Law – Deuteronomy 23-25
Many people do not like to read the Old Testament for they claim the God in the Old Testament is a very harsh and unforgiving Judge as compared to the New Testament Saviour.
However, there are many instances in the Old Testament in which God shows His love for mankind despite Him being a just sovereign. Our passage for today shows us a few of these instances.
Bible Passage: Deuteronomy 23-25
Compassion
No man shall take the lower or the upper millstone in pledge, for he takes one’s living in pledge. (Deut 24:6)
When you lend your brother anything, you shall not go into his house to get his pledge. You shall stand outside, and the man to whom you lend shall bring the pledge out to you. And if the man is poor, you shall not keep his pledge overnight. You shall in any case return the pledge to him again when the sun goes down, that he may sleep in his own garment and bless you; and it shall be righteousness to you before the LORD your God. (Deut 24:10-12)
You shall not oppress a hired servant who is poor and needy, whether one of your brethren or one of the aliens who is in your land within your gates. Each day you shall give him his wages, and not let the sun go down on it, for he is poor and has set his heart on it; lest he cry out against you to the LORD, and it be sin to you. (Deut 24:14-15)
You shall not pervert justice due the stranger or the fatherless, nor take a widow’s garment as a pledge. (Deut 24;17)
When you reap your harvest in your field, and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it; it shall be for the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. When you beat your olive trees, you shall not go over the boughs again; it shall be for the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow. When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, you shall not glean it afterward; it shall be for the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow. (Deut 24:19-21)
You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain. (Deut 25:4)
We can see quite clearly that God cares not just about major events and decisions but also about the smallest details of our lives. He doesn’t want anyone to suffer from cold, hunger or inability to make a living. He also ensures the stranger, the fatherless and the widow have means of sustaining themselves. Besides mankind, God also does not wish animals to be mistreated.
How then can we say that this God who watches over His people with such concern is a harsh and unforgiving God?
Rest
When a man has taken a new wife, he shall not go out to war or be charged with any business; he shall be free at home one year, and bring happiness to his wife whom he has taken. (Deut 24:5)
Besides the caring for the livelihood of His people, God also wishes that they have enough rest and are happy. He doesn’t expect us to work like machines or treat us like unfeeling, inanimate objects.
Remember why He established the Sabbath and the Year of Jubilee?
The law above again reinforces the fact that God understands the needs of man and allows for them to rest and enjoy even though He also expects them to work hard and fight bravely when they are supposed to.
He truly knows what we need and when we need it!
Choice
When you make a vow to the LORD your God, you shall not delay to pay it; for the LORD your God will surely require it of you, and it would be sin to you. But if you abstain from vowing, it shall not be sin to you. (Deut 23:21-22)
Many times, God also allows man to make their own choices. Although there are certain things that must or must not be done for reason of justice or holiness, there are also many choices available to us within their limits.
Many times, man only see the few choices that they are not allowed to make but neglect the plentiful choices God makes available to them. Then, because they only see the ‘cannot do’ and not the ‘can do’, they conclude (erroneously), that God is a despotic, domineering autocrat.
As we read the Books of Law, let us learn to see the things that God gives to us instead of assuming that they are all restrictions and constraints.
One Comment
PS
“You shall not have in your bag differing weights, a heavy and a light.”
“You shall not have in your house differing measures, a large and a small.”
“You shall have a perfect and just measure, that your days may be lengthened in the land which the LORD your God is giving you.” (Deut 25:13-15)
Not sure about the weights and measures used by the Israelites, i imagined that the Israelites did not make the own weights or measures but purchased them from the suppliers. The suppliers were making accurate measuring instruments for sales. They won’t become heavy and light and large and small, unless they were being delibrately adjusted. Purpose: to cheat.
In the wilderness, God was very much involved in the day-to-day life of the Israelites.
The standard of God has not changed. In our daily life, be in at the work place, school or home in our comfort zone, the measuring instruments of our speech, actions and heart must be perfect and just measures.
For all who do such things, all who behave unrighteously, are an abomination to the LORD our God. (Deut 25:16)