DBG - March 8 - Deuteronomy 23-26

In this chapter we have various laws and regulations.

vs. 1-8 – Disfigured persons and those of mixed race are barred from the “congregation of the Lord”.  John Gill writes: “this is the congregation is to be understood the elders, judges, and representatives of the people, that met together in some one place to execute judgment; see Numbers 35:12, into which such persons were not to be admitted; either because disgraceful and dishonourable, or because of the influence such defects have on their minds, they thereby becoming effeminate, irresolute, and wanting courage, as well as in opposition to the customs and usages of the Heathens, with whom it was common to admit such persons to civil offices”.  Illegitimate children, Moabites, and Ammonites are barred also as are their descendants to the tenth generation.  This is because of their enmity against Israel during the Exodus.  Edomites and Egyptians are allowed entrance in the third generation.  Why?  God’s people were to reflect God’s holiness.

vs. 9-14 – Next are cases of uncleanliness during war.  We see this applying to hygiene, including disposal of human waste.

vs. 15-16 – There are various interpretations for the reasoning behind this verse.  It could have to do with the safety of the escaped slave from a cruel master or that the slave is leaving idolatry to worship Jehovah. 

vs. 17-18 – These verses deal with prostitution, which in the pagan cultures of the day were usually integrated into idol worship. 

vs. 19-20 – Israelites were not allowed to charge interest on loans to other Israelites, but could to Gentiles.

vs. 21-23 – Vows are to be paid.

vs. 24-25 – This has to do with hospitality.  A man may refresh himself from the field of another, but only to satisfy his hunger.  He cannot take more than that.

In this chapter we have various laws and regulations.

vs. 1-4 – Compare this section to Matthew 19:1-9 to get its true meaning.  Divorce was allowed but not encouraged or commanded.  Human depravity sadly breaks many bonds, including marriage vows sometimes.  That is why this provision is made.

vs. 5 – Newlyweds are exempted from military service for one year.

vs. 6 – By taking one of the millstones it renders the mill inoperable.  No pledge should be made which would mean ruin to man’s livelihood.

vs. 7 – A very harsh condemnation of kidnapping and selling fellow Israelites into slavery.  If only this had been around in Joseph’s day.

vs. 8-9 – Encouragement to take leprosy seriously and follow God’s orders for dealing with it.  Miriam’s example is used from Numbers 12.

vs. 10-15 – Commands to not mistreat the poor or the worker.  Nothing is to be taken in pledge that endangers the poor.  Hired hands are to be paid promptly.

vs. 16-18 – Commands to keep justice pure.  People are responsible for their own actions, and their family was not to be punished in their stead.  All are to receive just and fair treatment before the judges.

vs. 19-22 – Commands for the aid of the poor.  They were not to harvest every grain or drop of oil.  Whatever was missed or left was to be for the benefit of the poor.  It is God’s welfare system. 

vs. 1-3 – Judges were to ensure their prescribed punishments were carried out and witness them.  The limit of blows inflicted was at most 40, but the Jews practiced 39 (see II Corinthians 11:24).  40 was considered the fullest measure of judgment and was reserved for God alone.  By using 39 stripes, the guilty was judged of his sin but not condemned by it.

vs. 4 – This is one of my favorite points in the law.  Oxen were often used to drive mills.  It was considered cruel and inhumane to let them work around food without being allowed to get a little for themselves.   There is much wisdom in this verse that can be applied in many areas of life.

vs. 5-10 – This is called Levirate Marriage, through which a widow is to marry a brother of close kin to her deceased husband and produce an heir to keep that family line alive.  The classic example of this is in the Book of Ruth.  It is interesting to me that this is not commanded, since it could be refused.  It is more than allowed, though, perhaps best described as encouraged.  Those that refused to take part in such a marriage were publicly shamed. 

vs. 11-12 – An interesting case.  A woman could intervene and help her husband if he was under attack in many different ways, but she could not touch the attacker’s genitals.  The meaning here is probably respect in allowing each Israelite to multiply their families.

vs. 13-16 – Almost everything that was traded was done so by weight.  There were no standardized coins at this time, so silver or gold had to be weighed and tested at each transaction.  An unscrupulous person might have two sets of weight: one that is correct and one that is false.  By switching out the correct for the false he could cheat others.

vs. 17-19 – God charges Israel to remember the evil of Amalek in in Exodus 17.  When Israel was established in the land they were to conquer the Amalekites.  Saul was tasked with this in I Samuel 15 but did not faithfully complete it.

In this chapter we have thanksgiving and charitable offerings.

vs. 1-11 – Once they were in the land, they were to celebrate the harvest by bringing a basket of the firstfruits of harvest to the Tabernacle.  There they were to remember how God had brought them to this point.  The “Syrian” in vs. 5 refers to Jacob from his sojourn in Padanaram.

vs. 12-15 – We saw these tithes given in charity back in Chapter 12.  Here is added to them a prayer that God would continue to bless Israel.

vs. 16-19 – This is the conclusion for this section dealing with the Law.  It reminds the people of their covenant with God and His purpose to work through them    

We can get bogged down with all the “thou shalt nots” of the Law, but the joy and thanksgiving in Chapter 26 points to the true reason for the Law.  God wanted to bless Israel.  He wanted to abundantly supply their needs and pour out to them from the riches of His grace.  They should have been the happiest and most joyful people on earth, but for one thing: sin.  Israel will continue to refuse to embrace the goodness of God and let their hearts wander.  We do the same far more often than we care to admit.  Serving God is not about what we are not supposed to do, it is about what we are supposed to do.  We take our eyes off of His goodness, see the glittering things of this world, feel the hunger of sinful appetites, and we turn from God to sin.  Keep your eyes on the goodness of God!

“God’s Bountiful Goodness”, published by Alice Flowerdew in 1811, is our hymn for today.  It is a beautiful song of thanksgiving for the harvest season, which echoes much of Chapter 26 in our reading.

Fountain of mercy, God of love,
how rich Your bounties are!
The rolling seasons, as they move
proclaim Your constant care.

When in the bosom of the earth
the sower hid the grain,
Your goodness marked its secret birth,
and sent the early rain.

You gave the influence of spring;
the plants in beauty grew;
the summer came it sun to bring,
and mild refreshing dew.

These various mercies from above
matured the swelling grain;
a yellow harvest crowns Your love,
and plenty fills the plain.

Seed-time and harvest, Lord, alone
Your love on us bestows;
let us not then forget to own
from whom such blessing flows.

Fountain of love, our praise we bring;
to You our songs we'll raise;
and all created nature sing
in glad exultant praise.