Deuteronomy – Confident.Faith

Deuteronomy 20–22

Rules for Warfare; Command to Genocide Canaanites; Law for Homicides; Rules for Captive Women; Right of the Firstborn; Law for the Hanged Man; Laws for Found Property; Law of the Distinction of the Sexes; Laws of Virginity and Sexual Relationships and Crimes

Deuteronomy 17–19

Punishment for Idolators; Provision for a King; Rules for the Levites; Prophets and False Prophets; Cities of Refuge; Borders; Lex Talionis

Deuteronomy 14–16

Dietary Laws; Tithes; Jubilee; Rules for Slaves; Sacrifices of Firstborn; Feasts; Worship Restrictions

Deuteronomy 08–10

Blessings for Obedience; Curses for Disobedience; Recounting Israel’s Disobedience and Wickedness

Deuteronomy 05–07

The Ten Commandments; the Greatest Commandment; Warnings about Disobedience; Command to Exterminate the Canaanites

Deuteronomy 03–04

Destruction of Og; Warnings against Idolatry; Cities of Refuge

Numbers 36 — Deuteronomy 02

Laws for Inheritance; Recounting of Wandering in the Wilderness; Lands Allotted to Israel’s Cousins; Destruction of Sihon

Today we celebrate the Feast of All Souls’ Day. All Souls’ Day is the first of two days in the season of Allhallowtide (which began yesterday on Halloween). Where All Saints’ Day is a joyous celebration of the resurrection of all who believe in Christ, All Souls’ Day is a somber contemplation of sin and mortality. The Festival of All Souls’ Day is rightly observed with fasting and prayer, both as individual Christians and as Christian nations.

Today we celebrate the festival of Reformation Day and the beginning of the three-day season of Allhallowtide (also known as Halloween). On 31 October 1517, an Augustinian monk nailed ninety-five theses, points for discussion, to the door of Castle Church in Wittenberg. Dr. Martin Luther did not, at the time, intend a break with the Roman church; rather, he sought only to address a number of pressing matters, among them indulgences. Rome, however, wanted nothing of Luther’s suggested discussion, and would eventually excommunicate him, declare him a heretic, and seek his death. Refusing to compromise on the rediscovered Gospel, Luther would go on to translate the New Testament, publish numerous works, and, above all, spark a Reformation that would see the restoration of Christ’s Church, over and against the heresies of Rome. We celebrate Reformation Day in remembrance of God’s great mercy and His steadfast love, of His work through Martin Luther that rescued the Gospel, enabling us to stand and, with Luther, declare of the Truth:

“Hier stehe ich — ich kann nicht anders. Gott helfe mir. Amen.”

Or, in English:

“Here I stand — I cannot do otherwise. God help me. Amen.”