Deuteronomy : I took the leading men of your tribes, wise and respected men, and appointed them to have authority over you

Deuteronomy 1:1-18

In the fortieth year, on the first day of the eleventh month, Moses proclaimed to the Israelites all that the Lord had commanded him concerning them. This was after he had defeated Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon, and at Edrei had defeated Og king of Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth.

The Lord our God said to us at Horeb, “You have stayed long enough at this mountain. Break camp and advance into the hill country of the Amorites; go to all the neighboring peoples in the Arabah, in the mountains, in the western foothills, in the Negev and along the coast, to the land of the Canaanites and to Lebanon, as far as the great river, the Euphrates. See, I have given you this land. Go in and take possession of the land the Lord swore he would give to your fathers—to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob—and to their descendants after them.”

But how can I bear your problems and your burdens and your disputes all by myself? Choose some wise, understanding and respected men from each of your tribes, and I will set them over you.”

You answered me, “What you propose to do is good.

So I took the leading men of your tribes, wise and respected men, and appointed them to have authority over you—as commanders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens and as tribal officials. 

Do not show partiality in judging; hear both small and great alike. Do not be afraid of anyone, for judgment belongs to God. Bring me any case too hard for you, and I will hear it.” And at that time I told you everything you were to do.

Time and place are carefully specified. Forty years after the exodus from Egypt, at the end of the desert wanderings, in the plains of Moab east of the River Jordan. Moses gives God's message to Israel.

Moses recalls how he found relief from the solitary burden of leadership in delegating responsibility. The wise advice to do so came from his father-in-law, Jethro.

Why?

To be a leader, there are heavy burdens if all things he has to face.

Moses chose wise men from each tribe to their leader. The leader has the rule to the people: Do not show partiality in judging, hear both small and great alike. Do not be afraid of anyone, for judgment belongs to God.

To be a leader is to serve the people, listen to them, judge among them by the way of the Lord.

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重申律法一1)思想過去的恩典、處境。2)指出一條他們可以蒙福的道路。

以指派審判官來回應過去的事。不是用埃及、過紅海等。以選派官長，管理工作。那時管理百姓的責任擔當不起。被選派的人，必須有見識，智囊，行公義審判。有組織，有紀律！百姓不可隨心所欲的行為。

教會的規定，似乎神的律法的目的，讓我們專注在神，蒙福的路！不是一般為了方便管理。我們成為耶穌基督門徒，就要有耶穌門徒的樣式，紀律、規範，享受在主裏的自由。所以我們要在主的話語，規範中。

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How?

To be a good leader and servant in my position every day.