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The Scriptorium

Various Forms of Justice (1)

The "case laws" illustrate applications of the Ten Commandments. Deuteronomy 24.16-22

A Holy Nation (4): Deuteronomy 24-26 (2)

Opening Prayer: Psalm 19.12-14
Who can understand his errors?
Cleanse me from secret faults.
Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins;
Let them not have dominion over me.
Then I shall be blameless,
And I shall be innocent of great transgression.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.

Psalm 19.12-14

(St. Christopher: Beneath the Cross of Jesus)
Who, Lord, can know his errors? O keep sin far from me!
Let evil rule not in my soul that I may blameless be.
O let my thoughts, let all my words, before Your glorious sight
be pleasing to You, gracious Lord, acceptable and right!

Today’s Text: Deuteronomy 24.16-22

Preparation

1. What basis did Moses cite for these works of justice?

2. What promise was attached to them?

Mediation
Chapters 24 and 25 contain various “case law” situations which are intended to illustrate how the Ten Commandments were to be applied. These examples also provide insights to the various facets of justice, as God defines it. Again, Moses is not being exhaustive here. He is simply using examples to guide the judges and people of Israel in applying God’s Law of lovingkindness in everyday situations.

All these examples are clear enough that we do not need to explicate them further. Rather, we want to connect each “case” with the commandment from which it derives.

Verse 16 addresses culpability in instances requiring the death penalty, and is a form of retributive justice. Death penalty issues typically derive from the sixth and seventh commandments.

Verses 17 and 18 is based on the eighth commandment, which prohibits stealing from others. That would include withholding the love and honor due them as neighbors. These are examples of obligatory justice, of giving people their due as image-bearers of God. Verse 18 reminds the people of God’s acting in justice toward them, according to His Word and promise. In every instance of justice, God’s grace is the driving force.

Verses 19-22 exemplify distributive justice, by which the Law makes clear our duties toward those in need. God will bless our material circumstances to the degree that we are generous toward those in need (v. 19). Again, the reminder of Israel’s slavery, deprivation, and hardship in Egypt should encourage them to show generosity to those in need. These are forms of obligatory justice and derive from the eighth commandment.

Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
“But you shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and the LORD your God redeemed you from there; therefore I command you to do this thing” (Deut. 24.18, 22). Twice God reminded them that they should remember they were once slaves, redeemed by Him to live for Him. In this knowledge, they were to do good according to His Law. Any pride in accomplishment was to be removed and replaced by humble obedience and kindness. Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 1.27 that “God has chosen the foolish”, and then again in Titus 3.3, “For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.” Sounds like we were solid citizens of a land from which we desperately needed to be redeemed! And we, like the Israelites, need to remember this, and do the things God has call us to do, “that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands” (Deut. 24.19). Paul echoes this: “But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior… that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works… to meet urgent needs” (Titus 3.4-6, 8, 14). Remember. Do.

Reflection
1. In what ways did God’s act of redeeming Israel serve as a standard for them?

2. What would be some forms of obligatory justice we should observe today?

3. What are some forms of distributive justice still binding on believers today?

[I]t was wicked and unlawful to gather the sheaves left after the harvest, or to glean the vines after the vintage or to gather up the olives that remain after the trees were picked, because these things were to be left for the poor. Now if this was commanded those who were under the law, what shall we say of those who are in Christ? To them the Lord says, “Unless your justice abounds more than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Pseudo-Basil (no dates), On Mercy and Justice

Lord, let Your Law dwell in me richly, so that in every situation I will…

Closing Prayer: Psalm 19.7-11
Let God’s Spirit search you and lead you to consider the day ahead. What opportunities for fulfilling God’s Law can you anticipate?

Psalm 19.7-11
(St. Christopher: Beneath the Cross of Jesus)
The Law of God is perfect, His testimony sure;
the simple man God’s wisdom learns, the soul receives its cure.
God’s Word is right, and His command is pure, and truth imparts;
He makes our eyes to understand; with joy He fills our hearts.

The fear of God is cleansing, forever shall it last.
His judgments all are true and just, by righteousness held fast.
O seek them more than gold most fine, than honey find them sweet;
Be warned by every word and line; be blessed with joy complete.

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. And check out our current ReVision series on encouragement.

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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).

T.M. Moore

T. M. Moore is principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe, a spiritual fellowship in the Celtic Christian tradition. He and his wife, Susie, make their home in the Champlain Valley of Vermont.
Books by T. M. Moore

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