Deuteronomy 24: Compassion, Justice, and Remembrance
When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house.
And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man’s wife.
And if the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorcement, and giveth it in her hand, and sendeth her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, which took her to be his wife;
Her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before the Lord: and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.
When a man hath taken a new wife, he shall not go out to war, neither shall he be charged with any business: but he shall be free at home one year, and shall cheer up his wife which he hath taken.
No man shall take the nether or the upper millstone to pledge: for he taketh a man’s life to pledge.
If a man be found stealing any of his brethren of the children of Israel, and maketh merchandise of him, or selleth him; then that thief shall die; and thou shalt put evil away from among you.
Take heed in the plague of leprosy, that thou observe diligently, and do according to all that the priests the Levites shall teach you: as I commanded them, so ye shall observe to do.
Remember what the Lord thy God did unto Miriam by the way, after that ye were come forth out of Egypt.
When thou dost lend thy brother any thing, thou shalt not go into his house to fetch his pledge.
Thou shalt stand abroad, and the man to whom thou dost lend shall bring out the pledge abroad unto thee.
And if the man be poor, thou shalt not sleep with his pledge:
In any case thou shalt deliver him the pledge again when the sun goeth down, that he may sleep in his own raiment, and bless thee: and it shall be righteousness unto thee before the Lord thy God.
Thou shalt not oppress an hired servant that is poor and needy, whether he be of thy brethren, or of thy strangers that are in thy land within thy gates:
At his day thou shalt give him his hire, neither shall the sun go down upon it; for he is poor, and setteth his heart upon it: lest he cry against thee unto the Lord, and it be sin unto thee.
The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin.
Thou shalt not pervert the judgment of the stranger, nor of the fatherless; nor take a widow’s raiment to pledge:
But thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt, and the Lord thy God redeemed thee thence: therefore I command thee to do this thing.
When thou cuttest down thine harvest in thy field, and hast forgot a sheaf in the field, thou shalt not go again to fetch it: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow: that the Lord thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hands.
When thou beatest thine olive tree, thou shalt not go over the boughs again: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow.
When thou gatherest the grapes of thy vineyard, thou shalt not glean it afterward: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow.
And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt: therefore I command thee to do this thing.
Deuteronomy 24, a chapter brimming with practical laws and compassionate directives, offers a profound glimpse into God's heart for justice and the vulnerable. These laws, addressing everything from divorce to fair wages, reveal a society designed to reflect God's character and care for all its members. This chapter serves as a powerful reminder that our past experiences of God's grace should compel us to extend that same grace to others.
The Nuances of Marriage and Divorce (Deuteronomy 24:1-5)
Deuteronomy 24:1-5 addresses the complex issue of divorce. While not God’s ideal for marriage, divorce was permitted due to the "hardness" of the Israelites' hearts, their resistance to fully embracing God's perfect standards. Deuteronomy 24:1 outlines a scenario where a husband finds "some indecency" in his wife, allowing him to divorce her. This provision, while seemingly harsh by modern standards, offered a measure of protection to the woman, freeing her to remarry. Jesus addresses this very passage in Matthew 19:8, explaining that this concession was made because of the Israelites' unwillingness to fully submit to God's design.
In contrast to the allowance for divorce, Deuteronomy 24:5 highlights the importance of nurturing a new marriage. God commanded that a newly married man be exempt from military service for one year, allowing him to focus on building a life with his wife. This provision ensured the couple had time to adjust to married life, prevented the tragedy of a new bride losing her husband in war before they could enjoy their life together, and provided an opportunity for them to conceive. This emphasis on the early stages of marriage speaks volumes about God’s desire for strong, thriving families within the community.
Protecting the Vulnerable: Economic Justice (Deuteronomy 24:6-15)
Deuteronomy 24:6-15 shifts focus to economic justice, emphasizing the need to protect the vulnerable from exploitation. In a society without modern conveniences, certain items were essential for daily survival. Deuteronomy 24:6 forbids taking a person's millstone as collateral for a loan. Depriving someone of their millstone, essential for grinding grain, meant depriving them of their ability to prepare food, a cruel and potentially life-threatening act.
Deuteronomy 24:7 condemns the grave crime of kidnapping and enslaving a fellow Israelite, an offense punishable by death. This stern warning serves as a timeless rebuke against human trafficking and any form of forced servitude.
God's concern for justice extends to the treatment of debtors. Deuteronomy 24:10-11 stipulates that a lender should not enter a borrower's house to collect collateral. This provision protected the debtor from the humiliation of having their privacy violated and their belongings seized in public view. If the debtor was poor and offered their cloak as collateral, Deuteronomy 24:12-13 commands the lender to return it by sunset, ensuring the debtor had something to keep warm during the night. This act of kindness was considered righteousness in God's eyes.
Furthermore, Deuteronomy 24:14-15 mandates the timely payment of wages to laborers, especially those who are poor and dependent on their daily earnings. Employers who cheat their workers face God's judgment.
Remembering Miriam and Avoiding Partiality (Deuteronomy 24:8-9, 16-18)
Deuteronomy 24:8-9 serves as a reminder of the importance of obedience and humility before God. It references the laws concerning serious skin diseases, requiring quarantine and extensive procedures with the Levitical priests to be declared clean. Moses reminds the people of Miriam's punishment when she opposed his leadership, resulting in her skin becoming “diseased, resembling snow” (Numbers 12:10). This serves as a stark warning against pride and rebellion against God-ordained authority.
Deuteronomy 24:16-18 addresses the principle of individual accountability and the importance of impartial justice. Fathers should not be punished for their children's sins, nor children for their father's sins. Each person is responsible for their own actions. Furthermore, Deuteronomy 24:17 prohibits the denial of justice to widows and resident aliens, highlighting the need to protect those who are often marginalized and powerless. The recurring motivation for obeying these laws is the Israelites' own experience as slaves in Egypt (Deuteronomy 24:18). Having known the pain of injustice, they were obligated to treat others with compassion and fairness.
Gleaning Laws and Compassion for the Needy (Deuteronomy 24:19-22)
Deuteronomy 24:19-22 introduces the gleaning laws, which require farmers to leave behind any overlooked sheaves of grain, olives, or grapes for the poor, the fatherless, and the widows to collect. This compassionate provision ensured that even the most vulnerable members of society had access to food and sustenance. The repetition of the Israelites' past as slaves in Egypt (Deuteronomy 24:22) underscores the importance of remembering God's deliverance and extending that same mercy to others.
Deuteronomy 24 challenges us to examine our own hearts and actions. Are we extending compassion to those in need? Are we upholding justice in our dealings with others? Are we remembering God's grace in our own lives and using it as a catalyst to bless those around us? Just as God comforted the Israelites in their affliction, He expects us to share that comfort with others who are suffering. Our experience of God's blessings should naturally lead us to bless others, creating a ripple effect of grace and compassion in the world.
When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house.
And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man’s wife.
And if the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorcement, and giveth it in her hand, and sendeth her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, which took her to be his wife;
Her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before the Lord: and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.
When a man hath taken a new wife, he shall not go out to war, neither shall he be charged with any business: but he shall be free at home one year, and shall cheer up his wife which he hath taken.
No man shall take the nether or the upper millstone to pledge: for he taketh a man’s life to pledge.
If a man be found stealing any of his brethren of the children of Israel, and maketh merchandise of him, or selleth him; then that thief shall die; and thou shalt put evil away from among you.
Take heed in the plague of leprosy, that thou observe diligently, and do according to all that the priests the Levites shall teach you: as I commanded them, so ye shall observe to do.
Remember what the Lord thy God did unto Miriam by the way, after that ye were come forth out of Egypt.
When thou dost lend thy brother any thing, thou shalt not go into his house to fetch his pledge.
Thou shalt stand abroad, and the man to whom thou dost lend shall bring out the pledge abroad unto thee.
And if the man be poor, thou shalt not sleep with his pledge:
In any case thou shalt deliver him the pledge again when the sun goeth down, that he may sleep in his own raiment, and bless thee: and it shall be righteousness unto thee before the Lord thy God.
Thou shalt not oppress an hired servant that is poor and needy, whether he be of thy brethren, or of thy strangers that are in thy land within thy gates:
At his day thou shalt give him his hire, neither shall the sun go down upon it; for he is poor, and setteth his heart upon it: lest he cry against thee unto the Lord, and it be sin unto thee.
The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin.
Thou shalt not pervert the judgment of the stranger, nor of the fatherless; nor take a widow’s raiment to pledge:
But thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt, and the Lord thy God redeemed thee thence: therefore I command thee to do this thing.
When thou cuttest down thine harvest in thy field, and hast forgot a sheaf in the field, thou shalt not go again to fetch it: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow: that the Lord thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hands.
When thou beatest thine olive tree, thou shalt not go over the boughs again: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow.
When thou gatherest the grapes of thy vineyard, thou shalt not glean it afterward: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow.
And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt: therefore I command thee to do this thing.
Deuteronomy 24, a chapter brimming with practical laws and compassionate directives, offers a profound glimpse into God's heart for justice and the vulnerable. These laws, addressing everything from divorce to fair wages, reveal a society designed to reflect God's character and care for all its members. This chapter serves as a powerful reminder that our past experiences of God's grace should compel us to extend that same grace to others.
The Nuances of Marriage and Divorce (Deuteronomy 24:1-5)
Deuteronomy 24:1-5 addresses the complex issue of divorce. While not God’s ideal for marriage, divorce was permitted due to the "hardness" of the Israelites' hearts, their resistance to fully embracing God's perfect standards. Deuteronomy 24:1 outlines a scenario where a husband finds "some indecency" in his wife, allowing him to divorce her. This provision, while seemingly harsh by modern standards, offered a measure of protection to the woman, freeing her to remarry. Jesus addresses this very passage in Matthew 19:8, explaining that this concession was made because of the Israelites' unwillingness to fully submit to God's design.
In contrast to the allowance for divorce, Deuteronomy 24:5 highlights the importance of nurturing a new marriage. God commanded that a newly married man be exempt from military service for one year, allowing him to focus on building a life with his wife. This provision ensured the couple had time to adjust to married life, prevented the tragedy of a new bride losing her husband in war before they could enjoy their life together, and provided an opportunity for them to conceive. This emphasis on the early stages of marriage speaks volumes about God’s desire for strong, thriving families within the community.
Protecting the Vulnerable: Economic Justice (Deuteronomy 24:6-15)
Deuteronomy 24:6-15 shifts focus to economic justice, emphasizing the need to protect the vulnerable from exploitation. In a society without modern conveniences, certain items were essential for daily survival. Deuteronomy 24:6 forbids taking a person's millstone as collateral for a loan. Depriving someone of their millstone, essential for grinding grain, meant depriving them of their ability to prepare food, a cruel and potentially life-threatening act.
Deuteronomy 24:7 condemns the grave crime of kidnapping and enslaving a fellow Israelite, an offense punishable by death. This stern warning serves as a timeless rebuke against human trafficking and any form of forced servitude.
God's concern for justice extends to the treatment of debtors. Deuteronomy 24:10-11 stipulates that a lender should not enter a borrower's house to collect collateral. This provision protected the debtor from the humiliation of having their privacy violated and their belongings seized in public view. If the debtor was poor and offered their cloak as collateral, Deuteronomy 24:12-13 commands the lender to return it by sunset, ensuring the debtor had something to keep warm during the night. This act of kindness was considered righteousness in God's eyes.
Furthermore, Deuteronomy 24:14-15 mandates the timely payment of wages to laborers, especially those who are poor and dependent on their daily earnings. Employers who cheat their workers face God's judgment.
Remembering Miriam and Avoiding Partiality (Deuteronomy 24:8-9, 16-18)
Deuteronomy 24:8-9 serves as a reminder of the importance of obedience and humility before God. It references the laws concerning serious skin diseases, requiring quarantine and extensive procedures with the Levitical priests to be declared clean. Moses reminds the people of Miriam's punishment when she opposed his leadership, resulting in her skin becoming “diseased, resembling snow” (Numbers 12:10). This serves as a stark warning against pride and rebellion against God-ordained authority.
Deuteronomy 24:16-18 addresses the principle of individual accountability and the importance of impartial justice. Fathers should not be punished for their children's sins, nor children for their father's sins. Each person is responsible for their own actions. Furthermore, Deuteronomy 24:17 prohibits the denial of justice to widows and resident aliens, highlighting the need to protect those who are often marginalized and powerless. The recurring motivation for obeying these laws is the Israelites' own experience as slaves in Egypt (Deuteronomy 24:18). Having known the pain of injustice, they were obligated to treat others with compassion and fairness.
Gleaning Laws and Compassion for the Needy (Deuteronomy 24:19-22)
Deuteronomy 24:19-22 introduces the gleaning laws, which require farmers to leave behind any overlooked sheaves of grain, olives, or grapes for the poor, the fatherless, and the widows to collect. This compassionate provision ensured that even the most vulnerable members of society had access to food and sustenance. The repetition of the Israelites' past as slaves in Egypt (Deuteronomy 24:22) underscores the importance of remembering God's deliverance and extending that same mercy to others.
Deuteronomy 24 challenges us to examine our own hearts and actions. Are we extending compassion to those in need? Are we upholding justice in our dealings with others? Are we remembering God's grace in our own lives and using it as a catalyst to bless those around us? Just as God comforted the Israelites in their affliction, He expects us to share that comfort with others who are suffering. Our experience of God's blessings should naturally lead us to bless others, creating a ripple effect of grace and compassion in the world.