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Laws & Consequences

Today's reading is in Deuteronomy 21, 22

Much of what is in these passages still has a lot of relevance, in principle form, to today. It's easy to read this and dismiss the value, or relevance of what it's saying. DO we really need to not wear clothes of wool and linen woven together? And, what about those "tassels on the four corners of the cloak"? Yet, pay attention, not to the specifics, but to the principles and values that the laws are based on. For example, the tassels aren't well defined here, but in Numbers 15:37-41 they are explained:

Numbers 15:37-41 (NIV)
37 The LORD said to Moses,
38 "Speak to the Israelites and say to them: 'Throughout the generations to come you are to make tassels on the corners of your garments, with a blue cord on each tassel.
39 You will have these tassels to look at and so you will remember all the commands of the LORD, that you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves by going after the lusts of your own hearts and eyes.
40 Then you will remember to obey all my commands and will be consecrated to your God.
41 I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt to be your God. I am the LORD your God.'"

We call this "Mnemonic" device for remembering. Good teachers use things like this as tools for remembering all of the time.

The positive principles that are found in this passage are balanced by warnings, usually related to actions that would be destructive to social order. God knew that a nation of people who act out of selfishness and use others for their advantage would implant within the nation something akin to "cancer", that would slowly, but surely, if untreated, lead to the destruction of the nation. That's why the phrase "...you must purge the evil from Israel" appears several times.

It might appear strange to us, but it's well worth the time to meditate on it.

Peace

Comments

Paul said…
Selfishness in one's character will be like a cancer. I think it is like an incurable cancer. The only way to cure the "cancer" from us is to turn away from ourselves and what we can get from other people, and turn to God for help. Without God in the equation we will be destined to live a life of "cancer" spreading. I think we should all change our ideas of what the "american dream" is. Maybe someone could come up with a slogan like, "live God's dream for your life."
March 6, 2011 at 8:18 AM
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