Scripture: “You shall not pervert the justice due to the sojourner or to the fatherless, or take a widow’s garment in pledge, but you shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt and the LORD your God redeemed you from there; therefore I command you to do this.” Deuteronomy 24:17-18 ESV
Observation: Chapter 24 continues an array of laws, most of which review and elaborate on regulations cited earlier in the Pentateuch. Intended to protect the vulnerable, they include the rights of:
- a wife served a certificate of divorce (free to marry another man but no remarriage, vv.1-4),
- a newly married man (free from public duty for one year, v.5),
- a fellow Israelite’s freedom (must not enslave another; otherwise, the oppressor faces capital punishment, v.7),
- the community’s health regarding exposure to leprosy (vv.8-9),
- the poor and widowed regarding a fair lending policy (cannot take a millstone, their livelihood, as collateral and must not intrude into their house to take a pledge nor keep their cloak overnight, vv.6, 10-13, 17),
- the vulnerable regarding wages (must pay wages the same day regardless of whether he is a brother or sojourner, vv.14-15),
- family members of a convicted criminal (only the transgressor must face capital punishment, v.16), and
- the sojourner, orphan, and widow who seek due justice and sustenance (vv.17-22).
These provisions intend to protect the rights of the vulnerable. A divorced wife in this male-dominated society may find life difficult as a castaway. Throughout ancient times, the adult male often treated women and children as chattel and sojourners and refugees as second-class citizens. Thus, these provisions far exceed the policy of neighboring pagan nations, albeit they fall short of equality.
Takeaway: The above statutes address building trust in our communities (see yesterday’s Daily Focus). Jesus, seeing how the religious leaders had burdened the people with added rules and legalistic interpretations of the Mosaic laws, sought to alleviate the suffering of the poor and oppressed through his Gospel messages of forgiveness and hope and miraculous provisions of healing and food. Radically elevating women and children to equal standing and caring for the diseased, demonized, and outcasts, he provided a model for building trust in our communities.
Unfortunately, the worldwide church has struggled to follow Christ’s example consistently. Areas where we need to see improvement include the care of divorcees—particularly women. Few churches run divorce recovery groups, and often they fall between the cracks because they do not fit in with singles or married couples. And when a member of a family faces incarceration, we tend to distance ourselves from the entire family (not knowing how to interact). Regarding caring for the diseased, demonized, and outcasts, many of us struggle to understand how to reach out to people battling chronic illnesses, mental and mood disorders, financial distress, or addictions. But our Triune God profoundly cares for their wellbeing.
So how do we do our part as the body of Christ? We begin by laying a foundation with prayer (nothing moves without it). Next, we place the cornerstones of Christ’s special revelation (what Scripture mandates) and general revelation (what the fields of psychology, sociology, and economics explain). Then we erect walls with funding and other critical human and physical resources. And we provide lots of windows of opportunities and open doors that welcome all sinners. Lastly, we set a roof of Christ’s grace and love over our house of worship to protect us from the devil’s wiles and our propensity to sin. And if we don’t know where to begin, we can talk to the leaders of those churches who get it, who have created a Christ-centered infrastructure to restore and safeguard the poor and oppressed.
Prayer: Father God, we thank you for all the ways you have cared for us through your Son, the Holy Spirit, and the community of believers. Would you please help us to pay it forward by doing our part in caring for our community under the strength and guidance of your Holy Spirit? Amen.
Rev. Gordon Green, M.Div., M.A. Counseling
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