September 16, 2017
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Reading along with us in Deuteronomy? Here’s today’s reading:
Deuteronomy 24 (ESV)
“When a man takes a wife and marries her, if then she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some indecency in her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce and puts it in her hand and sends her out of his house, and she departs out of his house, 2 and if she goes and becomes another man’s wife, 3 and the latter man hates her and writes her a certificate of divorce and puts it in her hand and sends her out of his house, or if the latter man dies, who took her to be his wife, 4 then her former husband, who sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after she has been defiled, for that is an abomination before the Lord. And you shall not bring sin upon the land that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance.
5 “When a man is newly married, he shall not go out with the army or be liable for any other public duty. He shall be free at home one year to be happy with his wifewhom he has taken.
6 “No one shall take a mill or an upper millstone in pledge, for that would be taking a life in pledge.
7 “If a man is found stealing one of his brothers of the people of Israel, and if he treats him as a slave or sells him, then that thief shall die. So you shall purge the evil from your midst… Continue Reading
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21When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, you shall not strip it afterward. It shall be for the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow
God’s people are commanded to have compassion for the poor, the fatherless, and the sojourner (a temporary resident, stranger, or traveler). This is one theme that never changes in Scripture, from beginning to end — God cares for the poor, and our love for Him and for our neighbor will compel us to as well. We are not to scorn the poor or look down on them, but be generous with those in need.
In our nation, I think it’s harder for us to show compassion for the poor today, because of the government’s involvement. It’s easier now for our hearts to harden against those in need. We may even see them as better off than we are, because they don’t have to rely on their own hard work for food and shelter.
But truthfully, the safety net of social programs can keep people poor. Psychologically, it’s extremely difficult to give up the security they have even in such meager circumstances.
I’ve found it helpful to remember that everything I have is from God, and just as the poor rely on the government, I rely on Him: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air: They do not sow or reap or gather into barns—and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his lifespan?
“And why do you worry about clothes? Consider how the lilies of the field grow: They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was adorned like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans pursue all these things, and your Heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:25-33)
Come alongside people who are poor and build relationships and friendships with them. Get to know their fears, their backgrounds, their stories. Pray for them. Pray WITH them. Love them. Love their children. Break down the walls that separate the classes, as Jesus did, and allow the love God has for YOU to overflow into their lives — because that’s how He has designed it to be shared. Share your bounty with them, even as God shares His riches with you. What a gift it is to be used by God!
I’m noticing quite the theme in Dueteronomy, the importance of justice. From how people treat their wives, to pledges, to caring for the oppressed justice is a major theme. In my classes we are talking about justice and are comparing what justice is vs. what actually happens in the real world. I think the key for justice to prevail is to stop thinking of oneself and focus on the needs of others who can’t fulfill their own, like leaving something behind for someone (verses 19-22).
Once again we see varied standards for different circumstances. Moses is doing his best not to forget anything as he passes on the law to this new/younger generation entering the land. But there is certainly a strain in this chapter for being open handed to the vulnerable and the poor. When you have much, don’t in greed hoard it and keep it for yourself or even worse use the influence and power that comes from it to take advantage of those in a lower condition. How can you get more basic than don’t take the poor guys cloak as a pledge, but let him sleep in it at night. I wonder what modern examples exist for not going over the fields or the olive trees a second time. I do see in this a standard of the poor still working for what they get. It doesn’t say glean the field again and give it to the poor, rather leave it for them. At times I have tried to do that with money the church has given to people in need as well as in my personal life as I try to live out these standards that provide the poor but allow them to value work and maintain their dignity.
I also like verse 5. Let a newly married guy have no duty to perform, Let him stay home and make his new wife happy.