Deuteronomy
chapter 22 contains a number of commandments; some are affirmative
“do” commandments, while others are negative, “do not”
commandments. A very good reminder that sometimes doing nothing is
very wrong. The chapter begins, “If
you see your brother’s ox or sheep straying… take it back to him…
If you do not know who (the
owner is)
keep it until he comes looking for it. Then give it back to him. Do
the same if you find your brother’s donkey or his cloak or anything
he loses. Do not ignore it“.
The text continues, with a similar command to help a brother if his
animal has fallen. “Do
not ignore it. Help him get it to its feet.”
Ephesians 4:32 explains to followers of Christ, “And
be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving each other, just as
God in Christ also has forgiven you“.
Once again we see how God’s mercy produces a desire to please him.
No longer do we need to be commanded to show kindness, it is the
natural result of experiencing His forgiveness. This kindness even
extends to animals, “If
you see a bird’s nest fallen on the side of the road… do not take
the mother with the young… be sure to let the mother go so that it
will be well with you and you may have a long life“.
God gave mankind dominion over the animals; we are to be benevolent
caretakers. “He
that is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much”
(Luke 16:10).
The
chapter continues with a warning against certain combinations. “Do
not plant two kinds of seed in your vineyard… do not plow with an
ox and a donkey yoked together… do not wear clothes of wool and
linen woven together“.
These verses were given to remind the nation of Israel to remain
separate from the pagans in the land of Canaan. 2 Corinthians 6:14
similarly warns believers, “Do
not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what
fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion
has light with darkness?”
In business partnerships, or marriage there will always be tension
and disagreement over God’s priorities when one honors Jesus as
Lord and the other does not. In contrast, there is great unity when
two people submit to the same godly standards.
The
rest of the chapter gives very explicit instructions for behavior
before and after marriage. The woman is to remain pure until
marriage and the man is to keep his promise of permanence and
exclusive commitment. The value of a woman’s virginity cannot be
overstated. If a man did not find “proof
of her virginity”
on the wedding night, the woman could be publicly stoned to death in
front of her father’s home. “She
has done a disgraceful thing in Israel by being promiscuous while
still in her father’s house. You must purge evil from among you.”
And note, both the man and the woman are both responsible, “If
a man is found sleeping with another man’s wife, both the man…
and the woman must die“.
We also read, “If
a man happens to meet a girl that is pledged to be married and he
(forces himself on her),
only the man who has done this shall die. Do nothing to the girl;
she has committed no sin deserving death… the betrothed girl
screamed and there was no one there to rescue her“.
Ladies, do not put yourself into positions where you can be taken
advantage of. Our society has greatly devalued purity, but God has
not.
The
wonderful news is, no matter how tarnished our past might be, once we
accept Jesus Christ as our Savior we are made completely pure before
God. Ephesians 5:25 says, “Christ
loved the church
(that’s you and me) and
gave Himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the
washing with water through the Word, and presenting her to Himself as
a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but
holy and blameless“.