Contemplative Bible Reading

Deuteronomy 13:5 (New Living Translation)

The false prophets or visionaries who try to lead you astray must be put to death

God is instructing the people with regards to prophets or visionaries—literally persons who predicted the future and the future came true. These were persons who had words from God that were relayed to the people. These where not traveling charlatans or fakes.

Put them to death if they try to lead to people astray, that is lead them in the wrong direction.

Hmmm, we have to watch out for people who lead us the wrong way. Why, they may have our kids doing such-and-such and we’d have trouble right here (in River City).

No. God isn’t talking about liberal theology or fanatic theology or whatever we call something that isn’t what we’ve always done. This is not a license to kill those we find disagreeable.

The verses earlier, state what “leading astray” means. It is when they say,

‘Come, let us worship other gods.’

Oh, well, sure, we would uh not like fellas’ like that. And that is the end of this. Disagreeable? Live with it. Not liking the details? Live with it. And love at all times.