Deuteronomy 30:19-20

I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Deuteronomy 23:15-25:4

Deuteronomy 23:15-25:4

Another set of miscellaneous laws is given at the end of Deuteronomy 23. Once again they seem to focus on how we are to treat our neighbors. From how to treat the property of others to not charging interest to our brothers and sisters, these verses continue to show how Israel was supposed to live in unity. But even more important than treating each other with respect, they were also to treat God with respect. In doing so, God did not want them making vows to Him if they did not have any intention in keeping their word. How many times do we try to bargain with God? The question is do we ever intend to hold up our side of the bargain? Furthermore, will God respond to that type of prayer? It is best to follow His commands from the start, and live a life that honors Him. Then, with whatever happens in life, good or bad, we will know that God is looking out for us, and He will remain with us through the good times and the bad.

Divorce is the next topic discussed, and it only mentions one particular situation in Deuteronomy 24. Does this mean that there was only one situation in which divorce was permitted? I am not sure how to take this discussion without looking also at Matthew 19. Obviously, God would rather no man seek divorce, for marriage is a binding covenant between two people, but since sin is in the world, divorce is an unfortunate reality. So when a relationship did come to this point, God gave the Israelites a certain set of instructions. In Deuteronomy 24, the only situation mentioned is that of taking a woman back to be your wife after you have previously divorced her and she has remarried. God strictly commanded them not to do this. So as for the divorce itself, it seems to be permitted, although probably not suggested, but even in divorce, Israel was to remain obedient to God.

Moses next lists a much longer list of miscellaneous laws, and much of what was mentioned about then of Deuteronomy 23 applies here as well. It would take too long to discuss each individual law; however, the fact that they are not specifically grouped with another set of laws does not lessen their importance. God expected the Israelites to follow all of the commands that He was giving them, and all together, these first five books of the Bible gave an outline of what God expected from His people. In general, they taught Israel how to love God and as a result love others. Their love for God was shown through their obedience to all of His commands, and their love for others was shown in how they treated them. If they followed God’s commands, then their neighbors would notice that they were being treated with respect. There are just a few more chapters about the Law, and then Moses will transition into the final section of this book.

Matt

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