Look for Eternal Truth: Deuteronomy 20

Perspective makes all the difference.

When you read the Bible, what you are looking to find matters.
The Bible is not a just series of stories or separate books.
The Bible is God's revelation to us:
It was given to us so that we can know Him, have a relationship with Him and understand His deep love for us.
As we come to know Him we will see that obeying His ways will always be for our best.

His way is the only way we can be redeemed from our sinful condition and have a relationship with Him.

As we read difficult books, such as Leviticus or Deuteronomy it can be a struggle to know what to do with things like Middle Eastern warfare and ethics in our current time and place.

However, is understanding the culture of the time our goal? It may help in our understanding of what we read, but it should not be the goal when we go to God's word?

Is that what God is trying to show us?, OR is it our goal to know God more, and see the over arching picture of his relationship to the people and his plan to redeem us?
When reading and studying the Bible We need to seek God and see how He is interacting with the culture of that time. This is how we get to know Him. Then we look for the eternal truths that He shares with those in the passage, as well as with us.

There are many great books written on how to study the Bible. Kay Arthur has many to choose from. A book I love on the subject is How to Read the Bible for all its worth, by Gordon Fee

As I study  Deuteronomy 20, here is how I approach it.

Who are the people this passage is written to? Israel
What culture and time is this? Middle East 1405 BC, the roaming nation of Israel.
Who is the author? Moses speaking to the Israelites
What are the circumstances? Israel is being instructed and encourage before they enter and conquer Canaan.

Then I look for repeated words, topics or names. In this passage I found God and War.

Then I search for eternal truths that can be found. These are truths that hold true throughout the entire Bible.
Here is what I found in Deuteronomy 20.

Verse 1-Don't look at horses and chariots and be afraid. Those things do not determine the outcome for you. I am your God! put your trust in me and don't fear.

Trust God in all circumstances (think of Peter walking on the water)

Verses 2-4
Choose who you spend time with wisely they will effect how you think

Verses 10-15
Make peace with an enemy if you can fighting should never be your first choice.



Verses 16-8
You will be effected by those around you even if you don't want to be. Choose your company wisely.

Verses 19-20
Don't be wasteful

Hope Wirta

Read Deuteronomy 20:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+20&version=NIV