A Holy Nation (4): Deuteronomy 24-26 (1)

Opening Prayer: Psalm 133.1
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
For brethren to dwell together in unity!

Psalm 133.1, 3
(Trygarre Kan Ingen Vara: Children of the Heavenly Father)
O, behold, how sweet, how pleasant, when the brethren dwell together:
All in unity abiding find God’s blessing there presiding.

Today’s Text: Deuteronomy 24.5-15

Preparation
1. How many different relationships are touched on in these verses?

2. Which of the Ten Commandments can you see illustrated here?

Meditation
This and the next chapter deal with matters of everyday justice among the brethren living in ancient Israel. You will recall that we earlier mentioned five aspects to a Biblical view of justice: obligatory, preventive, restorative, retributive, and distributive. These two chapters will enable us to illustrate many of these aspects.

For example, verses 5 and 6 are examples of obligatory justice. This is merely what God’s people owed to one another in the larger covenantal scheme – the opportunity to begin a family and to pursue honest work. Nothing in Hebrew society must impede these, or they would be a violation of the eighth commandment (do not steal).

Verse 7 illustrates retributive justice – punishment imposed for a heinous violation of the eighth commandment.

In verses 8 and 9 a kind of preventive justice is in view – taking actions to keep something evil or unjust from happening (building a railing around your roof would be another example, 22.8). This is a positive expression of the sixth commandment (do not kill).

Verses 10-13 are another example of obligatory justice – owing your neighbor the respect to wait on him to bring out his pledge, rather than barging in to seize it. This perhaps derives from the fifth commandment, honoring proper authorities.

And verses 14 and 15 deal with another form of obligatory justice – pay your workers what you promised in a timely manner. Here again, the eighth commandment is illustrated.

All the examples we shall see in chapters 24 and 25 are illustrative and exemplary. Our own society is built upon such precepts, rules, and statutes. So, for example, we drive on the right hand side and according to the speed limits, honoring our neighbors’ lives and properties as we do (fifth and sixth commandments). It is not difficult to see how American law is rooted and grounded in Biblical Law.

Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
Kindness can be seen as the overarching theme in all these relationships. That quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate. It can be seen as the motif for God’s dealings with us and our dealings with others: “When you lend [you will share]…you shall not to into his house [you will be polite]…the man to whom you lend shall bring the pledge out to you [you will be civil]…you shall not keep his pledge overnight [you will be gentle]…return the pledge to him [you will be generous]…it shall be righteousness to you [you have done it unto the least of these and therefore done it unto Me, Matt. 25.40] before the LORD your God” (Deut. 24.10-13). Generosity and kindness are acts of righteousness in God’s eyes. Then and now: “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you” (Eph. 4.32). Justice in relationships either makes us or breaks us in God’s eyes (Matt. 25.40, 45, 46).

Reflection
1. How would you define “justice”?

2. How does the Law of God work to help us be kind and considerate to one another?

3. What happens in a society where the Law of God is neglected (Matt. 24.12)?

He, then, is as cruel, whosoever takes in pledge what supports a poor man's life, as if he should take away bread from a starving man, and thus his life itself, which, as it is sustained by labor, so, when its means of subsistence are cut off, is, as it were, itself destroyed. John Calvin (1509-1564), Commentary on Deuteronomy 24.6

Thank You, Lord, that You have marked out the path of blessing for me today, so that I…

Closing Prayer: Psalm 133.2, 3
Pray for the people in your Personal Mission Field. How will you show these “neighbors” the love of God today?

Psalm 133.2, 3
(Trygarre Kan Ingen Vara: Children of the Heavenly Father)
Like the precious oil of blessing flowing down on Aaron’s vestment,
God’s anointing rests forever where His people dwell together.

Like the dew of Hermon’s fountain falling down on Zion’s mountain,
So the blessing of the Savior dwells where unity finds favor.

T. M. and Susie Moore

Listen to our summary of last week’s study in Deuteronomy by clicking here. You can download all the studies in the series by clicking here.

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All quotations from Church Fathers from Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy: Ancient Christian Commentary Series III, Joseph T. Lienhard, S. J. ed. in collaboration with Ronnie J. Rombs, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2001). All quotations from John Calvin from John Calvin, Commentaries on The Four Last Books of Moses Arranged in the Order of A Harmony, Rev. Charles William Bingham M. A., tr. and ed. (Edinburgh: The Calvin Translation Society, 1863. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (available by clicking here).