Day in Deuteronomy

This is the continuation of a study on the word "day" in the Pentateuch. For introductory remarks please refer to the initial post on Genesis.

I have divided these up into four (there is an extra one for Deuteronomy) categories: All the uses of day with a number, all the uses of "this day," all the uses of day which in context mean a typical day, and any uses of day which could mean a long period of time.  

One additional note on Deuteronomy. The ESV translates the word “yom” as “today” 58 times in Deuteronomy. So you can add to this list 58 other places in Deuteronomy where the word “yom” means a typical, 24 hour day.  Where the ESV has “today” the KJV often has “this day” or “that day” or just “day.”

Uses of Day with the Number (1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, etc.)

(Deu 1:3)  In the fortieth year, on the first day of the eleventh month, Moses spoke to the people of Israel according to all that the LORD had given him in commandment to them,

(Deu 5:14)  but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter or your male servant or your female servant, or your ox or your donkey or any of your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates, that your male servant and your female servant may rest as well as you.

(Deu 16:3)  You shall eat no leavened bread with it. Seven days you shall eat it with unleavened bread, the bread of affliction—for you came out of the land of Egypt in haste—that all the days of your life you may remember the day when you came out of the land of Egypt.

(Deu 16:4)  No leaven shall be seen with you in all your territory for seven days, nor shall any of the flesh that you sacrifice on the evening of the first day remain all night until morning.

(Deu 16:8)  For six days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there shall be a solemn assembly to the LORD your God. You shall do no work on it.

Use of “This Day” in Deuteronomy

I have decided to create a category I did not have for the other books of Moses. The frequent use of this phrase stuck out to me as I studied.  “This day” in Deuteronomy can refer to different days, but it always refers to a specific point in time, not to a long period of time.

(Deu 2:22)  as he did for the people of Esau, who live in Seir, when he destroyed the Horites before them and they dispossessed them and settled in their place even to this day.

(Deu 2:25)  This day I will begin to put the dread and fear of you on the peoples who are under the whole heaven, who shall hear the report of you and shall tremble and be in anguish because of you.'

(Deu 2:30)  But Sihon the king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him, for the LORD your God hardened his spirit and made his heart obstinate, that he might give him into your hand, as he is this day.

(Deu 3:14)  Jair the Manassite took all the region of Argob, that is, Bashan, as far as the border of the Geshurites and the Maacathites, and called the villages after his own name, Havvoth-jair, as it is to this day.)

(Deu 4:20)  But the LORD has taken you and brought you out of the iron furnace, out of Egypt, to be a people of his own inheritance, as you are this day.

(Deu 4:38)  driving out before you nations greater and mightier than you, to bring you in, to give you their land for an inheritance, as it is this day,

(Deu 5:24)  And you said, 'Behold, the LORD our God has shown us his glory and greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire. This day we have seen God speak with man, and man still live.

Mt. Sinai and Mt. Zion

We often think about the differences between Mt. Sinai and our current worship. Hebrews 12:18-29 points out many of these differences. But how is the assembly at Mt. Sinai like our Lord’s Day worship services where we go up to Mt. Zion? Christopher Ash mentions four ways as he compares Exodus 19 to Hebrews 12. On the Lord’s Day

- We still assemble together.  

- We still assemble in the presence of God. (Hebrews 12:23)

- The God in whose presence we assemble is still a consuming fire. (Hebrews 12:29)

- We still assemble to hear God’s Word. (Hebrews 12:25)

Biblical Justice Primer: Bearing False Witness

I have already discussed the need for Biblical law and Biblical judges. Now I want to turn to some specific changes that should be made to the American judicial system based on the Scriptures. The first change may seem odd, but I think it is essential.

Listen to the words of Deuteronomy 19:18-20
"And the judges shall make careful inquiry, and indeed, if the witness is a false witness, who has testified falsely against his brother, then you shall do to him as he thought to have done to his brother; so you shall put away the evil from among you. And those who remain shall hear and fear, and hereafter they shall not again commit such evil among you."

One problem with the American justice system is the failure to punish false witnesses. I would put those who bring frivolous lawsuits in the category of false witness. A man can bring a charge, ruin someone's reputation, spend thousands of dollars of taxpayer money, and get away free, even if he loses the case and is shown to have lied. I know their are perjury laws, but these do not compare with the Scriptures required punishment for  bearing false witness. The Scriptures place bearing false witness on par with adultery and idol worship. It is not a minor issue to lie about someone's character or about what they did. Therefore if a case is brought and someone is found to be lying or purposely trying to destroy a company or individually by deceit then whatever they wanted to happen to that company or person should happen to them.

Adopting this policy would do two things. First, it would greatly reduce someone's desire to bring frivolous lawsuits or to press charges when they are unsure of the other person's guilt. You are not going to testify against someone unless you are sure of what you are saying.  Two, it would give innocent defendant greater confidence that they will hear a not guilty verdict. When the incentive to lie is taken away the innocent are usually set free.

Gathering Our Wits

"It is intolerable presumption for us to put our trust in creatures and to ground ourselves upon them, and yet there is no fault more common in all the world.  We can say well enough that it is not lawful, and that we ought not to do it, but meanwhile everyone does it.  Now, let us remember ourselves, for there is nothing that God holds more dear or whereof he makes greater account than His honor.  Neither is it sufficient for us to leave Him the mere title and name of God. He must be known as He is; that is to say, that all power lies in Him; that He is the fountain of all manner of grace and goodness; that it is His proper office to maintain and preserve us; that our life is in His hand along with all things that pertain thereto.  When we have thought well upon this, let us take order to gather our wits about us, so that we are not grounded upon creatures." (John Calvin, Sermon on Deuteronomy 28:49-58)

Witnesses to Grace, Heralds of Damnation

"And indeed, does it lie within us [preachers] to promise men life everlasting or to denouce against them the vengeance of God? And yet we do it nevertheless, but we go no further than the Word of God, as it is put into our mouths. We have His testimony that we are his witness and heralds. By His "witnessess" I mean we assure the faithful of the grace and salvation promised to them and as His "heralds" we pronounce and publish His sentence against all the unbelieving and against all rebels." (John Calvin, Sermon on Deuteronomy 28:1-2)

Not Just Us, But Our Works are Accepted

"It is true that we have not fulfilled all the law, but yet God records it in His accounts as if all had been performed because we are made clean by the blood of Jesus Christ. And just as we are cleansed, so are our works also, and when they come before God, He accepts them as though they were thoroughly good, righteous, and perfect. (John Calvin, Sermon on Deuteronomy 28:1-2)

Calvin Had 21st Century America in Mind

"I told you at that place [a sermon on Deuteronomy 19:14] that if a man's lands are not kept secure, no man will be master of his own possessions, but all will go to spoil and chaos. And surely the maintenance of just weights and measures, of lawful money, and keeping boundaries unchanged, are things that are universally acknowledged. How can men buy and sell, or engage in any trade at all if the coin is not lawful? Again, if weights and measures are falsified, we shall be cheated. What purpose will justice serve any more? And we can say the same for boundaries and landmarks. So then, under this saying [Deuteronomy 27:17] God intended to show that it was necessary for us to observe equity and uprightness in dealing one with another." (John Calvin, Sermon on Deuteronomy)

No Addition or Subtraction

"We must also note that God will not be served or worshipped after our fancies, but He will have us to walk according to His Word, without adding anything thereto or taking away anything therefrom, so that all the inventions of men are equivalent to so many idols. (John Calvin, Sermons on Deuteronomy)

The God Who Spares Us

"And above all let us be mindful of this general promise: that God calls us to Himself as His children; that He spares us and bears with us, and does not enter into an extremity of rigor wiht us; and that even though there are many faults in our works, He accepts them; that if we offend we always find pardon at His hand; that when we swerve aside He brings us back onto the way; and that none of our faults is imputed to us." (John Calvin, Sermon on Deuteronomy 27:11-15)

We Do Not Labor in Vain

"The prophet Isaiah would have us to fight against this temptation. [To believe that there is no reward for the righteous.] Even though the whole world should laugh the godly to scorn, and the wicked triumph over them, yet for all that he faithful should not be astonished, but say to themselves, "No, no, the righteous man shall not lose his labor; he shall not be deceived of his expectation when he depends wholly upon the promises of God." (John Calvin, Sermon on Deuteronomy 27:11-15)

Tearing the Body of Christ into Pieces

"Concerning the outward order of things, [worship and preaching] we know that our Lord Jesus Christ would have men to assemble themselves together. I grant we are not bound all to be in one place, and men also preach in various churches in one town. Why? Because the whole world cannot be present to hear one sermon. Yet for all that, because of our slowness we are so bound that we must gather ourselves together in the name of God. He who wants to stay at home, despising the common order, and says, 'I can read at home and edify myself sufficiently there,' that man breaks asunder the unity of the faith and tears in pieces the body of our Lord Jesus Christ, with all his strength." (John Calvin, Sermon on Deuteronomy 27:1-10)

Pastors' Words or God's Words

"Pastors are not appointed to set forth whatsoever doctrine seems good to themselves, or to bring men's souls into subjection and bondage to them, or to make laws and articles of faith at their own pleasure; but rather only to bring about the rule of God that His Word may be hearkened to." (John Calvin, Sermon on Deuteronomy 27:1-10)

Assembling Under the Word

"How is the covenant God to govern his people after the covenant mediator is dead, the one through whose ministry they have been redeemed? The covenant will continue as the covenant God assembles his covenant people under his preached covenant word. Deuteronomy is the mandate for the people of God to assemble under the preached word of God, or to be more accurate, the written word preached. This is why Deuteronomy is not really a law book, but a preaching book." (Christopher Ash, The Priority of Preaching, p. 23)