Miscellaneous Laws PT-2 (Ex. 22:21-31 & 13:9)

7/3/2008 6:34 PM

My Worship Time           Focus:  Miscellaneous laws Part II

Bible Reading & Meditation     Reference:  Exodus 22:21-31; 23:9

            Message of the verses:  “21  "You shall not wrong a stranger or oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.  22  "You shall not afflict any widow or orphan.  23  "If you afflict him at all, and if he does cry out to Me, I will surely hear his cry; 24  and My anger will be kindled, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall become widows and your children fatherless.

25 ¶  "If you lend money to My people, to the poor among you, you are not to act as a creditor to him; you shall not charge him interest.  26  "If you ever take your neighbor’s cloak as a pledge, you are to return it to him before the sun sets, 27  for that is his only covering; it is his cloak for his body. What else shall he sleep in? And it shall come about that when he cries out to Me, I will hear him, for I am gracious.  28  "You shall not curse God, nor curse a ruler of your people.  29  "You shall not delay the offering from your harvest and your vintage. The firstborn of your sons you shall give to Me.  30  "You shall do the same with your oxen and with your sheep. It shall be with its mother seven days; on the eighth day you shall give it to Me.  31  "You shall be holy men to Me, therefore you shall not eat any flesh torn to pieces in the field; you shall throw it to the dogs.

“9  "You shall not oppress a stranger, since you yourselves know the feelings of a stranger, for you also were strangers in the land of Egypt.”

Selfishness:  God took care of the children of Israel while they were in the land of Egypt and now He wants them to remember that when they go into the Promised Land.  God wants His people to care for strangers as they were taken care of while in Egypt and He wants them to take care of the aliens, widows and orphans.  God also wants the children of Israel who are rich to care for the poor and not charge them interest whenever they lend them money.  They are not to exploit the poor.  In the commentary that Dr. Wiersbe give on this section he mentions many, many verses in reference to the need to have widows and orphans cared for.  God looks out after the widows and orphans. 

Reviling authority:  God has given the Law for the good of the people and in that Law it was a capital offence to curse God, and now in verse twenty-eight God tells His people not to curse a ruler of their people.  God is the One who set up human government and although it is not perfect it is better than not have any government at all.  This topic is spoken of more than once in the New Testament.

Delay in obeying:  God says in verses 20-30 that there should be no delay in giving to Him the firstfruits, firstfruits of the land and orchard, and also the firstfruits of animals and the firstfruits of males.

Defiled meat:  In verse thirty-one God give a law concerning meat, and the proper use of it.  Israel was a holy nation and there was a certain way that they were to kill the animals that were to become their food.  They were not to have any blood in their meat (Lev. 22:8).  They were not eat meat that was killed by a wild animal, and animal that was torn to pieces.  This law was not only for their religion, but also for their hygiene. 

Spiritual meaning for my life today:  These miscellaneous laws not only show the character of God, but they also are very practical and it would be good if they were followed by all people.  God’s laws give freedom to His people.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Trust the Lord for His timetable as to when Sandy and I will be moving to Hawaii.

Memory verses for the week:                      Colossians 4:12-13

12.    Epaphras, who is one of your number, a bondslave of Jesus Christ, sends you his greetings, always laboring earnestly for you in his prayers, that you would stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God.

13.    For I testify for him that he has a deep concern for you and for those who are in Laodicea and Hierapolis. 

7/3/2008 7:04 PM