Dr. Willmouth writes, "These Outlines were prepared for our Sunday Evening Bible Study, as a 2 page handout (front & back), at Trinity Bible Church, Biloxi, Mississippi"

This is a fascinating section dealing with the Prophets of Israel, and the gift of Prophecy in general. The Jamieson - Faucett - Brown commentary states about the Prophets:

"The prophetic gift existed long before the prophetic office was instituted. Thus Enoch had the former (Jude 14); so Abraham is called a prophet (Ge 20:7) as are also the patriarchs (Ps 105:15). The office was first instituted under the Mosaic economy; but even then the gift was not always connected with the office; for example, Daniel was endowed largely with the gift, but was never called to the office, as living in a heathen court where he could not have exercised it. So David (Mt 13:35; 27:35). Hence the writings of both are classed with the Hagiographa, not with the prophets. Moreover, though the office ceased with the close of the Old Testament dispensation, the gift continued, and was among the leading charisms of the New Testament Church. "Prophet" (in Hebrew, from a root, "to gush out like a fountain") meant one acting as spokesman for another (Ex 7:1); so, one speaking authoritatively for God as interpreter of His will. "Seer" was the more ancient term (1Sa 9:9), implying that he spake by a divine communication presented either to his senses or his mind: as "prophet" indicated his authority as speaking for God."

This is a fascinating explanation of prophecy and the Prophets, but let's bring it down to where we are. The GIFT of Prophecy existed long before the OFFICE of the Prophet did. Jude tells us that Enoch, an ancient believer, prophesied:

Jude 1:14  "And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints"

Though he was never specifically called a "Prophet". 

King Saul and King David, at various times in their lives, exercised the Gift of prophecy, though they were not called to the OFFICE of Prophet:

1 Samuel 10:11  "And it came to pass, when all that knew him before time saw that, behold, he prophesied among the prophets, then the people said one to another, What is this that is come unto the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?"

The office of prophet was instituted in Deuteronomy 18:15-18 and it also anticipated the greater Prophet, Messiah, to whom the people would listen (Deut.18:18). Those who were called by God to fill the OFFICE of Prophet were called by the title, "Prophet", such as was the case with Moses:

Deuteronomy 34:10  "And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face"

And Samuel:

1 Samuel 3:20  "And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD."

And Gad:

1 Samuel 22:5  "And the prophet Gad said unto David, Abide not in the hold; depart, and get thee into the land of Judah. Then David departed, and came into the forest of Hareth."

And many others. You always knew a Prophet of God, for he was called by that title, Prophet. The Prophet of God was God's spokesman, telling Israel what God wanted them to know, redirecting Israel's attention to God their Creator and Savior. The Prophets were protected by God so they could do His work:

Psalms 105:15  "Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm."

And to kill or harm a Prophet (one who occupied the office of Prophet) was to bring God's displeasure and chastening.

In our focal passage God makes it plain that the operation of the supernatural or the miraculous by the Prophet did NOT necessarily mean that that Prophet was endorsed by God. This is a VERY important point. Look at our Deuteronomy passage again:

~ FOCAL ~ Deuteronomy 13:1-2a "If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, [2]  And the sign or the wonder come to pass ..."

Now, in our day and age there are a number of "Prophets" that you can see on television, even on the Christian television channels. Most people watch with rapt fascination while these people perform what seems to be the miraculous, and believe that BECAUSE they perform the miracle, then SURELY they must be from God. Yet God does not teach that the exercise of a miracle validates the ministry of the Prophet. No, but read this:

~ FOCAL ~ Deuteronomy 13:2b-3a "... whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; [3]  Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams ..."

Did you catch that? The true Prophet of God is not the one who does the miraculous, but the true Prophet of God is the one WHO POINTS TO THE TRUE GOD! If a Prophet comes who does a miracle, but does not point to the Creator God, the God who made and saved Israel, the God Who made and saved you and I who are of the Church, if that Prophet does not point to God then he is a false prophet! God says, "Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet". Turn away from them, move on ... turn off the television, do not be deceived. 

~ FOCAL ~ Deuteronomy 13:3b-5a "... for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. [4]  Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him. [5]  And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God ..."

The Prophet of God had a PRIMARY duty of BEING A SIGNPOST, or an ORACLE, or the MOUTHPIECE of God. The true Prophet was known for his work turned the believer's eyes back to God. That Prophet compromised NOTHING with the world, but encouraged the people to "walk after the LORD your God, and fear Him, and keep His commandments, and obey His voice, and ye shall serve Him, and cleave unto Him".

The Bible makes it plain that Satan, the anti-Christ, and the demonic forces, the fallen angels, can and do perform feats that appear to be miraculous. We are told:

2 Thessalonians 2:8-12 "And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: [9]  Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, [10]  And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. [11]  And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: [12]  That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness."

2 Corinthians 11:14-15 "And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. [15]  Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works."

How do we avoid the false Prophet? We avoid him by first seeing if his works direct the believer back to a right relationship with God. If not, if he preaches "another Gospel" than that one which God's Word clearly teaches, then avoid him. The Scripture says:

2 Corinthians 11:3-4 "But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. [4]  For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him."

2 Thessalonians 2:13-15 "But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: [14]  Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.  [15] Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle."

What was the Gospel that God gave Israel? He said, "Obey Me, Believe on Me, I will save you. Cross the Jordan, take the land, Love Me, Love your neighbor, keep My commandments, walk as I tell you to walk". What was the Gospel that Christ gave His Church Age believer? He said, "Obey Me, Believe on Me, I will save you. Though you are strangers and pilgrims in this land, you are to love Me, Love your neighbor, keep My commandments, walk as I tell you to walk". And for both Israel and the Church, is anyone, ANYONE leads you away from God or His Word, then you are to reject him as a false prophet.

Miracles come only by the Will of God if they are Godly miracles. They come with order, without confusion, and always come with the intent of pointing man to the Cross of Christ, to the True Savior. I sat and listened to a Christian woman tell me all about a preacher who, when he prayed and touched people, God allowed "gold dust" to fall from his hands. Let me ask you this, dear Christian - how does this point to the Cross of Christ? How does gold dust falling from someone's hands honor or glorify God? My first suggestion was, if this was true, did the woman take the gold dust and have it analyzed? Jesus walked the earth for three years loving and doing good, teaching the Kingdom way, and not once did gold dust ever fall from His hands. Our Jesus had not a pillow on which to lay His head, but went about as Messiah and Prophet pointing to our Father Who art in Heaven while being the very embodiment of the Love of God in the flesh. 

Some believed in Christ for the miracle's sake (John 2.23-24), but in the end, when He went to the Cross, all who had followed after Him deserted Him. Peter denied Jesus, cursing. The Apostles all hid themselves from the Roman Soldiers. Israel, following God out of Egypt, had a pillar of fire and of cloud to follow, a miracle to follow. Yet at the first provocation they cursed God, and longed for Egypt. You see, they saw the visible miracle, but never accepted that miracle into their hearts. 

A miracle is good, insofar as it goes, but God gave us something greater than any miracle. He gave us Jesus, bruised and torn, nailed to an old Tree for us. He gave us the resurrected Christ, proof that one day we shall also have a resurrected body. He gave us the Church, and gifts to exercise while within that Body, so we could love one another and provoke one another to good works for His glory. He gave us the miracle of the New Birth, and the Indwelling Holy Spirit. He gave us the miracle of the Word of God which, if you'd spend more time reading it and applying it to your life, you'd spend less time following after "gold dust".  God's Word is always miraculous. It has the power to heal a broken heart, to drive drink from the alcoholic, to make the child abuser a lover of God. He gave us a capacity to Love, the greatest miracle of all, embodied in the life of Jesus Christ. 

In our day and age "peer pressure" is the number one reason that people fall into the trap of sin. When I was young, about 11 years old, my friends all encouraged me to smoke cigarettes and drink alcohol, often calling me names when I refused to do so. When you're young peer pressure is so hard to reject - yet those who are your "friends", or even your "relatives", may not encourage you to do what is in your best interest. As a matter of fact, I've found that most people encourage others to "sin with them" so as to put a soothing salve on their own conscience. If "David" does it, then surely it's all right!

God made it clear to Israel, and to us, that we are not to follow peer pressure, ESPECIALLY when peer pressure leads the believer into an idolatrous relationship with a false god. If people use peer pressure to entice you to idolatry God made it clear that He expects YOUR walk with HIM to be more important than YOUR walk with THEM. What can the world give you, peer pressure give you, your friends and family give you that God cannot give. God calls us to be His friends and His companions, His children, our God. C.H. Spurgeon said:

"Art thou burdened with this day's sins? Here is a fountain filled with blood: use it, saint, use it. Has a sense of guilt returned upon thee? The pardoning grace of Jesus may be proved again and again. Come to Him at once for cleansing. Dost thou deplore thy weakness? He is thy strength: why not lean upon Him? Dost thou feel naked? Come hither, soul; put on the robe of Jesus' righteousness. Stand not looking at it, but wear it. Strip off thine own righteousness, and thine own fears too: put on the fair white linen, for it was meant to wear. Dost thou feel thyself sick? Pull the night-bell of prayer, and call up the Beloved Physician! He will give the cordial that will revive thee. Thou art poor, but then thou hast "a kinsman, a mighty man of wealth." What! wilt thou not go to Him, and ask Him to give thee of His abundance, when He has given thee this promise, that thou shalt be joint heir with Him, and has made over all that He is and all that He has to be thine? There is nothing Christ dislikes more than for His people to make a show-thing of Him, and not to use Him. He loves to be employed by us. The more burdens we put on His shoulders, the more precious will He be to us."

Why would Israel put off God to put on an idol because someone enticed them to it? To put on an idol when we have the riches of God is indeed sickness, and in Israel merited death. To put off Christ so as to put on an idol, this is insanity - and certainly something that no believer should ever fall willing victim to.

Just as Israel was warned to avoid idolatry by avoiding union with the unbelieving Canaanite, the Church Age believer is also warned to avoid unequally yoking him or herself with the unbeliever.

Matthew Henry says, "It is the policy of Satan to try to lead us to evil by those whom we love, whom we least suspect of any ill design, and whom we are desirous to please, and apt to conform to. The enticement here is supposed to come from a brother or child, who are near by nature; from a wife or friend, who are near by choice, and are to us as our souls. But it is our duty to prefer God and religion, before the nearest and dearest friends we have in the world. We must not, to please our friends, break God's law. Thou shalt not consent to him, nor go with him, not for company, or curiosity, not to gain his affections. It is a general rule, If sinners entice thee, consent thou not, Pr 1:10. And we must not hinder the course of God's justice. "

1. Permanent union to or with an unbeliever by a believer is forbidden:

2 Corinthians 6:14-18 "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? [15]  And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? [16] And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. [17]  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, [18] And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty."

2. Believers in Jesus should only marry believers: 

1 Corinthians 7:39  "The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord."

3. An unequal yoke causes marital problems that you may "have to live with":

1 Corinthians 7:12-13 "But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. [13]  And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him."

The Hebrew word for "cut" in verse 1 is gadad [gaw-dad'], which means "to penetrate with a knife, slash so as to disfigure or maim oneself". God has repeatedly warned Israel to avoid the idols and idolatry of the Canaanite people, to walk separately from them, to live their lives as a sanctified - set apart by God people. Now our Lord warns the Israelites not to follow the pagan traditions of the Canaanites ... and one of the chief pagan traditions amongst the idolaters was maiming yourself with a knife when a loved one died.

Leviticus 19:27-28 "Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard. [28] Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD."

Another pagan tradition was "shaving {qorchah [kor-khaw'], making bald} the head between the eyes", that is, shaving their foreheads bald as a sign of mourning.

Jeremiah 7:28-29 "But thou shalt say unto them, This is a nation that obeyeth not the voice of the LORD their God, nor receiveth correction: truth is perished, and is cut off from their mouth. [29] Cut off thine hair, O Jerusalem, and cast it away, and take up a lamentation on high places; for the LORD hath rejected and forsaken the generation of his wrath."

Let me hasten to add that this "cutting" and "shaving" was not entirely prohibited, but prohibited in the manner that the heathen idolaters used it. For instance, the male children of Israel were circumcised on the eighth day after being born as a sign that these were children under the Abrahamic Covenant:

Genesis 17:10-14 "This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised. [11] And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you. [12]  And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed. [13]  He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. [14]  And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant."

Also for instance, the leper in Israel, once cured of this terrible disease, shaved his head:

Leviticus 14:7-8 "And he shall sprinkle upon him that is to be cleansed from the leprosy seven times, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird loose into the open field. [8]  And he that is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes, and shave off all his hair, and wash himself in water, that he may be clean: and after that he shall come into the camp, and shall tarry abroad out of his tent seven days."

And the Israelite often shaved his head after completing a vow before the Lord. Circumcision and shaving the head were not prohibited, but only prohibited when DOING these things in MIMICRY of the idolater. The idolater made ghastly visible incisions on his face and arms when a loved one died to symbolize the HOPELESS GRIEF that he or she was going through because of this loss. The children of Israel were God's people, children of the Promise, children of Hope, children of our Lord God. They were to realize that there should never be a point in their lives where they were to yield to hopeless grief. This is far beneath the true estate of the believer. Our Lord Jesus said:

John 14:2-3 "In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. [3]  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."

No, believer, death is not an end for the Christian, but a new beginning, a new life. The unbeliever sees death as a cessation of all life. Yet those who are in Christ see death as an entrance into life eternal with our Lord Jesus Christ. 

What do we look for when we who have accepted Jesus Christ as Savior leave this life? Here is what God's Word promises us:

1. We are immediately PRESENT with the Lord. Paul wrote:

2 Corinthians 5:8  "We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord."

Death is not a terrifying end of all that we find familiar, but as we depart this life we are carried, without interruption, from the now and into the eternity ever to be with Jesus. 

2. As if this were not enough, we are given a NEW BEGINNING by our Lord Jesus Christ. John the Revelator wrote:

Revelation 21:4-6 "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. [5]  And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. [6]  And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely."

3. With our new beginning, we are given a completely undeserved and unearned INHERITANCE because of the love of Jesus at Calvary:

1 Peter 1:3-5 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, [4]  To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, [5]  Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."

This inheritance, unlike riches that are quickly spent, and beauty which quickly fades, is incorruptible, undefilable, precious - a life of joy without end in yonder Heaven.

4. We begin to enjoy the ETERNAL LIFE that Jesus promised those who believe on Him:

John 10:28-30 "And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. [29]  My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. [30]  I and my Father are one."

5. And we are given a NEW BODY, one devoid of that terrible Old Sin Nature, one that is flawless, like the one our Lord Jesus possesses:

Philippians 3:20-21 "For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ: [21]  Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself."

6. And we will be entirely ONE MIND with our Lord Jesus and with one another. There shall be no division, nor confusion, nor misunderstanding:

1 Corinthians 13:9-12 "For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. [10]  But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. [11]  When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. [12]  For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known."

The Israelite was not to emulate the heathen, the pagan without hope, when he grieved the loss of a loved one --- and neither should we. God is in control, and we are never afraid of what might come while we have our eyes on Jesus!

1. MORAL Code, which was shown in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20). The Moral Code told Israel how they should SPECIFICALLY treat one another and their Creator. Our Lord Jesus gave us the root meaning of the Moral Code when He said:

Matthew 22:37-40 "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. [38]  This is the first and great commandment. [39]  And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. [40]  On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."

2. SPIRITUAL Code, which dealt with the ordinances and sacrifices that Israel was commanded to follow. The Spiritual Code foretold of the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ:

Colossians 2:16-17 "Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holy day, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: [17]  Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ."

Hebrews 10:8-12 "Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; [9]  Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. [10]  By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. [11] And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: [12]  But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God"

3. And finally, the SOCIAL Code. The Social Code of the Law gave Israel rules on sanitation, diet, quaranteen, soil conservation, taxation, military service, etc. We are getting ready to study the SOCIAL Code of the Mosaic Law, "What the Israelite was allowed to eat".

FOCAL - Deuteronomy 14:3-6 "Thou shalt not eat any abominable thing. [4]  These are the beasts which ye shall eat: the ox, the sheep, and the goat, [5]  The hart, and the roebuck, and the fallow deer, and the wild goat, and the pygarg, and the wild ox, and the chamois. [6]  And every beast that parteth the hoof, and cleaveth the cleft into two claws, and cheweth the cud among the beasts, that ye shall eat."

God begins this section by telling the Israelite to avoid eating "any abominable", { tow`ebah [to-ay-baw'], that which is disgusting}. God called this people to be His, saved them from Egypt, and therefore wanted them to refuse to partake of certain foods because HE told them so. These animals were all "clean" and could be eaten (read Dr. Willmouth's List, above)

However, certain animals that "chewed the cud", were to be considered "unclean" { tame' [taw-may'], polluted, unclean}. God expected Israel to heed His words and know, in their heart of hearts, that He knew what was best for them. God never explains exactly why He set apart the animals as "clean" and "unclean", though we can speculate. 

Israel was a nomadic tribe, constantly moving in a harsh desert climate. Their environment and the requirements that God placed on them DEMANDED that they be properly fed. Certain foods metabolize in the human body much quicker than others, and certain foods lead to fat, high cholesterol, heart disease, and so on. God certainly knew what was best for His people to eat since He made them, and He demanded that they reject foods that were not healthy for them in their current situation. Furthermore, many of these animals were used in idolatrous rites or worshiped by the Gentile nations. Israel's diet served as a testimony of their relationship to the Lord in the presence of these nations. Matthew Henry states:

"Our heavenly Father forbids nothing but for our welfare. Do thyself no harm; do not ruin thy health, thy reputation, thy domestic comforts, thy peace of mind. Especially do not murder thy soul. Do not be the vile slave of thy appetites and passions. Do not render all around thee miserable, and thyself wretched; but aim at that which is most excellent and useful. The laws which regarded many sorts of flesh as unclean, were to keep them from mingling with their idolatrous neighbors. It is plain in the gospel, that these laws are now done away. But let us ask our own hearts, Are we of the children of the Lord our God? Are we separate from the ungodly world, in being set apart to God's glory, the purchase of Christ's blood? Are we subjects of the work of the Holy Ghost? Lord, teach us from these precepts how pure and holy all thy people ought to live!"

Or as the beloved John said,

1 John 3:1-3 "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. [2]  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. [3]  And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure."