shalt thou give him
Deuteronomy 18:4
18:4 shalt thou give him. The same principle of support by the people of God for those who serve the Lord in a full time capacity has applied in every age. Note I Corinthians 9:7-14. “They which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.”
18:10 witch. The naturalistic assumptions that have prevailed in western nations during the age of science are rapidly being displaced by the revival of occultic practices in the so-called New Age movement. All such beliefs and practices, however, are demonic wherever they are not based solely on deception. God classifies such practices as abominations. They are so dangerous that they were actually classified in the Mosaic laws as capital crimes (e.g., Exodus 22:18).
18:18 a Prophet. This divine promise to Moses was eventually fulfilled in Christ (Acts 3:22,23). Christ was a greater prophet than Moses, is a greater priest than Aaron, and will be a greater king than David. He did indeed speak the words given Him by the Father. “As my Father hath taught me, I speak these things,” He said (John 8:28). “For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, He gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak” (John 12:49).
18:22 if the thing follow not. When a prophecy truly comes from God, it will surely come to pass. There are many so-called psychics today who predict many things, most of which never happen. These false prophets can be ignored. There are some, however, who seem really to have supernatural prescience. These also must be rejected unless they are meticulously true to Scripture, giving all honor to Christ as Creator, Savior and Lord (see note on Deuteronomy 13:3). In fact, the New Testament teaches that, “when that which is perfect is come” (probably meaning the completed Word of God in inscripturated form) then prophecies shall cease and “that which is in part shall be done away” (I Corinthians 13:8-10; see also Revelation 22:18).
19:2 three cities. On the cities of refuge, see also Numbers 35:9-15 and Deuteronomy 4:41-43. There were to be three cities on the east side of Jordan and three on the west side. The “three cities more” (Deuteronomy 19:9) were evidently to be added later, after further expansion of Israel’s territory, but no further mention is made of them.
