Devotions

usurping the harvest

Posted on April 2, 2020 by Jefferson Vann

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usurping the harvest

Deuteronomy 23:24-25 (JDV)

Deuteronomy 23:24 “When you enter your neighbor’s vineyard, you may eat as many grapes as you want until you are full, but do not put any in your container.
Deuteronomy 23:25 When you enter your neighbor’s standing grain, you may pluck heads of grain with your hand, but do not put a sickle to your neighbor’s grain.

usurping the harvest

My first response to this is “Hey, you, get out of my vineyard, and stay away from my field! My cultural expectation is a bit different than that in the ancient near east. But I have to realize that as part of the covenant community, Israelites were probably used to a smaller personal bubble than I am.

The instruction in today’s text established limits to a person’s involvement in his neighbor’s livelihood. He could inspect, but he could not usurp the harvest.

We can enjoy the benefits of another person’s hard work, but we should be ready to compensate him or her. It is only fair to do so.

And in those cases where people don’t expect compensation, we should acknowledge their part by showing appreciation for them.

It takes an entire community to produce a harvest.

Lord, thank you for the neighbors all around us who are planting and maintaining a harvest for you. Show us how to show our appreciation for their hard work.

Posted in appreciation, consideration of others | Tagged Deuteronomy 23 | 1 Comment

people of our word

Posted on April 1, 2020 by Jefferson Vann

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people of our word

Deuteronomy 23:21-23 (JDV)

Deuteronomy 23:21 “If you make a solemn pledge to Yahveh your God, do not be slow to keep it, because he will require it of you, and it will be counted against you as a mistake.
Deuteronomy 23:22 But if you refrain from making a vow, it will not be counted against you as a mistake.
Deuteronomy 23:23 Be careful to do whatever comes from your lips, because you have spontaneously voluntarily vowed what you promised to Yahveh your God.

In many areas of the world, today is known as April Fool’s Day. People try to fool others by saying outrageous lies and trying to get them to believe them. Such behavior can be humorous on April Fool’s Day, but as a habit, it can be disastrous. God wants us to be people who tell the truth, people of our word.

people of our word

Each of the restrictions in this section have to do with protecting the community. As representatives of God and his coming kingdom, the Israelites had to avoid doing anything that would shame God and turn people against him. Delayed and broken promises do that. If someone claims to represent God but cannot keep his or her word, then God’s reputation is marred. So, the instruction is to be careful not to make promises — and if you do, keep them. The world is watching to see if we have the integrity to do what we spontaneously voluntarily vowed.

Lord, make us people of your word, and people of our word.

Posted in integrity, truth | Tagged Deuteronomy 23 | 1 Comment

one citizenry

Posted on March 31, 2020 by Jefferson Vann

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one citizenry

Deuteronomy 23:19-20 (JDV)

Deuteronomy 23:19 “Do not charge your brother interest on silver, food, or anything that can earn interest.
Deuteronomy 23:20 You may charge a foreigner interest, but you must not charge your brother Israelite interest, so that Yahveh your God may empower you in everything you do in the land you are entering to take possession of.

one citizenry

Charging interest on a loan is the quickest way to create a separate class of citizen. That was not to be in the covenant community. The outsiders were those who were not part of the covenant. Within the covenant, there was only one citizenry. You do not take advantage of fellow citizens.

Likewise, in the new covenant with Christ, all the old barriers and classes were to be broken down and absolved. “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28 NASB).

Lord, keep us from any activity or any structure that creates barriers between us and our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Posted in fellowship, new covenant, unity | Tagged Deuteronomy 23 | 1 Comment

free and clear

Posted on March 30, 2020 by Jefferson Vann

selective focus photography of monarch butterfly perched on marigold flower

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free and clear

Deuteronomy 23:15-18 (JDV)

Deuteronomy 23:15 “Do not return a slave to his master when he has escaped from his master to you.
Deuteronomy 23:16 Let him stay among you wherever he wants within your city gates. Do not mistreat him.
Deuteronomy 23:17 “No Israelite woman is to be a cult prostitute, and no Israelite man is to be a cult prostitute.
Deuteronomy 23:18 Do not bring a female prostitute’s wages or a male prostitute’s earnings into the house of Yahveh your God to fulfill any solemn pledge, because both are repulsive to Yahveh your God.

free and clear

Although God did not endorse either, both slavery and prostitution were a part of ancient near eastern life. What is at stake in this passage is whether the Israelites would be seen as part of the problem, rather than part of the solution. If an Israelite returned a slave who escaped to him for refuge from a cruel master, he would be endorsing the slavery and the abuse. If an Israelite harbored a cult prostitute — even taking as rental part of that prostitute’s earnings, then his participation in the temple worship would defile it.

There are still lots of social and moral evils that pervade our societies, and God wants no part of them. Because we are children of God through adoption, we need to forsake those evils as well. We are his temple, and we cannot bring the earnings of a prostitute into that temple — they would defile it. We are set free by him. If anyone seeks refuge from their slavery through us, we should not return them to their bondage.

Lord, show us how to live free and clear of sin in a world still tainted with it.

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In today’s video, I share a prayer I wrote a few years ago, which is relevant to our current Coronavirus pandemic: “A prayer for Overcoming Adversity.”

Posted in discernment, purity, sexuality, sin, slavery | Tagged Deuteronomy 23 | 1 Comment

sacred septic

Posted on March 29, 2020 by Jefferson Vann

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sacred septic

Deuteronomy 23:12-14 (JDV)

Deuteronomy 23:12 You are to have a place outside the camp and go there to relieve yourself.
Deuteronomy 23:13 You are to have a digging tool in your equipment; when you relieve yourself, dig a hole with it and cover up your excrement.
Deuteronomy 23:14 You see, Yahveh your God walks throughout your camp to protect you and deliver your enemies to you; so your encampments must be sacred. He must not see anything indecent among you or he will turn away from you.

sacred septic

Personal hygiene discipline was one of the ways the Israelites showed their commitment to purity. For them, it was not just a matter of keeping the camp free of odor, it was a way of keeping sacred. The entire camp was to be kept from anything that might be considered indecent because God himself walked throughout their camp to protect them and give them victory over their enemies. Without his protection and power, they would be lost.

We show our commitment to God in a thousand ways. Sometimes it will be the things we consider ordinary and mundane which will demonstrate to the world around us that we have chosen righteousness.

Lord, we chose the life of purity, because you walk throughout our camp.

Posted in commitment, purity, witness | Tagged Deuteronomy 23 | 1 Comment

night happenings

Posted on March 28, 2020 by Jefferson Vann

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night happenings

Deuteronomy 23:9-11 (JDV)

Deuteronomy 23:9 “When you are encamped against your enemies, be careful to avoid anything offensive.
Deuteronomy 23:10 If there is a man among you who is not pure because of a bodily emission during the night, he must go outside the camp; he may not come anywhere inside the camp.
Deuteronomy 23:11 When evening approaches, he is to wash with water, and when the sun sets he may come inside the camp.

night happenings

The Hebrews called it euphemistically a “night happening.” If any kind of bodily emission occurred during the night, it rendered a person ritually impure, and he had to be excluded from the camp the next day. This rule was to protect the warriors from defilement. To fight with honor, they needed pure hearts and undefiled consciences.

While this rule has to do with ritual defilement, not sin, the whole concept of defilement is a lesson about a person’s moral life and its effect on others.

As a soldier, I remember feeling conflicted within when my leaders encouraged vulgar talk and immoral behavior. It made me wonder whether I was really on the right side. If you are going to be a warrior, you need to walk with integrity.

Lord, I pray for the soldiers who protect our nations. Give them pure hearts and undefiled consciences.

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limited enrollment

Posted on March 27, 2020 by Jefferson Vann

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limited enrollment

Deuteronomy 23:3-8 (JDV)

Deuteronomy 23:3 No Ammonite or Moabite may enter Yahveh ‘s collected assembly; none of their descendants, even to the tenth generation, may enter Yahveh’s collected assembly permanently.
Deuteronomy 23:4 This is because they did not meet you with food and water on the journey after you came out of Egypt, and because Balaam son of Beor from Pethor in Aram-naharaim was hired to curse you.
Deuteronomy 23:5 Yet Yahveh your God would not listen to Balaam, but he turned the affliction into an empowerment for you because Yahveh your God cares about you.
Deuteronomy 23:6 Never pursue their welfare or prosperity all your days – permanently.
Deuteronomy 23:7 Do not despise an Edomite, because he is your brother. Do not despise an Egyptian, because you were a guest in his land.
Deuteronomy 23:8 The children born to them in the third generation may enter Yahveh’s collected assembly.

limited enrollment

People from some nations were to be excluded from joining the covenant community, because those nations had acted to destroy Israel. Others were not to be despised, but welcomed into the collected assembly after two generations had passed. Even the Edomites and Egyptians would be accepted after the limits of the exclusion were expired. The purpose of this rule was not to encourage prejudice, but to protect the covenant from those nations which had recently demonstrated hostility to Israel. The limits suggest that some within those nations would change their minds about the Israelites, and want to join them by converting.

Christ commands us to go to nations. The only ones excluded from God’s new covenant assembly are those who reject him. There is no need to protect the new covenant community because when the kingdom from the sky comes, nothing impure will enter it. God’s word today is “let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.”

Lord, thank you for accepting us into your new covenant community.

Posted in church, evangelism | Tagged Deuteronomy 23 | 1 Comment

do not enter

Posted on March 26, 2020 by Jefferson Vann

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do not enter

Deuteronomy 23:1-2 (JDV)

Deuteronomy 23:1 “No man whose testicles have been crushed or whose penis has been eliminated may enter Yahveh ‘s collected assembly.
Deuteronomy 23:2 No one of illegitimate birth may enter Yahveh’s collected assembly; none of his descendants, even to the tenth generation, may enter Yahveh’s collected assembly.

do not enter

So much for “just as I am.” I have read quite a few commentaries on these verses, and I have to confess that I am not sure I can defend other people’s explanation of it. Nevertheless, I trust God’s word, and I am sure there is a reason for these prohibitions. It may possibly have to do with keeping the collected assembly pure from any appearance of shame. Our communities need to reflect God’s purity and glory.

But I think this rule reflects the fact that in eternity no one will live in Christ’s kingdom who is not 100% redeemed.

It is comforting that Jesus makes no such prohibition for his covenant. He took on all our brokenness, even that which we were born into — thus could not prevent.

Thank you Lord for making us whole so that we can enter your collected assembly.

Posted in discipleship, healing, new covenant | Tagged Deuteronomy 23 | 1 Comment

passion and shame

Posted on March 25, 2020 by Jefferson Vann

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passion and shame

Deuteronomy 22:28-30 (JDV)

Deuteronomy 22:28 If a man encounters a young woman, a virgin who is not engaged, takes hold of her and rapes her, and they are discovered,
Deuteronomy 22:29 the man who raped her is to give the young woman’s father fifty silver shekels, and she will become his wife because he humiliated her. He cannot divorce her as long as he lives.
Deuteronomy 22:30 “A man is not to marry his father’s wife; he must not violate his father’s marriage bed.

passion and shame

Both of these prohibitions deal with sexual passion out of control. The covenant community recognized the place for sexual passion, but also understood the need for all human desires to be controlled a regard for others. A young woman violated, or a widow or divorcée violated incestuously — would bring shame upon the community. Aside from the obvious vulgar and violent act of rape itself, there would be an honor crime involved in these cases.

Lord, instill in us a discipline which respects the rights of others, and keeps our own passions under control.

Posted in self-control | Tagged Deuteronomy 22 | 1 Comment

crime in the city

Posted on March 24, 2020 by Jefferson Vann

high angle view of cityscape against cloudy sky

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crime in the city

Deuteronomy 22:23-27 (JDV)

Deuteronomy 22:23 If there is a young woman who is a virgin engaged to a man, and another man encounters her in the city and sleeps with her,
Deuteronomy 22:24 take the two of them out to the gate of that city and stone them to death – the young woman because she did not cry out in the city and the man because he has humiliated his neighbor’s fiance. You must purge the evil from you.
Deuteronomy 22:25 But if the man encounters an engaged woman in the open country, and he holds her strongly and rapes her, only the man who raped her must die.
Deuteronomy 22:26 Do nothing to the young woman, because she is not guilty of a mistake deserving death. This case is just like one in which a man attacks his neighbor and murders him.
Deuteronomy 22:27 When he found her in the field, the engaged woman cried out, but there was no one to rescue her.

crime in the city

In the instance where the apparent rape was really consensual, both parties are considered guilty of the crime, and both are taken out of the city and executed. The nearness of others who could have prevented the act makes the city liable as well. Taking the two criminals out of the city was part of the process of dealing with the social responsibility of preventing the crime.

In many of our societies today, people engage in all kinds of illicit and criminal acts with the full awareness of the community. Purging the evil from us is our collective responsibility, and when a city looks the other way, it incurs guilt for the crimes committed. We cannot be everywhere, but when the crime is being committed in our own house or community, we need to take steps to prevent it.

Lord, instill in us a willingness to remove evil from our hearts, homes, and neighborhoods.

Posted in sin | Tagged Deuteronomy 22 | 1 Comment