As they say, people dishonest in business may eat better, but the honest ones sleep better. If you recall the story of Tamar in Genesis 38, you’ll be in familiar territory when you read Deuteronomy 25:5-10. This is the so-called Levirate marriage arrangement, from the Latin levir, meaning brother-in-law. This had to do with the […]
Read More… from February 9, 2023 — Doing Things The Right Way
In both the treatment of a criminal and of a working ox, we see the link between action and consequence. As we read through these challenging chapters, it’s good to remind ourselves of certain facts. First, there were no prisons in Israel. If a crime was serious enough, where a person had forfeited their life […]
Read More… from February 8, 2023 — Limited Punishment; Unlimited Blessing
There’s nothing more interesting than a general store, and chapters like these sure look like one. Maybe the reason these sections of Scripture are arranged the way they are, with sudden topic changes, is to keep readers from being lulled to sleep. You know what it’s like when there’s a very long section on one […]
Read More… from February 7, 2023 — A Little Of This And That
A marriage breakdown can usually be traced to a heart breakdown, so let’s build up with love instead. Welcome to our continuing study in the fifth book by Moses, Deuteronomy. We’ve reached chapter 24, and you can’t help but realize how many details there are which God wanted His people to follow. Many of these […]
Read More… from February 6, 2023 — Love & Loyalty In Marriage
As we move through life, choosing what to say Yes and No to will either free or enslave us. While the last half of Deuteronomy 23 seems to include diverse subjects, we may link them by seeing them as a discussion of right and wrong obligations or relationships. The section begins: “You shall not give […]
Read More… from February 3, 2023 — Right & Wrong Obligations
The nation of Israel must be protected from anything that might jeopardize the coming of the Christ. Our next chapter, Deuteronomy 23, deals with those who could not “enter the assembly of the Lord” (v 1). There is some discussion as to what this actually meant. I find Adam Clarke’s comments helpful: “If by entering […]
Good fencing around rooftops—and relationships—is the secret of a happy home life. Although most homes in the West have peaked roofs, that wasn’t the case in the lands of the Bible. A flat roof provided an ideal place for families to gather in the early morning or evening. The roof usually had three layers in […]
The desire to push God’s boundaries and break down barriers is the path to self-destruction. If we are to care for animals and birds, surely we should also care for our fellow humans. There are several ways we can do this, outlined in Deuteronomy 22. First, “A woman shall not wear anything that pertains to […]
Read More… from January 31, 2023 — Boundaries For Our Blessing
A wise use of the Lord’s creation will result in fruitful living and careful stewardship, too. You’ve probably noticed that little things often speak loudest when it comes to thoughtful Christian living. Easily overlooked deeds of kindness, a few heartfelt words, help with the dishes, or replacing something that has been used up—very often these […]
Read More… from January 30, 2023 — All Creatures Great & Small