Interspersed in these various laws is a word that ties them together: remember (24:9, 18, 22). Moses wanted the Israelites to know that they had been learning God’s way through the things they had experienced.
LORD, help us to learn from our walk with you.
The reason no indecent thing was allowed within the camp was that God was looking. The camp must remain holy “so that (God) may not see anything indecent among you and turn away from you. Even though the LORD saved the Israelites by his grace, he would still not tolerate sexual or spiritual indecency in the camp. We who follow Christ should take special care not to offend the Holy Spit who walks among us, and is looking.
LORD, we commit ourselves to sexual and spiritual purity.
Sexual sins, and sins of deception and violence associated with them could not be tolerated in a society that sought to display the glory of the LORD. Moses’ instruction was for the community to purge itself of the evil and so preserve a society whose relationships lead people to the LORD and not away from him.
Jesus teaches the same principle on a personal level:
Matthew 18:9 “if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire.”
LORD, we resolve to purge the evil from our lives, so that we draw people to you, not away from you.
The culture to which these commands was originally given was an oriental, shame-based culture. The people in these cultures are primarily motivated by shame, experienced by the whole group, and not primarily by individual guilt. This explains the connection between the various issues that this section addresses:
The purpose of these regulations is to help the society deal with the shame involved in these situations. God loves his people, and wants their glory, not their shame.
LORD, we resolve to bring glory to you, and to reflect your glory in how we live.
Moses would not participate in the wars he spoke of, but his words would guide those who did. Warriors had to be free of other concerns and pursuits, and must be aware of the bigger picture. That had to know that the conquest was God’s judgment upon the Canaanites, and to be aware of the danger involved in letting those enemies survive. They had to be careful not to harm the land, because it would soon be their land.
LORD, you have called us to peace, not war. But we must sometimes wage war with the Adversary. Teach us wise warfare.
Life in the new society was to be permeated with grace, but there would be those who would seek to test God by taking advantage of that grace. Murderers fleeing into the levitical cities of refuge, landowners moving boundary markers, and malicious witnesses were examples. The LORD demanded justice in these cases. The peace of the society had to be preserved so that the society would witness as a whole to God’s rescue. No individual had the right to oppose that peace for selfish gain.
LORD, thank you for your grace. May we never take advantage of your grace, and so bring shame upon your name.
The Levite who served the people in the LORD’s name was to be provided for because of his ministry. The prophet was to be listened to – and false prophets were not. The Israelites were not to follow those who pretended to read the signs or communicate with the spirit world. God himself would raise up people of integrity to speak his word. The new society depended upon such people.
LORD, give us appreciation for the people you have place among us to minister in your name.
In this bold new society that the LORD is setting up through Moses, things will not be done the old way. The old way was that you got what you wanted by bribery and the powerful were the rulers. In the new society the law of God prevailed. Even the powerful (priests, judges and kings) were subservient to the law. The LORD did not want people to get their way by manipulating his power. He wanted justice.
LORD, let justice prevail among us. May we not presume to get our way because of our relationship with you. Keep us humble before you.
The feasts were designed to be a constant reminder of what the LORD had done and is doing for his people. God wanted his children to remember and rejoice because he was and is among them.
LORD, build into our lives a pattern of consistent remembrance of your grace.
The same LORD who commanded rest at the end of the week commanded release of servants at the end of a seven year cycle. He wanted his people to be known for their kindness to one another, and he aimed for redemption from poverty. These are the kinds of people who honor him today as well.
LORD, help us to honor you by loving one another, and seeking freedom from bondage for ourselves and others.
Deuteronomy 23:15-25:19
Deuteronomy 23:1-14
Deuteronomy 22:13-30
Deuteronomy 20
Deuteronomy 19
Deuteronomy 18
Deuteronomy 15:19-16:17
Deuteronomy 15:1-18
