Under our discussion of the fifth commandment, we have been dealing with broader questions of authority, with an emphasis on “secular” authority. In this portion, we come to questions of religious authority, both legitimate and illegitimate. “The priests the Levites, and all the tribe of Levi, shall have no part nor inheritance with Israel . . .” (Deuteronomy 18:1-22).
As we have seen elsewhere, the Levites do not have a separate tribal inheritance of their own. The Lord is their inheritance (vv. 1-8). They are to be supplied so that they may conduct their appointed ministry. A religious authoritative word which is to be rejected is every form of witchcraft (vv. 9-14). Instead of mediums and such, the people shall listen to Jesus Christ when He comes, and to His voice in His faithful servants before He comes (vv. 15-22).
The Levites were to be the teaching class. The Levites in Israel’s midst were not landed (vv. 1-2), which had economic and political ramifications. But if the people were obedient, this would not impoverish them (vv. 3-4). The Lord has called the Levite to ministry in the name of the Lord (v. 5). If the Levite desired, this could include going to Jerusalem to minister there (vv. 6-8). While this ministry in Jerusalem was available, there was plenty for the Levites to do within their own towns. They were appointed as ministers throughout all Israel (Lev. 10:11; Dt. 10:8; 33:10; 1 Chron. 25:1-8; 2 Chron. 15:3; 17:8; 35:3; Neh. 8:7-9). Their work included giving benedictions, teaching the law, teaching music, scholarship, and related duties.
But in this situation there is another competing authority, an abominable one. Israel was not to do what the surrounding nations did for instruction and direction (v. 9). First, they were to abhor child sacrifice (v. 10). But thrown into the same list of things which were loathsome to God were: divination (magically determining a course of action), observing times (through planets, clouds, birds, etc.), enchantments (fortune-telling), witchcraft (sorcery), charming (incantations or spells), trafficking with familiar spirits (being a medium), a wizard (a cunning sage), or a necromancer (one who calls upon the dead). Obviously, in all these practices there will be overlap between them, and God tells his people to stay far away from anything like this kind of thing. The pagan nations act like this, and God despises it.
But remember, even here, that we are not to use verses like this as though they were simple little biscuit cutters. There are some practices which modern Christians might look at sideways which are nevertheless biblically innocent (Gen. 44:5; Prov. 16:10; Dan. 2:2,13,18).
We are taught in the New Testament that this passage in Deuteronomy is about Jesus Christ (Acts 3:22-26). As Christians, this means that we must follow this understanding obediently. God will raise up a Prophet who must be heeded (v. 15). This is in fulfillment of the people’s request for a mediator at Horeb (v. 16). Moses was given to them at the time, which means that he was a type of Christ. The request for a mediator was good (v. 17), and so God promised to send His Son the Prophet (v. 18).
This means that the lesser prophets spoken of in Dt. 18 were prophets to the extent that they spoke as the Spirit of Christ within them spoke (1 Pet. 1:11) If Jesus Christ was not speaking through them, then they were frauds, and were to pay the penalty (v. 20). The spirit of prophecy is the testimony of Jesus (Rev. 19:10).
Jesus Christ must be obeyed when He speaks (v. 19). God will require it of the disobedient. But how shall we know if this is the case? We have two tests in Deuteronomy. One is here—the word spoken must come to pass (vv. 21-22). But recall the other test—the word must be spoken in the name of the true God (Dt. 13:1-5).
What are some points of application? First, Christians are students—this is seen in the name for us in the New Testament, which is disciples. Study, learn, make your head hurt. But take special care to rejoice in it. This means rejoicing in the changes brought by growth, which is not the same thing as changing for the sake of mere change. Second, get wisdom about witchcraft—put simply, we must learn the difference between Gandalf and a lawless occultist. This really should not be that hard. And third, love wisdom—the prophets and priests of the Old Testament spoke of Jesus Christ, because He was speaking through them. Similarly, the preachers of the New Testament who preach Jesus Christ are not just preaching some propositions. They are talking about Him.