Today’s passage: Deuteronomy 21
Helpful thoughts:
- At first glance, it seems as though the laws written in this chapter are miscellaneous. However, there is a pattern. In this chapter there is a shift from laws that refer to the commandments, “You shall not murder” to “You shall not commit adultery.”
- These various laws discuss what should be done in situations where the greater (big picture) commandments are not kept.
- These subsequent laws give evidence that there are always consequences to sin. When people choose not to follow the law, they (and others whom the sinner may never have considered in their actions) always have further consequences. People can choose to sin, but they cannot choose the consequences.
- All this helps us to better understand these laws. In these laws, God is not condoning actions. He is protecting others who are negatively impacted by the actions of others.
Questions to consider:
- In what ways could we see these laws protecting those who would be viewed as the victims in the actions portrayed?
- In what ways would these actions be seen as ridiculous in our culture today, but seem to have been more commonplace at the time? What actions do we see around us often today which people from back then would think we are crazy to be doing now?
- In what ways do we see the mercy of God on display through these laws, as unusual as they seem? Who is God protecting? To whom does He continue to be a shield? How is His justice shown?