PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Deuteronomy 21-22
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“If you are not pleased with her, let her go wherever she wishes.” (Deuteronomy 21:14)
This law allows divorce simply for no longer being “pleased” with her.
I believe the Moses laws are his attempt to apply God’s Law of Love.
Women did not have the same rights as men; but for Moses this was normal.
In his mind he was actually protecting women from the hardness of men’s hearts.
Jesus makes it clear that Moses was not writing down God’s eternal laws.
“Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning.” (Matthew 19:8)
Not this way from the beginning… that is, not God’s creation will.
Like Moses, we also need to apply God’s Law of Love in our own time.
But the standard should not be whether we are pleased or not.
“We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. For even Christ did not please himself…” (Romans 15:2-3)
Jesus is our standard for how to honour our neighbour, not
PRAYER
Lord, I do not follow Moses’s laws, but I do want to apply the Law of Love to my own relationships. Keep me humble, gracious and eager to serve others, not to please myself.
There are many rules here that seek to keep purity and justice. One that struck me was the one about anyone who is hung on a pole/tree to die must be taken down on the same day: “because anyone who is hung on a pole is under God’s curse.”. Jesus was cursed by God – because He took on my sin! Jesus was taken down from the cross – the pole. He was cursed. Thank you Jesus for bearing the curse for me – for all who believe!
The rules for living are described here are during the times of Moses. The main thought seems to be part of the JOY principal. In all I do and say, in my living for Jesus I need to place others before myself. Not my will, but His will be done. How can I be an instrument of His peace instead of putting my desires first. Doing His will must take precedence. That means being a servant to one and all, God’s way.
Make me a servant Lord, make me like you
For you are a servant, make me one, too.
Make me a servant, do what you must do
To make me a servant, make me like you.
To love my brother, to serve like you do.
I humble my spirit, I bow before yo.
And through my service, I’ll be just like you.
So make me a servant, make me like you.
Open my hands Lord and teach me to share
Open my heart Lord and teach me to care,
For service to others is service to you.
Make me a servant, make me like you.