Be the King you'd want to have.

 Welcome to the Daily Bible Chapter. My name is James Leroy Wilson and I invite you to join me as I attempt to read the Bible with fresh eyes, as if I don’t know anything about it, and without consulting experts on what it “really” means.. Let’s see where this takes us!

Deuteronomy 17

I’m reading Young’s Literal Translation (YLT) and the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV).

Verse 1: A defective gift is not a gift. A blemished offering is no offering at all.

Verses 2–7: I think this goes back to my running theme. Israel descended from Shem, representing the Spirit. Canaan descends from Ham, representing the Flesh. The Flesh believes external things are the source of abundance and therefore are worthy of worship.

Such thoughts must not be tolerated. Interpreting the Bible as allegorical, the “man” or “woman” within you who would worship external things must be eliminated. Do not be like the Canaanite, for you are an Israelite, descended from spirit.

Verses 8–13: If the “judge” and Levitical priests are viewed as representing the LORD God, the highest Self, I see a parallel with meditation or “sleeping on” a problem or conflict in one’s life. If a “common sense” solution isn’t obvious, “go up to the place [in your consciousness] that the Lord your God will choose.”

That is, become detached from the situation, as a judge or priest would be. Then, when a solution comes to you, don’t second-guess. Carry it out.

Verses 14–20: I did not remember that the Lord granted the possibility of a king over Israel in the early books of the Bible.. What is this king to do? Acquire wealth? Return the nation back to Egypt (return them to slavery)?

No, the King is to meditate on the law.

As we “govern” ourselves individually, aren’t we to do the same? Are we to obsess over wealth or fall into slavery (such as debt slavery?) Are we to compromise justice for our own self-interests? Or are we to “meditate” on the law and continue to show impartiality and be just toward all?

The King the Lord requires is the kind of person you ought to be.

James Leroy Wilson writes Daily Miracles, The Daily Bible Chapter, JL Cells, and The MVP Chase. Thanks for your subscriptions and support!

(Photo credit: TyshkunVictor)