Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy Chapter 25

• Deuteronomy 25:1 If there be a controversy between men, and they come unto judgment, that the judges may judge them; then they shall justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked. 
• 2 And it shall be, if the wicked man be worthy to be beaten, that the judge shall cause him to lie down, and to be beaten before his face, according to his fault, by a certain number. 
• 3 Forty stripes he may give him, and not exceed: lest, if he should exceed, and beat him above these with many stripes, then thy brother should seem vile unto thee. 

We no longer have this kind of judgment at least in the United States. It is probably because men are not able to control themselves and somewhere down the line punishment became unjust and unfair making us go the opposite extreme and be lenient. The law does show us though how serious sin is and how it needs to be kept in check. If we do not have law and order the innocent have no protection against cruel bullies and those that are physically stronger than the weak. We need law and order to have peace and live without fear of molestation. 

God set up judges for the purpose of making sure a law was enforced justly without partiality. Good judges are a blessing to any country. A judge that can be bribed or that judges by favoritism is not a good judge. A judge also that can be intimidated or threatened is not good either and we see this occasionally. If God blesses us with good judges, we are blessed in deed. 

• Deuteronomy 25:4 Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn. 

Even the ox is not expected to work for free. God has always ordained that we pay people for their work. He never endorses slavery. 

• Jeremiah 22:13 Woe unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness, and his chambers by wrong; that useth his neighbour's service without wages, and giveth him not for his work; 

An exception would be when one helps the poor, a widow or an orphan. When doing a service for charity or for someone who has no way to pay and the work is a necessity, not a luxury, the work is voluntary and not forced and it is work from a person's heart in giving; then it can be without wages. If we have the ability to pay though we should never use a person's labor without paying them a fair wage. Even though this is part of the law given long before the law of grace that came by Jesus Christ, I really think this is part of the moral law that is still in effect. We may not be saved or lost by this law but it is a good just and fair way to live. 

• Deuteronomy 25:5 If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger: her husband's brother shall go in unto her, and take her to him to wife, and perform the duty of an husband's brother unto her. 
• 6 And it shall be, that the firstborn which she beareth shall succeed in the name of his brother which is dead, that his name be not put out of Israel. 
• 7 And if the man like not to take his brother's wife, then let his brother's wife go up to the gate unto the elders, and say, My husband's brother refuseth to raise up unto his brother a name in Israel, he will not perform the duty of my husband's brother. 
• 8 Then the elders of his city shall call him, and speak unto him: and if he stand to it, and say, I like not to take her; 
• 9 Then shall his brother's wife come unto him in the presence of the elders, and loose his shoe from off his foot, and spit in his face, and shall answer and say, So shall it be done unto that man that will not build up his brother's house. 
• 10 And his name shall be called in Israel, The house of him that hath his shoe loosed. 

Some parts of the law is for Israel as we can plainly see. This is to keep the tribes from intermingling with the heathen idolatrous world around them and keep them pure from the sin and idolatry that heathen nations indulged in. Back then women had no way to survive without having a husband to provide for them. When a woman's husband died, it was understood that a brother or near kin would marry the widow and carry on the seed of his brother and provide for the widow. Reading the book of Ruth is a good way to understand this law. 

In today's society a woman can find work and support herself. It is better though if there would be a way for a woman to be able to stay at home and care for her own children if possible and if she desires to to that. It is much better for a mother to care for her own rather than let someone else do it for her. It is her responsibility and if she has a husband he should provide for his family so that she can stay home with the children. That is the best. If a woman has good parents, a grandmother for instance who can help her if she is widowed, that is a blessing. To let strangers care for the children is not the best option. 

The biggest problem among youth today is because their are so many latchkey children and no mother in the home when the children get home from school. It brings more stability in the home when Mom is there. A little extra money and extra "things" are not as important as having a mom or grandma at home for the kids. There is no substitute for that. I've raised 5 children myself, so this is something I have experienced for myself. I'm not writing to guilt anyone or make someone feel bad if this is not possible but this is best if possible. A husband who fails to support his family and make this possible is really failing if he is able to do this and prefers not to do it. I'm not speaking of those that are disabled or have some kind of misfortune. Things do happen that keep some from finding work, but if a man can and won't provide for his family, he is worse than an infidel according to the bible. I can't stress enough about the importance of being home for the children. 

• Deuteronomy 25:11 When men strive together one with another, and the wife of the one draweth near for to deliver her husband out of the hand of him that smiteth him, and putteth forth her hand, and taketh him by the secrets: 
• 12 Then thou shalt cut off her hand, thine eye shall not pity her. 

She was not to interfere in that manner making it unfair to the one fighting against her husband. This shows the law of decency and the importance of respecting one's privacy. 

We don't have laws that severe any longer but it does show us how serious sexual sin is. Decency and morality makes for a healthy nation. Through grace, we can achieve this by the law of love for God. When we receive His spirit upon receiving Christ and His forgiveness for sin, we can do all these things not by trying to keep the law by our own will power, but by having these things within our hearts. We do good because we love Him by the spirit He has given us. 

I understand why they had to be that strict before the law of grace came though because they had no willpower in themselves. We need the power of God to help us. I can see also why God replaced the old law with the law of grace. Think about it. If a person's hand was cut off and later they were found to be innocent, there was no way to undo the deed. Grace is much better because one can be cleansed from sin and given the power to overcome sin and live for God. A religion that has no mercy and grace is worse than no religion at all. The law was given though to protect the innocent, not protect the guilty and let them get by with evil. 

• Deuteronomy 25:13 Thou shalt not have in thy bag divers weights, a great and a small. 
• 14 Thou shalt not have in thine house divers measures, a great and a small. 
• 15 But thou shalt have a perfect and just weight, a perfect and just measure shalt thou have: that thy days may be lengthened in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. 
• 16 For all that do such things, and all that do unrighteously, are an abomination unto the LORD thy God. 

This is a good law. We are to be fair in business dealings. Not use the greater weight to buy with and the small weight to sell to someone else. Our laws should be patterned after this. God is good and knows the best way for us to live yet we must keep in mind the mercy and grace of God that is needed to have compassion upon those who break the law and try to get them to come to Christ. To receive forgiveness and power to overcome these things will save them for eternity. Those sins will destroy their souls and also the nation if continued without coming God's way. 

Good marriages strengthen a nation. Even evil rulers in the past have known this. Sexual permissiveness and perversion, increasing divorce rates and the breaking up of families will always weaken the nation. 

• Deuteronomy 25:17 Remember what Amalek did unto thee by the way, when ye were come forth out of Egypt; 
• 18 How he met thee by the way, and smote the hindmost of thee, even all that were feeble behind thee, when thou wast faint and weary; and he feared not God. 
• 19 Therefore it shall be, when the LORD thy God hath given thee rest from all thine enemies round about, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance to possess it, that thou shalt blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven; thou shalt not forget it. 

What is done to Israel or anyone that belongs to God, will reap the judgment of God. 

• Genesis 12:1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: 
• 2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 
• 3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. 

Jesus Christ said also this concerning those that help His believers:

• Matthew 10:40 He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. 
• 41 He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward. 
• 42 And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward. 

Those that are genuinely serving God and spreading the gospel should be provided for and anything we do for them will be rewarded. I'm not speaking of charlatans and those out for gain that increase their wealth by devouring widow's houses. I don't believe in giving to the rich dudes who already own two or three mansions. I'm speaking of those who struggle to make ends meet because they give up their secular jobs in order to spread God's word. 

The Amaleks could have allowed Israel to pass through unmolested and they would have never been harmed; but no, they had to attack and try to stop them from going further. We can't get away with fighting against God. If God is for someone and behind someone or a nation, we can't fight against Him in any way without suffering the consequences. -DC

Deuteronomy 26