Tag Archives: Parents

Moral Dilemmas: Divorce, Debt, and Human Trafficking (Deuteronomy 24; Deuteronomy 25)

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Scripture reading – Deuteronomy 24-25

Our Scripture reading continues with Moses setting forward various laws that would guide Israel in matters of marriage, family, societal civility, business, and government.

Deuteronomy 24

Principles Regarding Marriage and Divorce (Deuteronomy 24:1-5)

Divorce is addressed, sadly indicative of man’s sinful heart. We understand that God’s desire for man and wife is: “A man…shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh” (Genesis 2:24). Yet, because man’s nature is bent away from God, the Lord allowed (through Moses) for a writing of divorcement when there was a valid reason.

Moses allowed for divorce in this passage; however, I remind you that was never God’s plan or will. What is the will of the LORD? The sum of God’s will for marriage is this: “A man…shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh” (Genesis 2:24).

The Pharisees questioned Christ on this subject and asked, “Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife [divorce]for every cause?” (Matthew 19:3) The LORD answered, citing the “one flesh” principle and added, “What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder” (Matthew 19:6).

Displeased with His answer, the Pharisees pressed Him, saying, “Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?” (Matthew 19:7). Christ answered and diagnosed the deplorable basis for Moses permitting divorce (Deuteronomy 24).

Matthew 19:8–9 – ⁸He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered [allowed] you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. ⁹And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.

A Moral Guideline for the Borrower and Lender (Deuteronomy 24:6)

Taking an upper millstone is foreign to most until we understand Moses referred to the stones used to grind grain into flour. So, a lender was warned he could not take for a surety the “upper millstone,” for by it, a family could grind grain into flour and bake bread for the family.

A Solution to Human Trafficking (Deuteronomy 24:7)

One of the great abominations of the 21^st century is human trafficking (in essence, modern slavery). Forcefully taking children, women, and men and subjecting them to the darkness of moral depravity has been and continues to be an appalling wickedness. In the words of the Scripture, anyone found guilty of “[making] merchandise…or selleth [selling] him” shall be put to death (24:7).

If the judgment of the Scriptures were practiced in our day, victims of human trafficking would receive justice and human traffickers would be dispatched to a swift judgment: “Thine eye shall not pity; but life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot” (Deuteronomy 19:21).

Charitable Obligations (Deuteronomy 24:10-22)

Today’s false teachers and preachers have led many to believe the laws of the Old Testament were lacking in grace. They support their reason and boast that we live in an “Age of Grace.” Indeed, we do, but grace has been a part of every age because God is a part of every age. He has been and continues to be immutable – the same yesterday, today, and forever. Therefore, characterizing the Law and Commandments as “graceless” suggests the LORD was graceless, which is heresy.

Deuteronomy 24:10-22 proved that God was sensitive and compassionate concerning the condition of the poor, the weak, the orphan, and the widow. For example, in ancient times, the poor often had nothing more than the “clothes on their backs.” Robes were the attire for those times, and men generally wore inner and outer robes. The inner robe afforded modesty, while the outer robe protected against the elements and provided warmth at night.

Should a man of little means borrow, his outer robe might serve as the surety or pledge for his debt (24:10-11). However, the lender was not to humiliate a debtor and take by force the robe of a poor man while he was in his house (24:10-11). Also, in the evening, the lender was to return the outer robe so that the man “may sleep in his own raiment, and bless thee” (24:13).

Admonitions Against Injustices (Deuteronomy 24:14-18)

Day laborers were paid their wages at the end of a workday (24:14). Also, everyone was to bear the consequences and punishment for their sins. Therefore, a father was not to be punished for the sins of his children, nor were his children to be punished for the sins of their father (24:16).

Charity Was the Law (Deuteronomy 24:19-22)

In ancient times there was no welfare system, and the impoverished were a perpetual presence on the earth. Tragically, widows were sometimes forsaken by their children, orphans were neglected, and foreigners often found themselves homeless. Moses reminded the congregation how Israel suffered bondage in Egypt. He urged the people to remember the poor and let them glean the leftovers from their fields, olive trees, and grapevines.

Deuteronomy 25

Time and space prevent a thorough commentary on Deuteronomy 25; however, I suggest the following outline of principles for your study.

I. Capital Punishment and Civil Justice (Deuteronomy 25:1-4)

II. Family Posterity (Deuteronomy 25:5-12)

III. Business and Commerce (Deuteronomy 25:13-16)

IV. The Offence of an Enemy (Deuteronomy 25:17-19)

Closing thoughts:

Once again, I trust you have seen the grace of God evidenced throughout His Laws and Commandments. Although some invite believers to ignore the Old Testament altogether, they do so at their peril and that of their followers. But, of course, the greatest expression of God’s Law and grace is identified in Christ’s sacrifice for our sins (1 Peter 2:21-24).

Questions to consider:

1) Could a divorced man remarry his wife after she had been married to another man? (Deuteronomy 24:4)

2) What was God’s judgment concerning human traffickers? (Deuteronomy 24:7)

3) Rather than long terms of imprisonment, how was an offense settled in Israel? (Deuteronomy 25:1-3)

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The Law and Commandments of the LORD are Gracious (Deuteronomy 15)

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Scripture reading – Deuteronomy 15

Some in our churches suggest the Laws and Commandments of the Old Testament were cold, oppressive, and lacking in grace. They are wrong! In their historical context and with an understanding of their application, you will find that the Law and Commandments of the LORD are fair and judicious. For example, consider the guidelines for the borrower and lender recorded in Deuteronomy 15.

Debtors, Lenders, and the Sabbatical Year (15:1-6)

The Sabbath Year occurred every seven years on the Hebrew calendar, and it was the year the LORD commanded the land to rest. Fields were not worked, seeds were not planted, and any vegetation that volunteered and gave fruit was committed to the poor and grazing animals.

Consider how a man would pay his debt if he could not plant crops during the Sabbath Year. If unable to plant seeds and harvest crops, what became of a man who acquired debt? Because there was no harvest in the seventh year, the law did not permit lenders to press the poor for payment. Instead, in the Sabbath Year, the lender suspended the debt payment for the year (although a non-Hebrew was not released of his obligation to pay his debt in the seventh year, 15:3). Furthermore, God promised that if lenders showed their debtors grace, He would bless the nation (15:4). Indeed, Israel would become a lender, not a borrower, to other countries (15:5-6).

Lending to the Poor (15:7-11)

Concerning the poor, we read, “The poor shall never cease out of the land” (15:11). Regardless of the wealth and prosperity of a nation, the poor are a perpetual presence in the world (15:11). Once again, as a testimony of God’s grace and mercy, the LORD required His people to be charitable, especially to those who were “one of the brethren” (meaning a Hebrew, 15:7). God’s people were commanded to open their hand and heart when they looked upon another in need (15:7). Not only was a lender commanded to not be miserly in charitable giving, he was to “lend him [the poor] sufficient for his need” (15:8).

Because some might seek to take advantage of the immediacy of a Sabbath Year (knowing the repayment of a debt was suspended that year), it was reasonable to suspect lenders might refuse to give to those in need. Such reasoning was a sin in the eyes of the LORD (15:9b). Therefore, lenders were exhorted to give and trust “the Lordthy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto” (15:10).

Slavery, and the Release of Slaves (15:12-18)

Slavery was a cultural reality in the ancient world, and poverty was often the catalyst for enslavement. For example, should a Hebrew (man or woman) be unable to pay their debt, he or she would become a slave to the lender (15:12). Now, the practice of the heathen was to afflict debtors with perpetual enslavement. The LORD, however, provided that His people would not become an endless enslaved people (15:12). Therefore, an indebted Hebrew might serve a master for six years; however, in the seventh year, they were released of their debt and set free (15:12b).

As another evidence of the grace and mercy expressed in God’s Law, a master was to ensure a freedman would not “go away empty” (15:13). Therefore, a master was required to honor the one set free and give “him liberally out of [his] flock, and out of [his] floor, and out of [his] winepress: of that wherewith the Lord thy God hath blessed [him] thou shalt give unto him [the freeman]” (15:14). Yet, there were masters who were so kind and gracious, that a slave might elect to continue as an enslaved person for life. Such a one would have a hole pierced through his ear, thus marking him as a servant forever (15:17).

Dedication and Consecration of the Firstborn (15:19-23)

The concluding verses of Deuteronomy 15 served as a reminder that the firstborn of Hebrew households was dedicated to the LORD. The precedence for this requirement was set when the tenth plague struck down the firstborn of Egyptian families (Exodus 13:2, 15). Because the Hebrews had applied the blood of a lamb to the doorposts of their households, the LORD had spared the firstborn of Israel. That deliverance was forever memorialized by the Hebrews dedicating every firstborn male to the LORD (Exodus 13:2, 15).

Thus, the firstborn of cattle and sheep were to be unblemished and offered as a sacrificial meal (15:19-20). Also, firstborn oxen were not to be worked in the fields, nor were firstborn sheep to be sheared, for they were the LORD’s. Should a firstborn be blemished, it was not a worthy sacrifice to the LORD and would therefore be eaten like ordinary meat (15:21-23; 12:15).

Closing thoughts:

In closing, I invite you to consider how the Law and Commandments of the LORD were gracious. We have seen that the LORD protected the poor from harsh lenders and slaves from cruel taskmasters, and He extended seasons and reasons for hope and relief.

Finally, remember that all offerings were a picture (i.e., type) of God’s final and perfect sacrifice for our sins. Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Mary’s firstborn was the perfect, sinless, unblemished sacrificial Lamb of God (John 1:29; 1 Peter 1:19).

Is He your Savior?

Questions to consider:

1) How often were the Israelites required to cancel the debts of their brethren? (15:1-2)

2) What were the conditions for Israel to avoid being a debtor to other nations? (15:5-6)

3) What people are a perpetual presence in the world? (15:11)

4) What were the Israelites forbidden to eat? (15:23)

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“In the Sovereignty of God, Dreams Do Come True” (Genesis 41-43)

Dear Heart of A Shepherd Readers,

I invite you to watch or listen to a message I preached at Hillsdale Baptist Church, Tampa, FL, on Sunday, May 7, 2023. Much of the sermon is narrative in style, but the content and applications are powerful.

Joseph’s brothers’ hatred brought him to Egypt, but God’s providence guided him from slavery and prison to serve as the ruler of Egypt and second only to Pharaoh. Two decades passed, and like many, Joseph’s brothers lived a lie and never confessed to their father that they had sold Joseph into slavery (left him believing a wild beast had killed his son). Yet, in the sovereignty of the LORD, Jacob’s sons would come face to face with their brother. (Genesis 42)

Text – Genesis 41-43
Topic – God’s Sovereignty and Providential Care
Series – “Logos: A Journey of Faith, Hope, and Love”

With the heart of a shepherd,

Travis D. Smith
Senior Pastor

Fear, and Obey the LORD, and He Will Prosper You (Deuteronomy 6; Deuteronomy 7)

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Scripture reading – Deuteronomy 6-7

Our chronological Scripture reading brings us to Deuteronomy 6-7, where we find Moses continuing his second oration before the congregation of Israel (which he began in Deuteronomy 5). After stating the Ten Commandments to the people (5:7-21), Moses charged them to keep the covenant by “[walking] in all the ways which the Lord [their] God [had] commanded [them]” (5:33).

Deuteronomy 6

A Sacred Duty: The Perpetual Responsibility to Instruct Sons and Daughters

The Reward for Obedience (Deuteronomy 6:1-3)

Israel was not only to obey “the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments” which the LORD had given Moses to teach the people (6:1), but they were to “fear the LORD” and teach their “son, and [their] son’s son, all the days of [their] life; and that [their] days may be prolonged” (6:2).

Take a moment and ponder not only the command but also the promise. There was a direct correlation between the quality and length of one’s life and whether or not they have faithfully obeyed the LORD’S commands, feared Him, and instructed their children and grandchildren in His statutes and commandments. One wonders about the number of potentially premature deaths of those who have lived apart from the Lord’s commandments.

Moses continued his appeal to the people and said, “Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily, as the Lord God of thy fathers hath promised thee, in the land that floweth with milk and honey” (6:3). Once again, prosperity was the reward for fearing and revering the LORD.

Principles for Obedience (Deuteronomy 6:4-5)

Known as The Shema among Hebrew people, Deuteronomy 6:4-5 is prayed twice daily by many Jewish people for it summarizes the essence of Israel’s God and that nation’s unique relationship with Him.

Deuteronomy 6:4–5 – ⁴Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: ⁵And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

In the New Testament, when a lawyer asked Jesus, “³⁶Master, which is the great commandment in the law?” (Matthew 22:36). Jesus quoted “The Shema” and said, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. ³⁸This is the first and great commandment” (Matthew 22:37-38).

The Means of Obedience (Deuteronomy 6:6-9)

Without exception, each generation was to obey the commandments out of a heart of love and to communicate the commands, statutes, and laws of the LORD “diligently” to their children (6:7-9). The Word of God was to be persistently considered in every household. Its commands, statutes, and laws were the spiritual guide for every area of life and were to be taught when sitting down, walking, lying down at night, or rising at dawn. Even the entrance to one’s home was to be graced with the Law of God (6:9).

An Admonition (Deuteronomy 6:10-18)

Moses then warned the people not to forget the LORD amid their prosperity (6:10-11). They were reminded that “the LORD thy God is a jealous God” (6:15). Also, they were not to “tempt” or test the LORD by failing to obey Him (6:16). The LORD promised if the people would keep His commandments, He would prosper them (6:17). If they would do “right and good in the sight of the LORD,” it would be well with them (6:18).

A Directive for Parental Instructions (Deuteronomy 6:20-24)

Deuteronomy 6:20-23 returned to the privilege and responsibility the people had for instructing their children. Fathers and mothers were to remind their sons and daughters of all the LORD had done for them and to “do all these statutes, to fear the LORD” (6:24). Obey the LORD, and He promised to preserve them as a nation (6:24).

Deuteronomy 7 – Why did the LORD Choose Israel?

After challenging Israel to remember the providences and promises of the LORD, to obey His commandments, and teach them to their sons and daughters: Moses challenged Israel to utterly destroy the nations in the land He had promised them for an inheritance (Deuteronomy 7).

A Call for Separation (Deuteronomy 7:2-11)

The nation was to make no covenant of peace with the heathen, nor allow their sons and daughters to intermarry with them (7:2-4). Every idol and every place of idolatry was to be cut down (7:5).

Then Moses reminded the people that the LORD had chosen Israel to be a “holy people” (7:6). Israel was not chosen because the nation was significant in number nor a powerful people (7:7). God chose Israel because He “loved [them], and because He would keep the oath [covenant] which He had sworn unto [their] fathers [i.e., Abraham, Issac, and Jacob]” (7:8).

A Promise of Blessings for Obedience (Deuteronomy 7:12-26)

Deuteronomy 7 revealed much concerning the nature of God and His relationship with Israel. I look forward to considering those verses in a future devotion. But, for now, read the balance of chapter 7 and meditate on God’s grace, longsuffering, and holiness. After all, the LORD is “immutable,” and He has not changed!

Questions to consider:

1) What was Moses commanded to teach Israel? (Deuteronomy 6:1)

2) What did God promise if Israel kept His commandments and taught their children? (Deuteronomy 6:2-3)

3) How were parents to teach their children? (Deuteronomy 6:7)

4) Why were the sons and daughters of Israel forbidden to marry heathen spouses? (Deuteronomy 7:3-4)

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Keep and Teach the Commandments of the Lord! (Deuteronomy 3; Deuteronomy 4)

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Scripture reading – Deuteronomy 3-4

The address to Israel that Moses began in Deuteronomy 1 continued in today’s Scripture reading. It is good to pause our studies and remember that Moses was 120 years old. He stood before a new generation, most of whom were born in the wilderness during that nation’s forty-year sojourn.

Four-hundred years of Egyptian slavery was a historical fact but not something the second generation had experienced. Also, many were not living when their fathers rebelled and refused to enter Canaan. Nevertheless, the consequences of their forefather’s faithlessness and rebellion had befallen them. Therefore, that generation needed to know their history as a people, the character of their God, and the nation’s covenant relationship with Him.

Deuteronomy 3 – God is Gracious, but Choices Have Consequences

The Defeat of Og, King of Bashan (Deuteronomy 3:1-11)

With the urgency of a man who knows death is imminent, Moses reviewed the LORD’s care and compassion for Israel. He reminded the people how God had delivered Og, Bashan’s king, into their hands. With the LORD on their side, Israel conquered sixty walled cities (3:4-5) and utterly destroyed the “men, women, and children, of every city” (3:6). The LORD had enriched His people and given them “all the cattle, and the spoil of the cities” (3:7).

The Boundaries and Distribution of the Land on the East Side of Jordan (Deuteronomy 3:12-20)

Moses reviewed that the tribe of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh had requested the lands on the east side of the Jordan River (3:12-20). However, the men of those tribes were reminded and charged with their pledge to go to war with the other tribes on the west side of the Jordan River (3:18-20).

An Exhortation to Joshua (Deuteronomy 3:21-22)

Moses reminded the nation that the LORD had chosen Joshua as his successor (3:21a). He encouraged the people to remember God’s promise to “fight” for Israel and drive out the inhabitants in Canaan (3:21-22). As He had defeated the two kings on the east side (Sihon, the Amorite, 2:24-36, and Og, the king of Bashan, 3:1-11), He would do the same to the Canaanite kings.

God Denied Moses’ Request to Enter Canaan (Deuteronomy 3:23-27)

For a second time in the Book of Deuteronomy (1:37), Moses recalled how He had fervently asked the LORD to permit him to enter Canaan. The LORD, provoked by Moses’ request, cautioned him, saying, “Speak no more unto me of this matter” (3:26). Because he violated the LORD’s command, Moses would not be allowed to enter the Promised Land. Nevertheless, in His grace, Moses was promised he would have an opportunity to gaze upon Canaan from the top of Pisgah (3:27; 34:1-5).

Deuteronomy 4 – Moses’ Charge to Israel

Keep the Commandments of God (Deuteronomy 4:1-2)

Unlike other nations, Israel was chosen by the LORD and privileged to know Him personally (4:1-6). By His statutes and judgments, the LORD revealed His person and character to Israel and warned the nation, “Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you” (4:2).

An Exhortation to Keep and Teach God’s Law (Deuteronomy 4:3-9)

Moses reminded the people how he taught them the “statutes and judgments” of the LORD and that they were to “Keep…and do them” (4:6). Like no other nation, Israel knew the LORD and were the custodians of His Laws and Commandments (4:7-14). Therefore, it was their covenant responsibility to not only “heed… [and] keep” the statutes and judgment of the LORD, but they were also to “teach them [unto] thy sons, and thy sons’ sons” (4:8-9).

A Reminder Concerning God’s Covenant and Commandments (Deuteronomy 4:10-40)

Moses continued and reminded the people of Israel’s unique covenant relationship with the LORD. The new generation was told how their forefathers had gathered at Mount Horeb, and out of the “midst of the fire,” they had heard the LORD’s commandments and accepted His covenant with them as a nation (4:10-13; Exodus 20:1-23:33). Moses then warned them to abstain from all forms of idolatry (4:14-40), and not to worship objects of God’s creation, as was the way of the heathen (4:16-19).

Remembering God is sovereign, Moses retold how Israel was delivered from Egypt when that nation was the most powerful in its day (4:20). He recalled that he disobeyed the LORD when he struck the rock in anger, and the LORD declared he “must die in this land, and not go over Jordan” (4:22; 1:37). Yet, following his death, the nation would “go over, and possess” Canaan (4:22).

A Threat of Dispersion and A Conditional Promise of Blessings (Deuteronomy 4:23-43)

Moses then warned the people that the LORD is a righteous Judge and jealous God (4:23-24). He called upon heaven and earth to be his witness and warned: Should they corrupt themselves and turn to idols, many would perish (4:25-26), and the nation would be dispersed and scattered among the heathen and serve them (4:27-28). Nevertheless, should Israel keep His statutes and commandments, the LORD promised it would “go well” for that generation and their children (4:29-40).

Today’s devotion concludes with the cities of refuge being appointed, three on the east and three on the west side of the Jordan River (4:41-43).

Closing thoughts: Who is the God of the Scriptures?

He is the Creator and the God of heaven (4:21). He is God alone, and “there is none else beside Him” (4:35). He is the Sovereign of heaven and earth (4:39). He is just, and His blessings are conditioned upon His people keeping “His statutes, and His commandments” (4:40).

Friend, the God who revealed His law and commandments to Israel is your Creator (John 1:3). Have you acknowledged Him as your God? You can know Him by the revelation of His Law, Commandments, and His Son, Jesus Christ (John 1:14).

Questions to consider:

1) What did the LORD promise that gave Israel confidence when they battled against Og, the king of Bashan? (3:2)

2) What were the names of the three tribes requesting land on the Jordan River’s east side? (3:12-13)

3) What promise did Moses give Joshua to encourage him as Israel’s new leader? (3:21-22)

4) What did Moses warn would become of Israel if the people worshipped idols and committed “evil in the sight of the LORD”? (4:25-28)

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Women’s Rights and a Question of Inheritance (Numbers 36)

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Scripture reading – Numbers 36

* Today’s Scripture reading concludes our study of the Book of Numbers and commences the Book of Deuteronomy (the final book of the first five books of the Scriptures identified as the Pentateuch). A second devotion will follow and introduce Deuteronomy.

Numbers 36

The Book of Numbers ended on an interesting note, as another concern regarding inheritance was raised. In an earlier devotion, we considered a daughter’s inheritance, should her father die without a son as his heir (Numbers 27:7-11). An actual case was referenced as a Hebrew man named Zelophehad had died without a son. His five daughters then petitioned that they were their father’s rightful heirs and should receive his portion in the Promised Land (27:4-5). Then the LORD directed Moses for Zelophehad’s daughters to be given their father’s share (27:6-11).

A Question of Tribal Lands Remaining in the Tribe (36:1-12)

Because the lands were assigned to tribes by families, there was a concern for what became of tribal lands should a man’s heirs be his daughters (Numbers 36:1-4) and then marry outside their tribe. It was therefore contended that the lands would be lost to a tribe if the daughters married outside their tribe. The quandary was settled by requiring daughters, heirs to their father’s estate, to marry within their tribe (36:5-9), thereby ensuring the land remained within the tribe.

The “daughters of Zelophehad” accepted the LORD’s command and married men within their tribe (36:10-12). Thus, the tribal lands were secured for future generations.

Closing thoughts:

The Book of Numbers concluded by reminding God’s people that the words of the LORD were commandments, not suggestions. Moses wrote, “These are the commandments and the judgments, which the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses unto the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho” (36:13).

Before He brought the Twelve Tribes into their inheritance, the LORD ensured they knew and understood what He required of them as a nation and people.

Questions to consider:

1) Who had the LORD commanded should receive Zelophehad’s inheritance? (36:2)

2) What concerns did the “children of Gilead” bring to Moses? (36:3-4)

3) What was God’s command concerning whom the daughters of Zelophehad were to marry? (36:6)

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The “Axe” of God’s Judgment is Suspended Over the Heads of Fathers and Husbands (Numbers 29; Numbers 30)

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Scripture reading – Numbers 29-30

We began a study of instructions regarding the offerings required by the LORD in Numbers 28 and continued with the same through Numbers 29. Because we have considered the same sacrifices and feasts in earlier devotionals (Leviticus 16 and Leviticus 23), I will limit my study of Numbers 29 to a summary of the offerings and feast days.

Numbers 29

The Law of the Offerings (continued from Numbers 28)

The Feast of Trumpets and the Day of Atonement (Numbers 29:1-11)

The “Feast of Trumpets” marked the beginning of a new year on the Hebrew calendar (29:1-6), and was followed by the holiest of days, the “Day of Atonement” (29:7-11). Also known as “Yom Kippur,” the Day of Atonement was the only day the high priest entered the holy of holies with the blood of sacrifice (Leviticus 16).

Of course, believers no longer need a high priest or the blood of sacrifices because Jesus Christ fulfilled the requirement of the sacrificial Passover lamb. By His death on the Cross, He is our High Priest (1 Peter 1:19; Hebrews 7:22-28; 9:11-28; 10:19-22).

The “Feast of Tabernacles” (Numbers 29:12-40)

The “Feast of Tabernacles” (29:12-34), also known as Sukkot, followed the “Day of Atonement” and was observed by Israel as a celebration of the harvest. Lasting seven days, the Feast of Tabernacles began with a Sabbath Rest (29:12) and ended with a Sabbath of Rest (29:35-38). Finally, the sacrifices were presented to the LORD for all the congregation (29:39-40).

Numbers 30

The Making and Breaking of Promises and Vows (Numbers 30:1-2)

In my lifetime, I have witnessed a shift in our society’s character from where a man’s word and a handshake were binding, compared to today when contracts are breached without so much as an apology. Therefore, it may surprise you to learn the LORD’s judgment regarding promises and vows (Leviticus 27).

King Solomon warned, “When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. ⁵Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay” (Ecclesiastes 5:4–5).

Vows and covenants were not to be treated lightly, and once a man made a vow, it was binding. There was no exception for men; however, God benevolently allowed for an exception in daughters and wives who might have made hasty, ill-advised vows (30:3-8, 10-15).

Spiritual lesson – Fathers and husbands are accountable and responsible for caring for and protecting the women in their lives.

Sadly, with the demand for “women’s rights,” a man’s privilege of protecting his daughters and wife has been neglected in the 21^st century. Consider the vows, pledges, and contracts in Numbers 30 and God’s compassionate care of women (Numbers 30:3-16).

An Unmarried Daughter’s Vow (Numbers 30:3-5)

A daughter, living in her father’s household, was by law under his protection (30:3-5). Should a daughter bind herself with a vow, and upon her father hearing of it but saying nothing, she could not be released from her vow (30:4). However, should a daughter vow, and the father hear of it, he had the authority to recant her vow, and her vow would not be binding (30:5).

A Young Wife’s Vow (Numbers 30:6-8)

When a woman married, she was no longer under her father’s authority but that of her husband. Should she make a vow, and her husband hears but says nothing regarding it, his wife was bound by her vow (30:6-7). A husband, however, hearing of a wife’s vow, had the authority to cancel her oath, and “the LORD [would] forgive her” (30:8).

The Vow of a Widowed or Divorced Woman (Numbers 30:9)

Women who were widowed or divorced were not under the authority of any man. Therefore, they were bound by their vows to the LORD and could not recant them (30:9). Widowed and divorced women were under obligation to fulfill their pledges.

A Wife’s Vows (Numbers 30:10-15)

The law concerning the vows of a wife served as a reminder that she was not only under her husband’s authority but was also under his protection. A husband had the authority to intervene, terminate his wife’s vow, or allow it to stand (30:10-16). Once he learned of her vow, he carried the weight of determining whether or not he would intervene.

Nevertheless, should the husband cause his wife to break her vow unadvisedly, he would do so, bearing the responsibility of “her iniquity” and, therefore, her judgment (30:15).

Closing thoughts:

A man was bound and accountable to God for caring for his wife and daughter(s) as long as they were in his household (30:16). Even so, though society has changed, godly men will love, care, and protect women in their lives. Furthermore, wives and daughters should take comfort in this:

The weight of the axe of God’s judgment hangs over their father or husband.

Questions to consider:

1) What was the law of God concerning vows made by men? (Numbers 30:1)

2) What was the will of God should a daughter make an ill-advised vow? (Numbers 30:3-5)

3) Why should widows and divorced women be especially careful when making a vow? (Numbers 30:9)

4) Who would bear the judgment should a husband cancel his wife’s vow? (Numbers 30:15)

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You are Your Brother’s Keeper; and the Preacher’s Call to Holiness (Leviticus 20; Leviticus 21)

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Scripture reading – Leviticus 20-21

Today’s Scripture reading continued the subject of the LORD’s Laws and Commandments and focused on those sins that were capital offenses punishable by death (Leviticus 20). Leviticus 21 marked a shift from the common people to “the sons of Aaron” (21:1-9) and the High Priest (21:10-15). We will briefly consider the guidelines for the priest, his person, and his character.

Leviticus 20

The LORD’s command for His people to be holy and obedient to His Law and Commandments continued in Leviticus 20. We will note six offenses warranted capital punishment.

Infanticide (Child Sacrifice), Abortion, and Guilt by Omission (20:1-5)

The first was the sacrifice of children to Molech (Leviticus 18:21), a pagan god who was identified with the Canaanites and particularly the Ammonites (1 Kings 11:5). While we find the thought of sacrificing children revolting, I remind my readers that our world has aborted and taken the lives of millions upon millions of unborn infants. While the ancients sacrificed their children to pagan gods, our world has taken the lives of the unborn because of the pagan god of convenience, irresponsibility, selfishness, and the list continues. The penalty for sacrificing one child was death by stoning (20:2), and God warned, “I will set my face against that man, and will cut him off from among his people; because he hath given of his seed unto Molech, to defile my sanctuary, and to profane my holy name” (20:3).

You Are Your Brother’s Keeper (20:4-5)

After he had slain his brother Abel and was confronted by God, Cain dared ask the LORD, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Genesis 4:9b) Cain implied he was not responsible for his brother’s whereabouts (Genesis 4:9a). However, he was guilty of his brother’s murder.

Leviticus 20:4-5 revealed that God’s people carried a burden of responsibility when they knew the sins of others (in this case, sacrificing a child to Molech). God warned that He would set His “face against that man, and against his family, and will cut him off…from among their people” (20:5). Why? Because he had “turned a blind eye” and did nothing. The sins you ignore in others and fail to confront invite God’s judgment.

Five additional types of sins were noted in Leviticus 20 that warranted capital punishment and death. (20:6-21)

Consulting with witches (20:6, 27), cursing one’s parents (20:9), adultery (20:10), incest (20:11-12, 14, 17, 19-21), and unnatural lusts. Named and condemned were homosexuality (20:13), bestiality (20:15-16), and incest (20:13).

What did the LORD require of His people? (20:22-26)

The LORD required Israel to keep His statutes and obey His Law and Commandments. The LORD warned that should the people follow the sins of other nations, the land He promised them would spue them out (literally vomit), them from their land (20:22-23).

Leviticus 21

A Charge and Guidelines for Priests (21:1-9)

The focus of Leviticus 21 was the priests who were “the sons of Aaron” (21:1). Because they were ministers of the LORD to Israel, priests were to model holiness in person and practice (21:6). They were not to defile themselves by touching the bodies of the dead (21:1), except those who were family members and for whom they had familial responsibilities (21:2-3). Likewise, they were not to mourn the dead as those who shave their heads, cut their beards, or cut themselves as an outward sign of mourning (21:4-5).

When a priest married, he must not be unequally yoked, not take a wife whose reputation would tarnish his public ministry (21:7; 2 Corinthians 6:14). Daughters of priests were especially challenged to be mindful that their reputation could soil their father. Failure to do so could require she “be burnt with fire” (21:9).

A Charge to the High Priest (21:10-15)

Because the calling of the High Priest was to shepherd the nation, he was anointed and bound by higher standards than the common priests (21:10). Unlike our day when I observe ministers and preachers attempting to be “cool” under the notion of being relevant, the high priest was to be holy and set apart unto the LORD (21:11-12). In addition, his wife was to be a virgin (21:13-14), and he was to be chaste and have no children by any other than his wife (21:15).

Closing thoughts:

For those who served the LORD and His people, the standard was the same as those animals offered for sacrifice…without physical blemish (21:16-24). The priests were to be physically perfect and were excluded from ministry for several physical maladies that were stated (21:18-20). Why? Arguably the work of sacrificial offerings was physically grueling. The priests were to reflect God’s holy, perfect character; therefore, none might approach His altar or sanctuary, which had a blemish (21:23-24).

Questions to consider:

1) What happened to those who ignored their neighbor’s wickedness? (Leviticus 20:4-5)

2) What were the consequences of cursing a father or mother? (Leviticus 20:9)

3) What did God promise if Israel kept His Laws and Commandments? (Leviticus 20:22)

4) Why was a priest to be concerned with the character of the woman he married? (Leviticus 21:7)

5) What manner of woman was a high priest to take as his wife? (Leviticus 21:13-14)

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Sometimes Saying, “I’m sorry” is Not Enough! (Exodus 21; Exodus 22)

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Scripture reading: Exodus 21-22

Having established the Ten Commandments as the foundation of God’s Covenant with Israel, today’s Scripture reading states the practical and personal application of the Commandments. We read, “Now these are the judgments which thou shalt set before them” (21:1).

The following verses served not only Israel but have been the foundation of democratic law and government down through the centuries. You will find here the basis of your sense of justice and fairness. Yet, tragically, I fear the principles recorded here have been forgotten and discarded by leaders, politicians, and citizens of the 21^st century.

Exodus 21

Human Rights: Precepts for Slavery, Manslaughter, Rebellion, and Injury

Slavery and indentured servitude (21:1-11) have been practiced since ancient times and continue in some form to this day. Those who object to the inclusion of this topic in the Bible must realize it was a commonly accepted practice and had to be addressed righteously. Understanding poverty might reduce a man to slavery; the LORD instituted prudent principles that forbade injustice. Here we have guidelines to impart dignity to even the lowest household servant. Unfortunately, there is an epidemic of human trafficking and “sex slaves” today, perpetuating the shameful abuses God’s Law prohibits.

Slavery and Individual Sovereignty (21:1-6)

Should a Hebrew man become impoverished and reduced to slavery to pay his debt, he would serve his master no more than six years. Upon the seventh year, he was to be freed from his indebtedness and servitude (21:1-2). Should a married man be reduced to servitude, he, his wife, and his children would be released in the seventh year.

However, should a man take a wife during his servitude, he alone would be at liberty in the seventh year (21:3-4). Although freed from obligation, should the man love his master and not want to depart alone, he was permitted to choose to continue voluntarily as a slave (21:5). Such a man would have his ear bored through (21:6) and would serve either till the death of his master, or be set free with his family in the year of jubilee (which would occur every 50 years).

The Desperate Role of Daughters (21:7-11)

Poverty might sometimes force a father to part with his daughter and sell her to another as a household servant (21:7). Because this system was fraught with abuses, the Law provided guidelines to preserve the dignity and reputation of Hebrew daughters. For example, a poor man who desired a better life for his daughter sometimes permitted a wealthy man to purchase her and take her to his wife when she came of age. When she came of age, if the man or his son refused to marry her, they would send her away with a dowry enough to provide her food and clothing and with no further obligation to the benefactor (21:8-11).

The Sanctity of Human Life (21:12-14)

The sixth commandment stated, “Thou shalt not kill” (20:13). Prudently, God’s Law recognized a difference between murder and manslaughter (taking a life without intent, 21:12-14).

The Honor to be Afforded Parents (21:15, 17).

The fifth commandment said, “Honour thy father and thy mother” (20:12). Cursing or striking one’s parents was a capital offense, and death was mandated (21:15, 17). Still, we must understand that cursing or hitting one’s father or mother carried judicial stipulations. The commandments are filled with conditions, longsuffering, and love. In addition, all offenses were brought before a judicial body that ruled over offenses. As such, we do not have a Biblical account of any being put to death for this offense.

Justice and Fair Compensation for Loss (21:18-36)

Fair and adequate compensation was required for accidental injuries that did not result in death. Should a victim of injury be unable to provide for himself or his family, he was to be fairly and adequately compensated (21:18-32). The law states, “Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot” (21:24). Losses caused by one’s negligence were to be compensated (21:28-36). It did not require the offender to lose his eye, tooth, or life.

Exodus 22

Theft and Endangerment of One’s Livelihood were not Tolerated. (22:1-13)

The theft of ox or sheep was a serious offense (22:1-4) in an agricultural society where a man’s livelihood and his family’s well-being depended on farming and husbandry. Damage to a man’s vineyard or crops required fair compensation for the loss (22:5-6).

Personal responsibility and liability were important issues among God’s people, and fair compensation for losses, whether caused by theft or neglect, was mandated (22:7-15).

Loans and the Obligation of Debtors (22:14-15)

Exodus 22:14-15 states the obligation a borrower assumed when using another man’s property. For the sake of illustration, if a farmer borrowed another man’s ox to plow his field, and the ox was injured or died, the borrower became a debtor and was under obligation to “make it good” (22:14). In other words, one must choose to either repay or replace the ox. An exception to the law of repayment or replacement was when the owner of an ox plowed another man’s field “for his hire” (22:15). Because he was hired to plow a field, the employer (owner of the field) was not under obligation to replace the ox.

Exodus 22 concluded with various laws that addressed moral and societal issues (22:16-23:19), including rape (22:16-17), witchcraft (22:18), bestiality (22:19), and idolatry (22:20). The matter of borrowing, and indebtedness were addressed as well as charging excessive interest that imposed unnecessary hardships on the poor were condemned (22:25-27).

Closing thoughts:

The Law and its application to daily life necessitate honesty and integrity. Indeed, the need for spiritual principles and values is as great today as they were when they were given. Certainly, if we want the next generation to have integrity, they must be taught to be responsible. Justice and fairness demand that when one’s actions cause injury or loss, there is an obligation to make the injured party whole.

After all, sometimes saying, “I’m sorry,” is not enough!

Questions to consider:

1) To pay a debt, a man might be forced to become an indentured servant (slave). What was the maximum number of years a man might be enslaved? (Exodus 21:2)

2) What would become of a man’s wife and children should he marry while enslaved? (Exodus 21:4)

3) What physical sign identified a man as a willing, voluntary servant? (Exodus 21:5-6)

4) The penalty for intentional murder was death (Exodus 21:12). What was the consequence of manslaughter (unintentional killing of another)? (Exodus 21:13)

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The Ten Commandments – Part 2 (Exodus 20)

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Scripture reading: Exodus 19-20

All of Israel witnessed the outward manifestation of God’s heavenly glory as smoke and fire engulfed Mount Sinai. The trumpet blasts warned man, woman, and beast that none dared approach the mount and live (19:12-13). Then, out of the midst of the mountain, the LORD was heard saying, “I am the LORD [Jehovah; Eternal, Self-Existent God] thy God [Elohim], which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage” (20:2).

Exodus 20

The Ten Commandments were part of the LORD’S covenant with Israel, and the people were commanded to hear, heed, and obey them (20:1-17).

The first commandment stated, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me” (20:3). Unlike the neighboring nations who worshipped innumerable gods, Israel was to worship one God—Yahweh, Elohim, the True, Eternal, Self-existent One.

The second commandment was, “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: ⁵Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; ⁶And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments” (20:4-6). Unlike their neighbors, Israel was not to worship idols or images like Israel’s God. The people were warned that the family would bear the guilt for violating the second commandment and thereby invoke God’s judgment “upon the children” (20:5).

The third commandment reminded Israel that the essence of God’s character was summed up in His name. We read, “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain” (20:7). God’s name was to be honored and not spoken of lightly or in vain. The name and meaning of Israel’s God was to be hallowed.

The fourth commandment served as a reminder that Israel’s God was Creator, and the Sabbath would serve as a day of rest and a memorial to His handiwork. Of the Sabbath, we read: “⁸Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. ⁹Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: ¹⁰But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: ¹¹For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it” (20:8-11). The Sabbath Day, the seventh day of the week, was dedicated to the LORD as a day of worship and rest (31:16-17).

The fifth commandment moved the emphasis of the Law and Commandments from man’s relationship with his Creator to his relationship with his fellow man. Israel was commanded, “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee” (20:12). Because fathers and mothers represented God’s authority, sons and daughters of Israel were to honor and revere their parents. Likewise, the elderly were to be honored and revered; any who failed were condemned (Deuteronomy 27:16). The fifth commandment also carried a particular promise and reward–long life (20:12b; Ephesians 6:1-3).

The sixth commandment was a reminder of the sanctity of human life: “Thou shalt not kill” (20:13). Because Adam was created in God’s image, the life of man and woman were to be valued as sacred (Genesis 1:27; 2:7, 21-22).

The seventh commandment served as a reminder of the sanctity of marriage. The LORD commanded Israel, “Thou shalt not commit adultery” (20:14). From the beginning, God established the institution of marriage as a sacred covenant between Himself and the man and woman. It was ordained by their Creator that “man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh” (Genesis 2:24). As “one flesh,” the bond between the husband and his wife is not to be broken (Genesis 2:24). So sacred is the institution of marriage, that it served in the New Testament as a picture of Christ’s enduring love for believers and the church (Ephesians 5:30-32; Matthew 5:27-29).

The eighth commandment established the right of ownership. It stated: “Thou shalt not steal” (20:15). Thus, to take that which belonged to another (whether by theft or deceit) was a sin against God and man (Ephesians 4:28).

The ninth commandment demanded that truth would prevail. We read, “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour” (20:16). God’s people were to speak the truth (Ephesians 4:15, 25, 29), and libel, slander, or bearing false witness was a grievous sin.

The tenth commandment stated, “Thou shalt not covet,” and focused upon desires for that which belonged to another. So we read, “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s” (20:17). Though manifested outwardly, covetousness is deeply-rooted within the heart of man.

The Manner of Worship Required by a Holy God (Exodus 20:18-26)

Having forbidden idols and images of Himself (20:4-6; 23-25), the LORD was also concerned about the attitude and manner of those who approached His altar to worship and offer sacrifices. Therefore, steps were forbidden at the altar to preserve a modest, respectful decorum, lest those who worshipped be perceived as immodest (20:26).

Closing thoughts:

The LORD’S expectations for Israel’s altar, and His demand for modesty, should be instructive. The priests were commanded to conduct themselves in a manner befitting the holiness of God. There were not to allow “nakedness” (immodesty) to distract those who worshipped the LORD (20:26).

Tragically, “anything goes” seems to be the mode of worshippers in the 21^st-century church. I fear there is little thought given to the manner or style of worshiping God who is holy.

Questions to consider:

1) Was Israel permitted to have and worship a physical likeness (image) of God? (Exodus 20:4)

2) What were the people promised if they kept God’s Commandments? (20:6)

3) Why was Israel commanded to consider the Sabbath a holy day? (20:11)

4) What two commandments stressed the sanctity of human life and marriage? (Exodus 20:13-14)

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Mailing Address:
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