The Text today reminds me of the Book of Ruth!

And of God’s care for the “poor” of the land.

Remember, this is a Law.

For Israel.

“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.” Deuteronomy 24:19-21

Leave something behind, when you are harvesting your crops!

Don’t strip the field, the tree, or the vine bare!

Yes, this involves grain, olives, and grapes.

And presumably every other kind of edible vegetation.

So those who are “needy” will have bread to eat. Oil (from olives) to light their homes. And grapes for both juice and sweetening purposes.

Do notice that these commodities are to be “left” laying in the fields, or  “still growing” on the trees or vines. In other words … do not pick these things for the poor people. Do not be stingy … but they must exert enough effort to come and retrieve what God has provided them!

This discouraged slothfulness!

And did you see that one line about God “blessing” those who are this generous, who obey with a sweet spirit? “That the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hands.”

Wow!

But now let’s see who qualifies for this largesse.

King James Version: “for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow.”

The noun “stranger” is “ger,” meaning a “foreigner.”

“Fatherless” is “yathom,” meaning “lonely person.” It’s translated “orphan” once in the Bible, but expresses particularly the idea of one having a dead Father, 41 times! (It is only used 42 times, total.)

Then “widow” is “almanah,” meaning “one who is desolate,” thus a woman who has lost her husband, often her sole provider back in those days.

Yes, God loves the needy!

Listen to Solomon in Proverbs concerning the “poor.” By the way, that word (“poor”) is used nearly 40 times in the Book of Proverbs! “He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.” Proverbs 19:17

Wow, there’s that idea of “reward, blessing” again!

Folks, if society functioned like this yet today, bathed in such prevalent generosity, the so-called “entitlement” programs of a country’s budget could be greatly reduced, or maybe even eliminated!

But alas, even Israel does not obey such a command any more.

Still, the principle remains.

Be generous to those who have valid issues of “poverty.”

After all, God sure has been gracious to us!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

In fact, after giving today’s legislation (Deuteronomy 24:19-21) … look what God said next. “Thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman (slave) in the land of Egypt: therefore I command thee to do this thing.” To give to the poor!

Wow!

 

I’m taking sort of an indirect approach to the Text today.

Observing perhaps an “incidental” fact imbedded in its main story, plot, thrust, trajectory.

Another of God’s “Laws” for Israel, in conducting her everyday life.

“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.” Deuteronomy 24:14-15

The noun “servant” means “worker,” in this context.  And “his day” means at the end of his eight or ten or twelve (whatever) hour shift. Imagine he’s working for YOU, one of your hires.

God in essence says: “Pay him daily, he’s abjectly poor.”

If not, you could get “in trouble” with God … IF that man prays to God for his lost (withheld) wages!

Once again, a recap …

Don’t take advantage of any poor man, especially in business ventures.

If he works for you a single day … pay him by sunset.

He needs the money that much!

Children to feed, urgent bills to pay … those kind of things.

God’s great love and care are (again) here on display. In Deuteronomy … one of the so-called harshest Books in all the Bible!

But, what if a farmer does NOT pay his day laborers promptly. According to the admonition God just gave?

Then, that poor man has at least one option.

He could “cry out to God” … telling the Almighty about the wrong just done! About his unpaid wages for (usually) back-breaking, hard work.

And if he does so?

God will hear him.

And the selfish (or careless) landowner will be found “in sin” because of his callousness.

Pay him … “lest he cry against thee unto the LORD, and it be sin unto thee.”

Wow!

Wow!

Wow!

I just learned that (instead of taking matters into my own hands) when I am wronged … I can “tell on” the offender! I can tell Jesus about the injustice I have suffered.

Yes, God’s Ear is always open to the meek, lowly, sufferer.

And that (wicked) man will be found sinful in God’s Economy!

I’ll have to mentally and spiritually sort through these thoughts one more time.

Then I think I’ll go pray a while!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

My King James Version “Scofield Reference Bible” labels Deuteronomy chapter 23 like this, “Divers (diverse) Regulations.”

Indeed it is, sets of rules and warnings (prohibitions and instructions) concerning many areas of life. Yes, the great Creator (and potential Redeemer) of humankind plans to be “Lord” of all!

Including daily life!

So … here are rules (in context particularly applying to soldiers who are encamped against an enemy) about “cleanliness.” About hygiene, literally about “using the bathroom!”

Let me explain, better yet, let the Bible explain.  Let God speak:

“Thou shalt have a place also without the camp, whither thou shalt go forth abroad: and thou shalt have a paddle upon thy weapon; and it shall be, when thou wilt EASE THYSELF abroad, thou shalt dig therewith, and shalt TURN BACK AND COVER that which cometh from thee: for the LORD thy God walketh in the midst of thy camp, to deliver thee, and to give up thine enemies before thee; therefore shall thy camp be HOLY: that he see no unclean thing in thee, and turn away from thee.” Deuteronomy 23:12-14, wow!

Maybe Grandma was right! About “cleanliness” being next to “godliness!”

How to properly … use the bathroom … in today’s terminology.

This three verse unit is loaded with instruction!

Practically, disease will be (by obeying God) kept in check, potentially so anyway.

Noxious odors will be removed as well.

“Common sense,” which God gave us all, is being utilized here.

Laziness is also outlawed!

This gives the idea of “going” to the bathroom new meaning.

Even here we have “thinking of others” emphasized rather than a man following the immediate desires of his own heart.

BUT do note. God is looking!

And God has standards of holiness, purity … that must be observed!

Plus this … allow filth into the camp … and God just might … “turn away from thee.”

Resulting in untold loss of life, I suspect! In the next skirmish, battle!

Amazing!

Then too, Paul’s advice from 1st Thessalonians 5:22 comes to  mind. “Abstain from all appearance of evil.”

Now in principle, think of some ways you can lead a cleaner life for Jesus.

I mean today.

Do keep in mind, as I said, GOD IS WATCHING!

“The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.” Proverbs 15:3

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

I am nearly overwhelmed (in a good way) by the Book of Deuteronomy.

It is so vast in its content, covering every area of life.

Law after law, line upon line.

It deserves a lot more preaching than it ever gets!

For today I have chosen just one verse for our Text, having used whole paragraphs for the past few mornings.

“Thou shalt not plow with an ox and an ass together.” Deuteronomy 22:10

That’s it!

“Thou shalt not plow with an ox and an ass together.”

One might initially suspect that this prohibition would only be applicable to farmers, right?

After all, this is “merely” one of the 613 different “regulations” proposed (commanded) by the Old Testament. (That’s the number the rabbis tell us the Pentateuch contains. They’ve carefully counted them all, too.)

But wait a minute!

I suggest God’s Laws may not simply be “haphazard.”

That a solid “reason” was behind the giving of each statute.

For example, today’s verse.

To yoke an ox and an ass together would injure both animals!

Their legs are so different in length … that they could never “plow” in step. The yoke would be constantly “rubbing” the animals with each tug on the plow! Sores would develop. Infections follow. Cruelty indeed! Perhaps even premature death would ensue! DO NOT PLOW UNEQUALLY YOKED ANIMALS IN THE SAME HARNESS! For the animals’ sakes!

What a practical reason … “Thou shalt not plow with an ox and an ass together.” By the way, one would also be putting a “clean” (the ox) and an “unclean” (the ass, donkey) animal together! Never a good idea, in God’s Economy!

Then I immediately advance … there is a spiritual principle behind the code as well.

One which Paul (under the direction of the Holy Spirit) picks up and uses in that great 6th chapter of his 2nd Epistle to the Corinthians. There he is talking about us Christians separating ourselves from sin! And he writes: “Be ye not UNEQUALLY YOKED together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?” 2 Corinthians 6:14, where I guarantee you Paul had Deuteronomy 22:10 in mind, our very verse today!

Do not become intimately involved (in marriage, in business, in schooling, in comradery) with those who are “unclean” in God’s Eyes. With reprobates! With rebels! With rank sinners!

Lessons learned from the farm!

But just a minute.

Clearly, we are NOT under the Law of Moses in this blessed Age of Grace!

Jesus has come, died, been raised from the grave! And He sits this very second at His Father’s Right Hand, praying for His Own, for you and me.

BUT … the principles behind those laws are yet significant!

After all, He is the same God today as He was thousands of years ago!

Amen.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Incidentally, should God have given a Law with no logic behind it at all … IT WAS STILL TO BE OBEYED! Because He is God! Like (maybe) … “If a bird’s nest chance to be before thee in the way in any tree, or on the ground, whether they be young ones, or eggs, and the dam sitting upon the young, or upon the eggs, thou shalt not take the dam with the young: but thou shalt in any wise let the dam go, and take the young to thee; that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days.” The “dam” obviously being the “mother” bird. Deuteronomy 22:6-7, the same chapter we’ve studied today.

However, personally, I think this “bird and her eggs” law is loaded with practical admonition! I preached a sermon or two from it several years ago!

Now, the lesson has ended!

 

I would simply call it “kindness.”

And when obeyed, today’s Deuteronomy paragraph indicates that the Israelites just might have been the most gracious people on earth.

“Thou shalt not see thy brother’s ox or his sheep go astray, and hide thyself from them: thou shalt in any case bring them again unto thy brother. And if thy brother be not nigh unto thee, or if thou know him not, then thou shalt bring it unto thine own house, and it shall be with thee until thy brother seek after it, and thou shalt restore it to him again. In like manner shalt thou do with his ass; and so shalt thou do with his raiment; and with all lost thing of thy brother’s, which he hath lost, and thou hast found, shalt thou do likewise: thou mayest not hide thyself. Thou shalt not see thy brother’s ass or his ox fall down by the way, and hide thyself from them: thou shalt surely help him to lift them up again.” Deuteronomy 22:1-4

And though our Paragraph here has some specifics built right into it … Paul pretty much summarizes it in a line from the New Testament. “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted.” Ephesians 4:32a

Moses (really, God Who wrote the Law) has just taught the Jews to …

If necessary, go out of your way to “help” a needy person! “Thou shalt not see thy brother’s ox or his sheep go astray, and HIDE THYSELF from them: thou shalt in any case bring them again unto thy brother.”

Even when given the opportunity, one may not “take” another man’s property … until he is sure there is no other resolution to the matter! “And if thy brother be not nigh unto thee, or if thou know him not, then thou shalt bring it unto thine own house, and it shall be with thee until thy brother seek after it, and thou shalt restore it to him again.” Feed the animal? At my expense? Apparently so!

Then we come to the legislation about simply “helping” a fellow human being. “Thou shalt not see thy brother’s ass or his ox fall down by the way, and hide thyself from them: thou shalt surely HELP HIM to lift them up again.” But what if I’m in a hurry? That thought did not enter God’s Mind! HELPING must be more important than HURRYING!

Short Lesson this morning!

If God gives you opportunity to be “kind” to someone today, you likely should “go that extra mile” and be of service to him or her.

Surely, God would be glorified in such a deed.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Today’s specific set of instructions clearly deals with a man’s “ox,” but also applies to his “donkey,” any article of his “clothing!” Or to anything else he may own!

Enough has been said.