Deuteronomy 17

“When he is seated on his royal throne, he is to write a copy of this instruction for himself on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests. It is to remain with him, and he is to read from it all the days of his life, so that he may learn to fear the Lord his God, to observe all the words of this instruction, and to do these statutes. Then his heart will not be exalted above his countrymen, he will not turn from this command to the right or the left, and he and his sons will continue ruling many years over Israel.” Deuteronomy 17:18-20 (HCSB)

What kind of parent do you want to be? For many of you, your response to that question is probably, “Dude, I’m just out of high school!”

Perhaps that question means nothing to you, but it should, inasmuch as 7th-grade algebra winds up meaning a whole lot to a rocket scientist. If you never dreamt of being a rocket scientist as a youth, you’ll never be faithful to travel the adult path that leads to NASA.

Likewise, if you want to be considered a patriarch when you’re old and want to see holiness passed down throughout your generations, you have to be diligent to seek the Lord today.

The Lord commanded Israel’s kings to write their own copy of the Torah, by their own hand, under the supervision and scrutiny of the Levites.

Recent scientific studies have discovered people remember roughly 25% of what they hear, 50% of what they see and hear, and 75% of what they interact with. Of course, God has known that all along! That is one of the reasons why the Lord wanted His kings to not simply read the Bible or have it recited (to them) by experts. He wanted them to interact with it unceasingly as if it came from their own hand & heart.

As co-inheritors with Messiah, we must train ourselves, as any royal should. We should take upon ourselves the spiritual posture that understands we might be called to “assume the throne” at any moment. We’ll never solely rule “The Kingdom,” but God will give positions of authority in it for those who prove diligent.

Sadly, most Christians will never read the Bible, much less HANDWRITE their own copy! I hope this passage acts as a challenge for us to go deeper into God’s word.

Let’s encourage one another to know God’s Word and to live up to the character of the Name we have inherited!