I.
This passage comes after a few remarks (18:8-14) from Moses about who the people are not to follow, listen to, and allow to influence their lives (such as a “soothsayer,” “sorcerer,” “diviners,” those “who seek oracles from the dead,” or those who practice child sacrifice).

In the passage for this week’s reflections we hear Moses offer the people some promises and some warnings.

II.
Deuteronomy 18:15-22

The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me [,Moses] from among your own people; you shall heed such a prophet. This is what you requested of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said: “If I hear the voice of the Lord my God any more, or ever again see this great fire, I will die.” Then the Lord replied to me: “They are right in what they have said. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their own people; I will put my words in the mouth of the prophet, who shall speak to them everything that I command. Anyone who does not heed the words that the prophet[e] shall speak in my name, I myself will hold accountable. But any prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, or who presumes to speak in my name a word that I have not commanded the prophet to speak—that prophet shall die.” You may say to yourself, “How can we recognize a word that the Lord has not spoken?” If a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord but the thing does not take place or prove true, it is a word that the Lord has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously; do not be frightened by it.

III.

What promises do you notice?

What warnings do you notice?

What promise stands out to you the most? Why does it hold your attention?

And what warning stands out to the most and why do you find it so?

Do the promises and warnings have a place in your life?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}