SCRIPTURE: Deuteronomy 21
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
“For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” [John 1:17]
I am having a tough time connecting this passage to Jesus.
The part about marrying the foreign woman, then putting her away if you were no longer happy with her?
Then the parents having their son put to death.
Guidelines for the son of the wife you do not love?
When I try to connect these readings to Jesus, I get stuck.
I suppose that there was some cultural explanation behind these passages.
In the end, I do not dwell here, and I turn to Jesus and His words.
“Then all the men of his town shall stone him to death. You must purge the evil from among you. All Israel will hear of it and be afraid.” [Deuteronomy 21:21]
When dealing with the sinful woman who ought to have been stoned to dead, according to the law, Jesus said to the religious leaders:
“If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” [John 8:7]
I do not want to pit Jesus against the words of Moses, because I do believe that God is speaking through Moses too.
But in the end, when I get stuck, I lean towards Jesus.
Somehow I think that this passage in Deuteronomy reflects the messed up nature of our world.
The first section about making atonement for the mysterious death, and the part about the person hung on a tree being under a curse, makes me think of the consequence of sin, namely death, and how Jesus took that curse upon Himself [see Galatians 3:13].
He died for the murdered, for the captive wives, for the rebellious sons, for the cursed tree-hangers.
Through Him, we are forgiven, released, set free.
Since we could not purge the evil from us, He did it for us, by taking it upon Himself, being cursed so that I might be blessed.
So though I still struggle with this passage, I see Jesus, and I am comforted, assured, that somehow, God is able to make sense of all this, and set things straight, and overcome the curse.
Thank God for Jesus…
PRAYER:
Lord, I do not understand a lot of what I read in the Law, and some of it unsettles me. But I do not focus there, I focus on You. And I have hope.
Even though they did not do the action, they did pray. Even though I did not do the wickedness of the world, I still must pray and do what is right in the eyes of the Lord.
And speaking of eyes – be careful what you see – he woman taken captive. It shows how sacred the marriage vows be – honour and justice.
And it continues with having two wives and loving one more than the other. God’s Word stands firm. Do what is right. The first born is the first born.
And the rebellious son – look what happened to him. And I deserve the same as His son. I must live for Jesus and it was He who was hung on the pole so that I could live forever with Him.
Jesus is the answer. He is the All in all and I must live for Him. And by His leading through His Spirit I can know the Way and walk in that Way. Pilgrim’s progress – walking in the Light. SonShine each and every day.
What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Refrain
Oh! precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
For my pardon, this I see,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
For my cleansing this my plea,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Refrain
Nothing can for sin atone,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
Naught of good that I have done,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Refrain
This is all my hope and peace,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
This is all my righteousness,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.