📅 October 11, 2025

📚 BELIEVE HIS PROPHETS
📖 Daily Bible Reading

📜 Deuteronomy 25 – Justice, Responsibility, and Remembrance among God’s People
✨ How God brings order, protection, and truth into the daily life of His people

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📜 Bible Text – Deuteronomy 25 (KJV)

¹ If there be a controversy between men, and they come unto judgment, that the judges may judge them; then they shall justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked.

² And it shall be, if the wicked man be worthy to be beaten, that the judge shall cause him to lie down, and to be beaten before his face, according to his fault, by a certain number.

³ Forty stripes he may give him, and not exceed: lest, if he should exceed, and beat him above these with many stripes, then thy brother should seem vile unto thee.

⁴ Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn.

⁵ If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger: her husband’s brother shall go in unto her, and take her to him to wife, and perform the duty of an husband’s brother unto her.

⁶ And it shall be, that the firstborn which she beareth shall succeed in the name of his brother which is dead, that his name be not put out of Israel.

⁷ And if the man like not to take his brother’s wife, then let his brother’s wife go up to the gate unto the elders, and say, My husband’s brother refuseth to raise up unto his brother a name in Israel, he will not perform the duty of my husband’s brother.

⁸ Then the elders of his city shall call him, and speak unto him: and if he stand to it, and say, I like not to take her;

⁹ Then shall his brother’s wife come unto him in the presence of the elders, and loose his shoe from off his foot, and spit in his face, and shall answer and say, So shall it be done unto that man that will not build up his brother’s house.

¹⁰ And his name shall be called in Israel, The house of him that hath his shoe loosed.

¹¹ When men strive together one with another, and the wife of the one draweth near for to deliver her husband out of the hand of him that smiteth him, and putteth forth her hand, and taketh him by the secrets:

¹² Then thou shalt cut off her hand, thine eye shall not pity her.

¹³ Thou shalt not have in thy bag divers weights, a great and a small.

¹⁴ Thou shalt not have in thine house divers measures, a great and a small.

¹⁵ But thou shalt have a perfect and just weight, a perfect and just measure shalt thou have: that thy days may be lengthened in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

¹⁶ For all that do such things, and all that do unrighteously, are an abomination unto the Lord thy God.

¹⁷ Remember what Amalek did unto thee by the way, when ye were come forth out of Egypt;

¹⁸ How he met thee by the way, and smote the hindmost of thee, even all that were feeble behind thee, when thou wast faint and weary; and he feared not God.

¹⁹ Therefore it shall be, when the Lord thy God hath given thee rest from all thine enemies round about, in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance to possess it, that thou shalt blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven; thou shalt not forget it.

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🔵 Introduction

Deuteronomy 25 contains a series of diverse laws that regulate Israel’s social and religious life. They concern justice, family responsibility, fair dealings, and historical remembrance. Although varied in content, they share one purpose: justice, reverence for God, and respect for one’s fellow man.
Of special note are the laws of levirate marriage and the prohibition of false weights and measures—both expressions of divine care for family and social integrity.

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🟡 Commentary

1. Justice with Restraint (vv. 1–3)

Disputes are to be settled by proper judgment—God values order and fairness.
Even punishment must be measured: no more than forty stripes.
Justice, yes—but not cruelty or excess.

2. Respect for the Working Animal (v. 4)

“You shall not muzzle the ox while it treads out the grain.”
→ A small command with great meaning: respect even for those who serve.
→ In the New Testament, this is applied to preachers (1 Corinthians 9:9–10).

3. Levirate Marriage – Responsibility for the Family Legacy (vv. 5–10)

If a man dies childless, his brother must marry the widow to preserve the family name.
Refusal brings shame—symbolized by removing the sandal and spitting.
A symbolic reminder: family responsibility extends beyond death.

4. Limits in Self-Defense (vv. 11–12)

A harsh law, but intended to preserve dignity and purity—life and offspring are sacred.

5. Honest Weights and Measures (vv. 13–16)

God detests deceit—especially in daily business.
Integrity begins in small things: scales, measures, and accounts.
Justice must reign not only in courts, but in homes and markets.

6. The Amalekites – Memory and Justice (vv. 17–19)

Amalek attacked the weak and weary—God remembers injustice.
Israel must not forget; erasing Amalek’s name was a moral act, not revenge.

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🟢 Summary

This chapter shows how God shapes a just and responsible society through:

• Measured justice

• Protection of the weak

• Honest labor

• Family responsibility

• Integrity in trade

• Historical remembrance

In private, business, or community life, God’s standard remains: just, pure, merciful.

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📢 Message for Us Today

• God cares not only for our prayers but also for our everyday choices.
• Honesty in small things is true worship.
• We bear responsibility for others—especially in our families.
• God does not forget wrongdoing, yet He calls us to practice justice.
• The past must not be forgotten—it teaches truth, faithfulness, and justice.

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💡 Reflection Questions

• Where might I act with “two weights”—in judgment, forgiveness, or criticism?

• How do I handle my responsibilities in family or work—faithfully or conveniently?

• What does it mean for me to live out God’s justice today, even when no one is watching?

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📅 October 5–11, 2025

📚 BELIEVE HIS PROPHETS
📖 Weekly Reading from the Spirit of Prophecy

📘 Ellen White | Patriarchs and Prophets – Chapter 31
🔥 The Sin of Nadab and Abihu

🌐 Read online here

🔵 Introduction

The service of the sanctuary was no ordinary task. God Himself established every detail—from the sacrifices to the priestly duties.
The story of Nadab and Abihu, Aaron’s sons, dramatically shows what happens when God’s clear instructions are ignored—even with good intentions.
Their death was not only judgment, but a lasting warning to all who draw near to God.

Key Scriptures:

• Leviticus 10:1–3 – The sin of Nadab and Abihu
• 1 Peter 2:9 – “You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood…”
• 1 Corinthians 3:17 – “You are God’s temple.”
• Proverbs 14:12 – “There is a way that seems right to a man…”

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🟡 Commentary

1. The Call to Holy Service

After the dedication of the tabernacle, fire from heaven consumed the offering—a sign of divine approval.
Lesson: What God sanctifies must remain holy—without exception.

2. The Sin of Nadab and Abihu

Despite their high privilege, they disobeyed God by offering “strange fire.”
They acted willfully, not in obedience.
Likely influenced by wine and carelessness, they disregarded divine order.

3. The Seriousness of God’s Standard

No rank or relationship shields from consequence.
“I will be sanctified in those who draw near to Me.” (Leviticus 10:3)

4. Parental Responsibility

Aaron’s leniency and lack of discipline indirectly contributed to the tragedy.
Parents shape the spiritual lives of their children—love must be paired with accountability.

5. Warning Against Self-Deception

Spiritual privilege does not exempt from obedience.
Religious experience cannot replace daily faithfulness.

6. The Danger of Intoxication

Their minds were clouded—physically and spiritually.
Those who serve must remain clear-minded and pure (1 Corinthians 6:19–20).

7. The Spiritual Priesthood Today

As believers, we are all called to priestly service (1 Peter 2:9).
The same reverence and care for the holy still apply.

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🟢 Summary

1. Holiness is obedience, not emotion.

2. Self-willed service brings destruction.

3. Intoxication—by pride or indulgence—destroys discernment.

4. Parents bear sacred responsibility for their children’s faith.

5. God’s holiness demands respect for what He calls sacred.

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📢 Message for Us Today

God’s standard for us is not lower than for Nadab and Abihu—it is higher. Greater light brings greater responsibility. Yet He provides all grace needed to live in purity and obedience. Our service is holy—not mechanical. God calls us to reverence, sobriety, and dedication.

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💬 Reflection Question

“Do I live my faith with holy reverence—or with routine?
Where do I need greater spiritual clarity to distinguish between the holy and the common?”

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📅 October 5–11, 2025

📚 BELIEVE HIS PROPHETS
📖 Weekly Reading from the Spirit of Prophecy

📘 Ellen White | Patriarchs and Prophets – Chapter 32
🔥 The Law and the Covenants

🌐 Read online here

🔵 Introduction

Many Christians ask: Does God’s law still apply? Is the Old Testament outdated?
What role do the law, sacrifices, and covenants play in the plan of redemption?
This chapter provides a deep, biblical answer: God’s law is no relic—it is the foundation of His government, the expression of His love, and the mirror of His character.
The covenants with Adam, Abraham, Israel, and through Christ are stages of one continuous plan of salvation.

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🟡 Commentary

1. God’s Law: Unchanging Since Eden

Adam and Eve knew God’s law—it was written in their hearts.
After sin, the law remained; sacrifices pointed to the coming Redeemer.
The law revealed sin but was never its cause.
Key verse: Genesis 26:5 – Abraham obeyed God’s “commandments, statutes, and laws.”

2. Two Laws: Moral and Ceremonial

• Moral Law: The Ten Commandments—written by God’s own hand, eternal and universal.

• Ceremonial Law: Sacrificial and ritual ordinances—temporary, pointing to Christ.

Christ fulfilled, not abolished, the ceremonial symbols (Colossians 2:14).
Matthew 5:17–18 – “I came not to destroy, but to fulfill.”

3. Two Covenants: Old and New

• Old Covenant: Based on human promises—“All that the Lord has said we will do.”

• New Covenant: Based on divine grace—law written in the heart (Jeremiah 31:33).

The New Covenant does not abolish the law but enables obedience through transformation.
Romans 3:31 – “Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not!”

4. Christ – Center of Law and Covenant

Jesus, before His incarnation, was the Lawgiver at Sinai and the Redeemer of Israel.
In the New Testament, He reveals the same principles—lived in perfect love.
The gospel brings light to the same eternal truths.
2 Corinthians 5:19 – “God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself.”

5. Israel as Light to the Nations

God’s intent: a people reflecting His love through obedience.
Israel failed through pride and idolatry.
Today, God’s people are called to be that light (Matthew 5:14–16).

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🟢 Summary

• God’s law is eternal, holy, and unchangeable.

• The ceremonial law was temporary and fulfilled in Christ.

• The Old Covenant revealed the need for grace; the New Covenant writes the law on the heart.

• Christ is the center of all law and covenant.

• God’s people today are to embody His principles before the world.

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📢 Message for Us Today

God’s plan has never changed. His commandments are not a burden but a path of life. The New Covenant is not license for lawlessness but an invitation to inner renewal. In Christ, we are not lawless—but lawful, because His Spirit writes His law within us. The world needs people who live God’s will out of love, not duty. Obedience of faith is the mark of God’s true people.

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💬 Reflection Question

“Do I carry God’s law on tablets of stone—or in my heart?
Do I live by my own strength—or by the power of the New Covenant?”

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