Read Deuteronomy
23-25 & Mark
14:51-72
To discover:
As you read consider what each law taught the people.
To ponder:
The laws continue. To “enter the assembly of the LORD” was
to gather for worship at the tabernacle or temple. So those intentionally
emasculated (probably in false worship) are excluded, as are ten generations
born from “illegitimate marriages” (with prostitutes or close relatives), or born
to Ammonites or Moabites, with whom Israel
mustn’t make a treaty (because of their hostility). However, only two
generations born to Edomites or Egyptians are excluded, due to their prior relationship
with Israel. Such
laws assumed foreigners would live amongst God’s people, and did not prohibit
them from faith in the LORD. At the least, they stress that our response to the
Lord now has implications for our posterity. Nevertheless, due to the full cleansing
we have in Christ, all who repent immediately join the great assembly, no
matter their history (Heb 12v22-24).
Amongst
Israelites, those with “nocturnal emissions” are temporarily excluded from the
camp for a day, and the people are to go to the toilet outside the camp,
covering any excrement. This is so the LORD moving about the camp doesn’t see
anything “indecent” - confirming that uncleanness refers to what is inappropriate
or unfitting for God’s holy presence.
Countering
the assumption that the Bible promotes slavery, 23v15-16 commands that escaped slaves
be given sanctuary within Israel,
living wherever they like and not being oppressed. One considers asylum seekers
and slaves today. Israelites are then forbidden from becoming shrine
prostitutes or using their earnings to pay for vows made to God. This reveals
the hypocrisy of giving dishonest money to the church. Charging interest of
fellow Israelites is also forbidden, the speedy keeping of vows commended, and
the harvesting of other’s crops banned too.
It seems
divorce was permitted on the broad grounds of “indecency.” But remarrying a first
husband having been divorced by them and then married and divorced by a second,
is “detestable” (a very strong word), because the woman is “defiled.” Jesus
suggests this may be because, although permitted, the second marriage was
equivalent to adultery against the first husband (Matt 19v8-9).
God’s care
is seen in what follows: Newly-weds are not to be too busy for a year so they
can enjoy their marriages! Security is not to be taken for debt that ruins
someone’s means of earning. Those who kidnap and enslave an Israelite must die.
Lepers are to follow levitical instruction. Assets given against debt aren’t to
be forcefully taken, nor kept if the person is poor and needs them for basic
living. Likewise, poor hired workers are to be paid daily so they don’t go
without, or else cry to the LORD against their employer (Jam 5v4-6). And family
members are not to be held to account for each others’ sin.
Because Israel
had nothing as slaves and had to rely on God for redemption, the alien,
fatherless and widowed in particular are to be ensured justice, not impoverished,
and left the remains after harvest for themselves. We should consider the
equivalent today (Jam 1v27). Disputes are to be brought to the judges at court,
the punishment to be proportional, and no-one lashed more than forty times to preserve
their dignity (perhaps as one in God’s image). Animals are to be allowed to eat
from the grain they work, which Paul applies to ministers being paid (1 Cor
9v9-10).
If a man dies, his brother must
marry his widow to maintain his name. Not to is shameful and to be acknowledged
before the elders and wider community. A wife who grabs someone’s privates to
stop him fighting her husband is to have the hand cut off. This is the only
instance of such a punishment, providing a strong deterrent. It also stresses the
seriousness of attacking someone’s ability to have children, because this was
the means by which God’s promises were to be fulfilled.
Finally, business is to be
conducted honestly (25v13-16). And after Israel
settle, they are to blot out the Amalekites because of what they did in Exodus 17v8-14.
Praying it home:
Thank God that all with faith in Christ are full and equal
members of his great assembly. Pray for wisdom on how these principles might be
applied to your situation.
Thinking further:
As mentioned, Paul applies the fact that oxen are to be
allowed to eat from the grain they work, to the right for ministers to receive
pay from those they minister to (1 Cor 9v9-10). Once more this helps us apply
the rest of the laws. It teaches that we are to look for the principle of love behind
them, and relate it to parallel situations in which that same principle stands.
So, the concern that the alien, fatherless and widow receive justice and are
provided for, reflect the principle that those with none to stand up for or
care for them should be particularly looked out for. We might therefore
consider other categories today, such as the pensioner with no relatives or the
unborn child; or the need for legal aid to be given to those unable to pay for
it.
If you receive this post by email, visit bible2014.blogspot.co.uk and make a
comment.
0 comments:
Post a Comment