September 4, 2020
The message of Deuteronomy is one that the church desperately needs to hear today. These final words of Moses given to the children of Israel as they prepared to enter into the Promised Land serve as a warning, an encouragement, and a charge. Through them, God exposes the idolatry of our hearts and calls us to give all of our love, worship, and devotion to Him alone in every area of our lives! Moses warns the people that when they enter the land there will be things that compete with God for their attention, their affections and their worship. We, too, have hundreds of things that compete for our hearts each and every day. In this book, God teaches us how to properly respond to the amazing grace He has given us by giving Him our undivided allegiance, our whole hearts and our whole lives. Over the next 34 days, let’s seek this ancient way together as a church!
In his chapter Moses continues giving miscellaneous laws to the people of Israel, concerning things from marriage and divorce to justice for the poor. Several times in this chapter Moses bases one of the commands he is giving the people in a command to remember. More specifically, he calls on them to remember their former state as slaves in Egypt before the Lord delivered and redeemed them, and based on that remembrance to treat others, especially the helpless and marginalized in the land, differently.
As followers of Jesus we would do well to remember. Even though it has been defeated once and for all on the cross, sin still lurks inside each one of us, and because it does we are each prone to think that we are more righteous than we are. None of us sees ourselves with perfect clarity, and it can be so easy for any one of us to fall into self-righteousness, judgmentalism, and pride.
When we remember our state before God delivered and redeemed us from spiritual slavery to sin through Christ, it changes the way we see and treat other people! We cannot simultaneously remember the way we have been rescued by sheer grace and hold on to any sort of self-righteous attitude towards others. We cannot remember how spiritually poor we were apart from Jesus and at the same time not be moved with compassion for those who are still poor, whether spiritually or materially.
It is so important for us to remember! When we remember the grace of God towards us in Christ, we are excited for that grace and extend it towards others!
Deuteronomy 24
Laws Concerning Divorce
24 “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.
Miscellaneous Laws
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 wife whom 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.
8 “Take care, in a case of leprous disease, to be very careful to do according to all that the Levitical priests shall direct you. As I commanded them, so you shall be careful to do. 9 Remember what the Lord your God did to Miriam on the way as you came out of Egypt.
10 “When you make your neighbor a loan of any sort, you shall not go into his house to collect his pledge. 11 You shall stand outside, and the man to whom you make the loan shall bring the pledge out to you. 12 And if he is a poor man, you shall not sleep in his pledge. 13 You shall restore to him the pledge as the sun sets, that he may sleep in his cloak and bless you. And it shall be righteousness for you before the Lord your God.
14 “You shall not oppress a hired worker who is poor and needy, whether he is one of your brothers or one of the sojourners who are in your land within your towns. 15 You shall give him his wages on the same day, before the sun sets (for he is poor and counts on it), lest he cry against you to the Lord, and you be guilty of sin.
16 “Fathers shall not be put to death because of their children, nor shall children be put to death because of their fathers. Each one shall be put to death for his own sin.
17 “You shall not pervert the justice due to the sojourner or to the fatherless, or take a widow’s garment in pledge, 18 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.
19 “When you reap your harvest in your field and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it. It shall be for the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. 20 When you beat your olive trees, you shall not go over them again. It shall be for the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow. 21 When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, you shall not strip it afterward. It shall be for the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow. 22 You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt; therefore I command you to do this.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Family Discussion Question:
- What do you need to remember about your spiritual state before Christ? How will remembering that, as well as the amazing grace of God towards you in Christ, motivate you to treat and view other people?
Lord Jesus,
I thank you that where my sin abounds, Your Grace is more than sufficient to cover it. Help me to remember to extend this mercy and grace to others. Remind me daily of where i would be if not for Your amazing grace, and let me never take it for granted. In Your Holy Name I pray, Amen
Gracias padre amado por tu inmenso amor y misericordia gracias por todo lo que has hecho haces y seguirás haciendo en mi vida y la de mi familia Ayúdame a ser amoroso con los demás a servir con amor al prójimo quiero seguir tus huellas ayúdame padre a ser mejor cada día que seas tú brillando dentro de mi fortalece mi corazón humilde en nombre y por amor de tu hijo amado amén ?
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank You for all of my blessings. Please help me remember that I am no better than anyone else and only because of Your grace, go I. We need to remember that we should help others less fortunate. Please show me ways that I can bless others and, in so doing, shine Your love and grace onto them. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
AMEN and HALLELUJAh!!! Lord thank you for all the blessings I have received. I will not treat anyone who is poor, homeless and need of my help. Everyone should be treated equally. You are the gracious and loving God. Keep me in your steadfast love and glory. Heavenly Father keep me on the right path of your wonderful grace. In Jesus name I Pray. Amen
Father,
From Genesis to Revelation you reveal to me your goodness and righteousness.
Who am I that you would be mindful of me? Why did you choose me to walk alongside you? Is it because you love me so much? Thank you, Father,
May I walk through the open door today that you place along my path today. The open door that leads to a lost person who needs to hear the good news of Jesus Christ your son.
Send your Holy Spirit to speak through me. May angels in heaven rejoice because of the salvation of another soul.
May my mirror reflect your actions towards all today.
This is the day the Lord has made and I will be glad in it. Now, let’s be going to find one more lost soul…
For it is in the name of Jesus Christ I pray,
Amen.
Heavenly Father, may we live each day to
Honor You and to benefit others. Thank You for changing our forever. We love you!
Father God, thank you for doing for me what I could never do. Paying a debt I could never pay and sending Jesus as a sacrifice for my sin. Help me remember I am forever saved by Your grace , to remember you did this for every person and to see clearly others through Jesus eyes. As I go about help me to see those you put in my path and not ignore them for they too are loved by you so I may show them the love you show for me. Thank you for saving me and for your protection, love and blessings. I love you Lord, let ALL I do today be done only for you. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
Father I have seen your mercy and grace on me. Let me choose mercy and grace every day. Amen
My Savior, I worship and revere Your name for You are the risen Christ, beloved Son of God. Help me help others who are less fortunate, struggling with life and the pandemic. Help me lead them to You.
Thank you for the abiding spirit within me. Help me to slow down to help widows and those in need.
Thank you for our body of Christ and the support given to your people that are hurting and yearning for you.
I will be sensitive and compassionate about the needs of others. And do what I can to help.
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for providing for me and continuing to use me to share the gospel with others. Lord, my prayer is that they will always see and hear from you and not me. This world is in turmoil and needing you more than ever before and I pray that you would help us to see that we need to love more and our hearts needs to be changed. Help us all to do more to honor you and reveal the true love of Christ. Thank you for your goodness and grace in the middle of chaos. I pray these things in Jesus name. Amen
If we seek to have the mind of Christ, none of these laws will be a problem for us.
There is so much wisdom and good prayers shared here. Amen to all, I prayed along with y’all.
Lord, thank you for your generosity for me in my time of need. I pray your spirit empowers me to be broken for and care toward others to reflect your generous care for them.