land the LORD your God is giving you as a special possession."

Observation
Moses gives instructions here for criminals who have committed a severe crime that deserved death by hanging on a tree. The header above these verses in my Bible says "Various Regulations", and it almost seems like these two verses are somewhat lost in the entire chapter. Yet, when you give these verses a second thought, you might make a link to Jesus.

The first time I came across these verses was on Easter several years ago, when we read through the Bible with a number of people starting on 3p.m. on Good Friday, all the way through 6a.m. Easter Sunday. We rotated new people in every hour. I sat in a group of 3 guys during the last hour on Easter Sunday, as we closed our time. We had read through the entire New Testament, and we had started in the books of Moses with Genesis. Without planning this, our last chapter was this chapter of Deuteronomy, and the above verses were our last verses. This was truly amazing... The entire reading event was done to honor our Lord Jesus on Easter, and to end on these verses was just incredible!

These verses tell us that someone hanging from a tree is cursed of God. Jesus, hanging on a tree, was cursed of God. This is symbolized in the fact that the person hanging on the tree is 'lifted' above the earth, which basically says... you are not good enough for this earth nor good enough for heaven. You are hanging between heaven and earth.

Application
Verse 22 starts with... If someone has committed a crime worthy of death... Jesus did not commit any crime, yet he was found worthy of death. He took the punishment for us. He took the curse for us, as it says... someone hanging on a tree is cursed of God. This seems to be the only punishment in the Bible that is mentioned as a curse of God. That is why Jesus had to die this way. He had to take the curse upon him, so we could be free from that curse, and have eternal life with him. There's a lot more to say about this, but the book of 1 John is full of that message, so take some time to read that this week.

Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for your incredible love for us, that you sent your one and only son to die for us on a tree. He took the curse for us, and we cannot thank you enough. Thank you Lord Jesus for taking that penalty. We are eternally grateful and want to live our life for you Lord. In your name we pray. Amen.

Have a great week, and in preparation for Christmas, reflect on what Jesus has done for you, on that tree, 2000 years ago.

In Him,

Dick