Deuteronomy 17 · Grade 4
A King Under God's Law
Read and Think
Deuteronomy 17 begins with worship and justice. Offerings must be without blemish, because God deserves our best. In serious cases, no one could be condemned on the word of only one witness; two or three were required. This rule protected people from false accusation, and Jesus and Paul both used it (Matthew 18:16; 2 Corinthians 13:1).
Hard cases were brought to the Levitical priests and the judge at God's chosen place. Their decision was final, for they ruled by God's law.
Most striking is the law of the king. Israel's king must be chosen by God and must not trust in horses, many wives, or wealth. He must write his own copy of the law and read it daily. In Israel, the king was not above God's law but under it. Solomon later broke these rules, and his heart turned away.
Show What You Know
Why did the witness rule matter?
Who decided hard cases?
What three things must the king not trust in?
Which king later broke these rules?
Word Bank Fill-In
Use the word bank to fill in each blank.
- Offerings must be without blemish, because deserves our best.
- Most striking is the law of the .
- He must write his own of the law and read it daily.
Think About It
Why is it important that leaders are under God's law too?
How could reading God's word every day keep your heart humble?
Memory Verse
“It shall be, when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write himself a copy of this law in a book, out of that which is before the Levitical priests.”
Deuteronomy 17:18 (WEB)
Copy It
Prayer
Dear God, thank You for Your Word. Help me . Amen.
Take It Home
For families: talk about these together.
- Why should leaders be under God's law?
- How is Jesus the perfect King?
Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.