#348 One

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.

2 And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man's wife.

3 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;

4 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.

5 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.

6 No man shall take the nether or the upper millstone to pledge: for he taketh a man's life to pledge.

7 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.

8 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.

9 Remember what the Lord thy God did unto Miriam by the way, after that ye were come forth out of Egypt.

10 When thou dost lend thy brother any thing, thou shalt not go into his house to fetch his pledge.

11 Thou shalt stand abroad, and the man to whom thou dost lend shall bring out the pledge abroad unto thee.

12 And if the man be poor, thou shalt not sleep with his pledge:

13 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.

14 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:

15 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.

16 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.

17 Thou shalt not pervert the judgment of the stranger, nor of the fatherless; nor take a widow's raiment to pledge:

18 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.

19 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.

20 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.

21 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.

22 And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt: therefore I command thee to do this thing. Deuteronomy 24 KJV

The reason here for divorce must be something less than adultery for that bore a death sentence under the law. It could have been for the unrelenting accusation of such but unproven, or for some other thing that the husband felt so strongly about that he "hated" her. Christ says that Moses gave them divorce because of the hardness of their hearts. This protected the unforgiven and the abused, and when we see mentioned "hardness" it is obviously not original intent, and it is with sadness that we look down on someone so. It gets better, because we want God to show us mercy, to love us in our uncleanness, but we can't do this for the person that we supposedly became one with, our other half. It is ever given as the example of our relationship to Christ, and it is our oneness with Him that allows us to be reconciled to God. Since it is only by grace that we even still breathe or contemplate these things; it is by grace that we are still able to be offended by someone else, could we find it in our hearts to repent of unforgiveness? As you read scripture you will see there was a cultural concept of marriage, and in the cultures of that time it was a significant contract, but the Bible elevates it further in the concept of one flesh. This also makes normal trading or contractual dissolution more difficult, and as one writer suggests of the spiritual concept it is more like amputation than simple annulment. There was no hopping around from one husband to another and back again either; this made it unlike property. 

In verse 6 we find it unreasonable to keep as pledge what a man needs to make his living. Greed is greatly disfavored, and it is important that the carpenter have his tools, the mill it's stones and that a man can provide for himself and his family.


Kidnapping was punishable by death. Joseph's brothers were guilty of such in Genesis, and it is how he found his way to Egypt, where he kept those same hateful siblings alive to the saving of Israel.


In verse 10 there is dignity given even to him that owes, his debt does not give you the right to enter his house. It is also such a soft and beautiful thing that he that only had a cloak to pledge would have the same returned to him at night, so he would not be cold.


You should never mistreat an employee, and while his pay may not seem so significant to you or needing any sense of urgency on your part, those that have less need it on time. Don't keep him waiting for his pay, respect the man as God.


Justice must be true and each man shall pay for his own sins, one may not offer up a child in their place, nor should a man seek retribution of the relative of the offender. Remember where you came from and be kind to the stranger the fatherless and widows. Allow them the dignity to eat by the work of their hands, harvesting from the field and the vine. Today we take away the dignity of work, it's reality in a caloric world, we pay people instead to vote, and most of us are happy to call welfare the role of the state, keeping us far away and separated from the needs of our fellow man. Work has to happen to eat, and so if you are above work then you are saying that you are above the one that works so you can eat. It is the foolishness of politics rather than the science and wisdom of nature.





The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?

4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,

5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?

6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

7 They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?

8 He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.

9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.

10 His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.

11 But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given.

12 For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it. Matthew 19: 3-12

#347 Shattered

He that is wounded in the stones, or hath his privy member cut off, shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord.

2 A bastard shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord; even to his tenth generation shall he not enter into the congregation of the Lord.

3 An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord; even to their tenth generation shall they not enter into the congregation of the Lord for ever:

4 Because they met you not with bread and with water in the way, when ye came forth out of Egypt; and because they hired against thee Balaam the son of Beor of Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse thee.

5 Nevertheless the Lord thy God would not hearken unto Balaam; but the Lord thy God turned the curse into a blessing unto thee, because the Lord thy God loved thee.

6 Thou shalt not seek their peace nor their prosperity all thy days for ever.

7 Thou shalt not abhor an Edomite; for he is thy brother: thou shalt not abhor an Egyptian; because thou wast a stranger in his land.

8 The children that are begotten of them shall enter into the congregation of the Lord in their third generation.

9 When the host goeth forth against thine enemies, then keep thee from every wicked thing.

10 If there be among you any man, that is not clean by reason of uncleanness that chanceth him by night, then shall he go abroad out of the camp, he shall not come within the camp:

11 But it shall be, when evening cometh on, he shall wash himself with water: and when the sun is down, he shall come into the camp again.

12 Thou shalt have a place also without the camp, whither thou shalt go forth abroad:

13 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:

14 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.

15 Thou shalt not deliver unto his master the servant which is escaped from his master unto thee:

16 He shall dwell with thee, even among you, in that place which he shall choose in one of thy gates, where it liketh him best: thou shalt not oppress him.

17 There shall be no whore of the daughters of Israel, nor a sodomite of the sons of Israel.

18 Thou shalt not bring the hire of a whore, or the price of a dog, into the house of the Lord thy God for any vow: for even both these are abomination unto the Lord thy God.

19 Thou shalt not lend upon usury to thy brother; usury of money, usury of victuals, usury of any thing that is lent upon usury:

20 Unto a stranger thou mayest lend upon usury; but unto thy brother thou shalt not lend upon usury: that the Lord thy God may bless thee in all that thou settest thine hand to in the land whither thou goest to possess it.

21 When thou shalt vow a vow unto the Lord thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it: for the Lord thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would be sin in thee.

22 But if thou shalt forbear to vow, it shall be no sin in thee.

23 That which is gone out of thy lips thou shalt keep and perform; even a freewill offering, according as thou hast vowed unto the Lord thy God, which thou hast promised with thy mouth.

24 When thou comest into thy neighbour's vineyard, then thou mayest eat grapes thy fill at thine own pleasure; but thou shalt not put any in thy vessel.

25 When thou comest into the standing corn of thy neighbour, then thou mayest pluck the ears with thine hand; but thou shalt not move a sickle unto thy neighbour's standing corn. Deuteronomy 23 KJV

It was apparently a common practice of some cultures to geld certain slaves. Men are not animals, but behave often worse than such, and this maybe likened to male lions killing off the young of another male, or the fear of cheating. There are still cultures today where women are abused in these practices, and self mutilation occurs in several cultures. As to the command that they and bastards not enter into the congregation of the Lord, I have read commentary that is all over the place. First, other than self mutilation, which to remove the stones or the penis would be an outward sign, but not that of the circumcision of the congregation, the others could very well not be your fault. One could be, though rarely, born this way, or more often forced to this by a conquering ruler. Four of the greatest men of the Bible, men who did not waver, were the eunuchs Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, along with Daniel. They had the outward scars applied to them by the culture, but inwardly they were steadfast, God fearing men. The first 3 refused to bow to the idols of Babylon all the way to the fiery furnace, and the last was a great prophet from whom the wise men of the east probably learned the prophecies of a coming King. He would be thrown into the Lion's den, not for refusing to be a good employee, for he was the favored, but he would not stop praying to the One True God. I admit this is a difficult passage, but my opinion is that these men were kept from position here in the congregation, but could be faithful followers of the One true God, respected members of their society. I think that the severity points to the disgust in both practices, that in the removal of one's reproductive organs and  the other in the irresponsible use of said organs, the need that even science recognizes in that of parents. There are those eunuchs by choice which Paul discusses, but this is not a command or physical sign, rather a spiritual gift, freeing one up to serve but not making one holy. It is a misunderstood condition in the catholic church and applied to positions of extra biblical invention. Sadly, the role of priest in Roman Catholicism is one attributed to "eunuchs" that have left many bastards in their wake. The remedy for this is the same as it was for those in the book of Daniel, refuse to bow to idols, pray to God and hold His word above religion, above Popes, priests and cardinals, that is reformation.

The reason for the restriction against the children of Lot is here stated that they did not greet them as family, but later hired a prophet (Balaam) to come against them.

It is said by God, "Jacob have I loved, and Esau have I hated", but here he extends to his children grace and to the Egyptians as well, remembering that Israel was a stranger there. One might wonder at this kindness considering that Israel was also treated with prejudice and disdain, the subjects of tyranny for much of their time in Egypt. I think that election here stands for it was not so many passages ago that they came to understand that those being pushed out of the land before them was due to their sin, and yet Israel received not according to their goodness, but solely on the promise and good will of the Creator.

Many cultures, including the one I live in, give much leeway in one way or another to those who are their soldiers, the defenders of their liberty. Here it is held that they must not neglect their spiritual duties as soldiers, and they must conduct themselves in cleanliness so as not cause the sickness of others. They bury their feces, and it is still what comes out of them that defiles them. They must have an aim to holiness that God be with them. War is not the end of character, does not dissolve the demands of holiness, but begs and even stronger resolution, without excuses.

We are to protect those that are understood to be oppressed or are we without empathy, unable to meet our brother with bread. Israel just left such abuses, would it be right then for them to be the abuser or send someone back to that situation. What business do those being called God's people have in doing what God punishes others for?

Prostitution is called an abomination and both that of whores (females) and dogs (males) is discussed. It is rightly so, because it reduces the image of God and the afore mentioned responsibility of reproduction. Those that elevate the act and their lust always pretend at being enlightened for such, rather than owning that we have all inherited depravity from the fall. The value of those objectified is reduced to their body parts and sexual appeal. I think it is a worthless scale because you are worth so much more than the things that it can measure. The pimp also here cannot with clean hands give the money that is made in this manner as an offering, it is unacceptable. God does not honor the ill use of His creatures. It is sad on both accounts, that one, we do not take under our wing, the widow, the orphan, yet look upon them in disgust when they go to those that would pay them for the use of their bodies. And it is sad that in our fallen natures we would so quickly resort to such.

The rest covers kindness to family and the removal of interest, for I think it makes sense that those who are part of us we should seek to elevate all the more. I should not try to earn extra upon my brother's back, and as a Christian, who is my brother? An interesting chapter.

One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and reclined at table. 37 And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, 38 and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” 40 And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.”

41 “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” 44 Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48 And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 Then those who were at table with him began to say among[h] themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” 50 And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” Luke 7:36-50

#346 What God Does

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.

2 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.

3 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.

4 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.

5 The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the Lord thy God.

6 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:

7 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.

8 When thou buildest a new house, then thou shalt make a battlement for thy roof, that thou bring not blood upon thine house, if any man fall from thence.

9 Thou shalt not sow thy vineyard with divers seeds: lest the fruit of thy seed which thou hast sown, and the fruit of thy vineyard, be defiled.

10 Thou shalt not plow with an ox and an ass together.

11 Thou shalt not wear a garment of divers sorts, as of woollen and linen together.

12 Thou shalt make thee fringes upon the four quarters of thy vesture, wherewith thou coverest thyself.

13 If any man take a wife, and go in unto her, and hate her,

14 And give occasions of speech against her, and bring up an evil name upon her, and say, I took this woman, and when I came to her, I found her not a maid:

15 Then shall the father of the damsel, and her mother, take and bring forth the tokens of the damsel's virginity unto the elders of the city in the gate:

16 And the damsel's father shall say unto the elders, I gave my daughter unto this man to wife, and he hateth her;

17 And, lo, he hath given occasions of speech against her, saying, I found not thy daughter a maid; and yet these are the tokens of my daughter's virginity. And they shall spread the cloth before the elders of the city.

18 And the elders of that city shall take that man and chastise him;

19 And they shall amerce him in an hundred shekels of silver, and give them unto the father of the damsel, because he hath brought up an evil name upon a virgin of Israel: and she shall be his wife; he may not put her away all his days.

20 But if this thing be true, and the tokens of virginity be not found for the damsel:

21 Then they shall bring out the damsel to the door of her father's house, and the men of her city shall stone her with stones that she die: because she hath wrought folly in Israel, to play the whore in her father's house: so shalt thou put evil away from among you.

22 If a man be found lying with a woman married to an husband, then they shall both of them die, both the man that lay with the woman, and the woman: so shalt thou put away evil from Israel.

23 If a damsel that is a virgin be betrothed unto an husband, and a man find her in the city, and lie with her;

24 Then ye shall bring them both out unto the gate of that city, and ye shall stone them with stones that they die; the damsel, because she cried not, being in the city; and the man, because he hath humbled his neighbour's wife: so thou shalt put away evil from among you.

25 But if a man find a betrothed damsel in the field, and the man force her, and lie with her: then the man only that lay with her shall die.

26 But unto the damsel thou shalt do nothing; there is in the damsel no sin worthy of death: for as when a man riseth against his neighbour, and slayeth him, even so is this matter:

27 For he found her in the field, and the betrothed damsel cried, and there was none to save her.

28 If a man find a damsel that is a virgin, which is not betrothed, and lay hold on her, and lie with her, and they be found;

29 Then the man that lay with her shall give unto the damsel's father fifty shekels of silver, and she shall be his wife; because he hath humbled her, he may not put her away all his days.

30 A man shall not take his father's wife, nor discover his father's skirt. Deuteronomy 22 KJV

The first part is rather neighborly, and it removes the "it's his own fault or not my problem", your brother's issue is to be your own and I think that goes for so much. It is often as hypocrites we judge without any intent to help, but if we only understood that this is my brother and his struggle, while it may look different than my own, is still a result of the same. It is the golden rule, but even that is more if we were humble enough to acknowledge. I cannot, by order of God, hide myself from the issue, but rather hold that which is lost to him, for him, until he returns. The next part goes into that of men trying to be women and women trying to be men alike. It is a departure from, not only God's original creative intent, but from the visible, logical form. I remember reading the story of the Emperor's New Clothes when I was a kid, but now I live in that very age, where people think it enlightened to be politically correct at the expense of the truth and reason. I listen to them speak and can tell that they also believe that they are in some way more enlightened for pretending, but also there is with it this insistence that the truth is a rather malleable thing and those repeating what God says are not helpful or caring. First of all, just like my brother losing his donkey or his ox, I cannot hide from the issue, but here I must not only for my sake, but for his as well, hold on to that which is true. If I say I believe in God and that the Bible is His word, then there is nothing kinder that I can do for my brother than to tell him what God says. Even if he is lost, does not believe the same, I can respect that he is lost and as one who was lost, who needed Christ, who heard the gospel than responded, I should tell him the truth humbly. So what if I have no desire to wear women's clothes, I was still born under original sin, and while it may look one way with brother or my friend, has society, culture, family or my friends done me any grand favors by lessening what God says? Just say what God says, the gospel is amazing and when it takes hold in a person, it changes the way he sees himself and so many things that he now accepts.

Verse 6 takes us back to intent, when Adam and Eve were given dominion, this is a call to conservation. It is not fair to take the mother as she sits upon her eggs, for she becomes a sitting target, and to let her go is a mark towards sustainability. The health and density of animal populations is a good measure of our own health and ability as caretakers. The clean water, air and space that animals need to thrive is also a necessity of human beings as well. I am a fisherman, so if I like to fish then I need not pollute the water or support businesses that do. Above that I am a Christian, and so recognize that the earth does not belong to me to abuse, but to respect with gratitude. I hear people say that it doesn't matter because heaven and earth will pass away, but like Paul says, "do we continue in sin that grace may abound? God forbid." If we truly see ourselves as sinners, and God as holy,  if we truly come to Him in Christ for forgiveness for the things that God is so infinitely opposed to, then it seems that in truth we would also repent from so many destructive behaviors.

Verse 8 could be OSHA's verse, recognize the danger and build in such a way as to prevent the fall. You should care for your own life because it technically belongs to God, Who made it. The life of your friend, employee or any other life should not be taken for granted, but this is not an open invitation, a lottery for ambulance chasers either. Ask for eyes that can see here, how precious are those made in His image, disguised to us by our egos.

Verses 13-19 deals with a man who falsely accuses his new wife of not being a virgin. This is a dishonor to her person, and an accusation against her family, saying that they had been involved in deception. I looked up the meaning of chastise and he was basically beaten for this, but he also couldn't put her away after this.

If it were true though, and I was astonished to read this, but the girl was stoned. This seemed rather harsh to me, but as a father of two girls, knowing this as part of that culture and being a Jew under the law of Moses, I was warned and should have taught my children. It's not just the severity of the punishment but look where it takes place, the blood is brought back to the father's door step. The deception of the other family in the most sacred of unions and sensitive of contracts, comes back to the father. We can't really pretend at something that we are not, it may work with some people for a time, but God sees us for who we are. It does not matter how I describe my children, what matters is what is true. I hear so many people talk of their child who is involved in criminal activity, addicted to drugs, stealing from their neighbors, hurting other children, disrespecting authority and so on, as a "good child", she has such a "big heart" and would do anything for anyone. Whether you read this chapter and find the punishment too severe like I did or think your child an angel because she likes puppies, rainbows and unicorns, or you say that the God that you believe in wouldn't damn anyone or punish sin, I would suggest that it's not your or my opinion that matters, but what God actually says.

The rest of this chapter deals with adultery and rape. As can be seen above it is important not to hide or lie about such a matter, but cry out for help. Marriage is used often to reflect the relationship between Christ and His church, that a man leaves father and mother to become one with his wife, it is a new life, a new family and the most sacred cornerstone of society. It is the union from which springs forth the next generation and the first part of their rearing and education. Children are given to their parents to bring up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. The punishment under the Mosaic law for the interference here was death of the adulterers, but if a betrothed woman was raped then only the rapist died. Men and women in a fallen world, under corrupt lawgivers have suggested rape as good justification for the murder of our young. Punish the rapist not the woman and not the infant. Life belongs to God.

Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.

⁵ Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
⁶ So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
⁷ Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.
⁸ Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
⁹ Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.
¹⁰ We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.
¹¹ For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.
¹² Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
¹³ Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.
¹⁴ For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.
¹⁵ By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
¹⁶ But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. Hebrews 13: 4-16

#345 Empathy For The Dead

If one be found slain in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee to possess it, lying in the field, and it be not known who hath slain him:

2 Then thy elders and thy judges shall come forth, and they shall measure unto the cities which are round about him that is slain:

3 And it shall be, that the city which is next unto the slain man, even the elders of that city shall take an heifer, which hath not been wrought with, and which hath not drawn in the yoke;

4 And the elders of that city shall bring down the heifer unto a rough valley, which is neither eared nor sown, and shall strike off the heifer's neck there in the valley:

5 And the priests the sons of Levi shall come near; for them the Lord thy God hath chosen to minister unto him, and to bless in the name of the Lord; and by their word shall every controversy and every stroke be tried:

6 And all the elders of that city, that are next unto the slain man, shall wash their hands over the heifer that is beheaded in the valley:

7 And they shall answer and say, Our hands have not shed this blood, neither have our eyes seen it.

8 Be merciful, O Lord, unto thy people Israel, whom thou hast redeemed, and lay not innocent blood unto thy people of Israel's charge. And the blood shall be forgiven them.

9 So shalt thou put away the guilt of innocent blood from among you, when thou shalt do that which is right in the sight of the Lord.

10 When thou goest forth to war against thine enemies, and the Lord thy God hath delivered them into thine hands, and thou hast taken them captive,

11 And seest among the captives a beautiful woman, and hast a desire unto her, that thou wouldest have her to thy wife;

12 Then thou shalt bring her home to thine house, and she shall shave her head, and pare her nails;

13 And she shall put the raiment of her captivity from off her, and shall remain in thine house, and bewail her father and her mother a full month: and after that thou shalt go in unto her, and be her husband, and she shall be thy wife.

14 And it shall be, if thou have no delight in her, then thou shalt let her go whither she will; but thou shalt not sell her at all for money, thou shalt not make merchandise of her, because thou hast humbled her.

15 If a man have two wives, one beloved, and another hated, and they have born him children, both the beloved and the hated; and if the firstborn son be hers that was hated:

16 Then it shall be, when he maketh his sons to inherit that which he hath, that he may not make the son of the beloved firstborn before the son of the hated, which is indeed the firstborn:

17 But he shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the firstborn, by giving him a double portion of all that he hath: for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn is his.

18 If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them:

19 Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place;

20 And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard.

21 And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.

22 And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree:

23 His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance. Deuteronomy 21 KJV

Not knowing who was struck down, why they were struck down, or by whom, was still not a light matter and there were those that would and should investigate. If they could not find the murderer then there was still ceremony that took place in order to remove the blame from the land. The guilty may still walk among us, but they do not go unpunished for our lack of concern, nor do we hide them, but rather they live to our ignorance. Remember, what men may not be able to unfold is not concealed to God. This applies to the murderer and to the one whose heart holds malice, whose thoughts are contrary to a Holy God. I am not a saint or a sage, but when I see the heifer and such a ceremony, I am reminded of a God that seems more than reluctant to become desensitized to such a crime. As human beings the ceremony is a reminder that our ability to be cold or hardened is the result, a symptom of original sin. As those being reconciled to such a Holy Being, we must refuse this complacency, for what does it say? It does not seem to regard the lives of others, when we walk by without interest, and those that would say, "well it's no one I know", or "it's not happening to me." When you have done it unto one of the least of these, the least known, the human shadows, the poor, sick, lost, hungry, lonely, and who am I so proud of my wall of disinterest? No, every death should bring me to the reality of my own, and every sin I see in others, everything that appalls should drive me to the cross and I should ask God daily, "am I missing anything?" Is there anything else that bothers You that I have come to accept? Forgive me, Oh God, of my complacency.


There are things that were in this time of the law, socially acceptable, but not the way they had been from the beginning. Just because you were at war with another did not diminish their person. God had chosen to exact final judgment on some, but to Israel, He made clear His intent to show grace undeserved. With that in mind, when a woman was kept alive from their enemy, she was here afforded dignity. She could be your wife, but had to be esteemed as such and her feelings taken into account, for after all, she had just lost so much. Empathy, and it was not to be a respecter of persons, for the oldest son was the oldest not by the favored wife, but by the date of birth, or the right of God. There are those systems that require a change of heart to see. If there was not a Holy God then there is no concern over unrighteousness. If men are not made in His image then there is no concern of claim, of His ownership. The murderer above is free if there is no God, for though we may fear the wolf among us, they couldn't figure out who he was. I don't believe that men wrote these things of their own, that this is merely the God of the Hebrews, but rather I believe it to be God breathed and that the murderer will give an answer, but here it is also that the one without empathy will answer as well. The parent shall not hide the child from justice and in the end no one is hidden anyway. It all ends with God.

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

¹⁴ Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. ¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. ¹⁶ Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.^[c] Do not be conceited.

¹⁷ Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. ¹⁸ If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. ¹⁹ Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”^[d] says the Lord. ²⁰ On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
    if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”^[e]

²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good

#344 Fruit of the Field

When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them: for the Lord thy God is with thee, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

2 And it shall be, when ye are come nigh unto the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak unto the people,

3 And shall say unto them, Hear, O Israel, ye approach this day unto battle against your enemies: let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified because of them;

4 For the Lord your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.

5 And the officers shall speak unto the people, saying, What man is there that hath built a new house, and hath not dedicated it? let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man dedicate it.

6 And what man is he that hath planted a vineyard, and hath not yet eaten of it? let him also go and return unto his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man eat of it.

7 And what man is there that hath betrothed a wife, and hath not taken her? let him go and return unto his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man take her.

8 And the officers shall speak further unto the people, and they shall say, What man is there that is fearful and fainthearted? let him go and return unto his house, lest his brethren's heart faint as well as his heart.

9 And it shall be, when the officers have made an end of speaking unto the people that they shall make captains of the armies to lead the people.

10 When thou comest nigh unto a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace unto it.

11 And it shall be, if it make thee answer of peace, and open unto thee, then it shall be, that all the people that is found therein shall be tributaries unto thee, and they shall serve thee.

12 And if it will make no peace with thee, but will make war against thee, then thou shalt besiege it:

13 And when the Lord thy God hath delivered it into thine hands, thou shalt smite every male thereof with the edge of the sword:

14 But the women, and the little ones, and the cattle, and all that is in the city, even all the spoil thereof, shalt thou take unto thyself; and thou shalt eat the spoil of thine enemies, which the Lord thy God hath given thee.

15 Thus shalt thou do unto all the cities which are very far off from thee, which are not of the cities of these nations.

16 But of the cities of these people, which the Lord thy God doth give thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth:

17 But thou shalt utterly destroy them; namely, the Hittites, and the Amorites, the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee:

18 That they teach you not to do after all their abominations, which they have done unto their gods; so should ye sin against the Lord your God.

19 When thou shalt besiege a city a long time, in making war against it to take it, thou shalt not destroy the trees thereof by forcing an axe against them: for thou mayest eat of them, and thou shalt not cut them down (for the tree of the field is man's life) to employ them in the siege:

20 Only the trees which thou knowest that they be not trees for meat, thou shalt destroy and cut them down; and thou shalt build bulwarks against the city that maketh war with thee, until it be subdued. Deuteronomy 20 KJV

Its not a question of whether you will be outnumbered or out gunned, you will be, but know that God is sovereign, that you are not alone if you walk with him. He tells the priest what to say to the people, and the Word of God in our age is a sword, for our faith comes by its hearing and the gospel is the power of God. We tell it and trust God with the result. It is odd in this account, going into the promised land, that it is not like other numberings of the people, and some are directed to stay home, if their heart is elsewhere or if their groaning would bring down the moral of others. It is not only a great honor to serve God, but one that is undeserved, and so to stay home is to not understand this. Everything will look like a reason for you to leave the battle, but we don't fight knowing the outcome, or our safety, but rather to the call and Glory of God. Here the people have been assured, that if they follow God, stay away from idolatry, and serve Him, that they will overcome. The cities within receive no mercy, it is the time of God's wrath, and preservation of truth, but the outlying cities could receive peace if they indicate such desire. In our fallen state there is much temptation in the practices of other people, our culture and society, but in this dispensation of grace we are sent out, knowing that our enemy is common to our origin in original sin. The Psalmist says, in sin my mother conceived me, and it is into, not the act of conception but the fact that all of nature is in a fallen state, and judged by God. We are called out as witnesses in the knowledge of truth and carrying the gospel of peace. I do not deny the term "enemy", for it is in truth, but to be a child of God then I must love my enemy for when I was God's enemy, He sent His only begotten Son to die for my sins. So now, from the outskirts, far away and outside of any right of birth, and without anything to offer, I offer up my brokenness, and I beg for mercy.  

 

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,

20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. Ephesians 6: 10-20

#343 Presently

When the Lord thy God hath cut off the nations, whose land the Lord thy God giveth thee, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their cities, and in their houses;

2 Thou shalt separate three cities for thee in the midst of thy land, which the Lord thy God giveth thee to possess it.

3 Thou shalt prepare thee a way, and divide the coasts of thy land, which the Lord thy God giveth thee to inherit, into three parts, that every slayer may flee thither.

4 And this is the case of the slayer, which shall flee thither, that he may live: Whoso killeth his neighbour ignorantly, whom he hated not in time past;

5 As when a man goeth into the wood with his neighbour to hew wood, and his hand fetcheth a stroke with the axe to cut down the tree, and the head slippeth from the helve, and lighteth upon his neighbour, that he die; he shall flee unto one of those cities, and live:

6 Lest the avenger of the blood pursue the slayer, while his heart is hot, and overtake him, because the way is long, and slay him; whereas he was not worthy of death, inasmuch as he hated him not in time past.

7 Wherefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt separate three cities for thee.

8 And if the Lord thy God enlarge thy coast, as he hath sworn unto thy fathers, and give thee all the land which he promised to give unto thy fathers;

9 If thou shalt keep all these commandments to do them, which I command thee this day, to love the Lord thy God, and to walk ever in his ways; then shalt thou add three cities more for thee, beside these three:

10 That innocent blood be not shed in thy land, which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, and so blood be upon thee.

11 But if any man hate his neighbour, and lie in wait for him, and rise up against him, and smite him mortally that he die, and fleeth into one of these cities:

12 Then the elders of his city shall send and fetch him thence, and deliver him into the hand of the avenger of blood, that he may die.

13 Thine eye shall not pity him, but thou shalt put away the guilt of innocent blood from Israel, that it may go well with thee.

14 Thou shalt not remove thy neighbour's landmark, which they of old time have set in thine inheritance, which thou shalt inherit in the land that the Lord thy God giveth thee to possess it.

15 One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.

16 If a false witness rise up against any man to testify against him that which is wrong;

17 Then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before the Lord, before the priests and the judges, which shall be in those days;

18 And the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and, behold, if the witness be a false witness, and hath testified falsely against his brother;

19 Then shall ye do unto him, as he had thought to have done unto his brother: so shalt thou put the evil away from among you.

20 And those which remain shall hear, and fear, and shall henceforth commit no more any such evil among you.

21 And thine eye shall not pity; but life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot. Deuteronomy 19 KJV

The blood of men is sacred, and what men may give themselves license to, whether in rage or emotion at the time of loss, there need be a defense against this. While self defense is clearly instituted in scripture, one must give more patience and understanding to this institute of grief. You did not by intent take the life of another; it was by accident and yet the avenger seeks your life. Do not confront the avenger, for he is a man in need of cooling off, his head is not yer right, but instead, flee to that city of refuge. The same I would beg of my children, do not be so quick to take offense, though you are in the right, why escalate a matter, especially with a fool? He will find the insult worth your life, why not walk away from little things? The city was not designed for the murderer, the one, who in anger, took the life of another. Your reputation is not worth a life. Your property is not worth a life, take such a matter to the magistrate. Your feelings are not worth a life. Your convenience is not worth a life. Money is not worth a life. It is a life for a life. If you came to take someone else's life and lose your life in the process, then you are your own murderer. The man or woman that you seek to kill, cannot murder you, if they are defending their life or another's from you. Your blood is on your own head. Every man and woman is made in the image of God and therefore belongs to Him, so what you do against that image is against the Creator of life. This passage makes plain the way of false witnesses as well, and if you bear such witness that would require someone's life in the end, then it shall be your life instead, so if what you wish to say is not true, then repent before it leaves your mouth. Gossip, we would view as the lightest form of this, but it starts here, and the damage of another's reputation, or the accusations of false witnesses gain momentum here. We must all be aware of our tongues and hold high the truth, hoping for the best in others, and taking more time to express that which saves rather than that which condemns us, the hypocrites, for what can I possibly say to someone else that does not point back at me? Remember, I could not live the life, for I was stillborn, dead in my trespasses and sins. I could not die the death necessary, so I had to wait inside that city of refuge for the time of that High Priest, whose death would set me free. Because, he could not be held by death, why? Because the wages of sin is death, so He Who had no sin could not stay there. I am happy to have my life in Christ, to be the slave of Jesus, and it is my prayer, that all my fellow human beings will come to the saving knowledge of the gospel. Don't let others deceive you. Don't be confused about your fallen state, and those things which are the result of original sin. God hates sin, but He has provided us a way to be reconciled in Christ, and we need no other High Priest, for we have Jesus. 

Finally, all of you, be like-minded and sympathetic, love as brothers, be tender-hearted and humble. 9Do not repay evil withevil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.…1 Peter 3: 8-10

#342 Talking to Myself

The priests the Levites, and all the tribe of Levi, shall have no part nor inheritance with Israel: they shall eat the offerings of the Lord made by fire, and his inheritance.

2 Therefore shall they have no inheritance among their brethren: the Lord is their inheritance, as he hath said unto them.

3 And this shall be the priest's due from the people, from them that offer a sacrifice, whether it be ox or sheep; and they shall give unto the priest the shoulder, and the two cheeks, and the maw.

4 The first fruits also of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the first of the fleece of thy sheep, shalt thou give him.

5 For the Lord thy God hath chosen him out of all thy tribes, to stand to minister in the name of the Lord, him and his sons for ever.

6 And if a Levite come from any of thy gates out of all Israel, where he sojourned, and come with all the desire of his mind unto the place which the Lord shall choose;

7 Then he shall minister in the name of the Lord his God, as all his brethren the Levites do, which stand there before the Lord.

8 They shall have like portions to eat, beside that which cometh of the sale of his patrimony.

9 When thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.

10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch.

11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.

12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord: and because of these abominations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee.

13 Thou shalt be perfect with the Lord thy God.

14 For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the Lord thy God hath not suffered thee so to do.

15 The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;

16 According to all that thou desiredst of the Lord thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not.

17 And the Lord said unto me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken.

18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.

19 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.

20 But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.

21 And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the Lord hath not spoken?

22 When a prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him. Deuteronomy 18 KJV

Here we have the provision of the Levitical priests, and they are removed from much of commerce and inheritance, set apart to the work of God. Like the concerns of those who govern, to provide a quiet and peaceful existence for their citizens, whom they serve, the priests must guide the people in their relationship to God. It is of utmost importance that they be set aside to such duties and study, because God owes no man anything other than his wages. They have seen in times past that the title of priest is not a covering from God's just wrath, for even  Aaron, the high priest, lost two of his sons. It is sadly, in the minds of many, the position of the Sabbath and of show, much like the preachers of our day. This is not so much a job as a calling, a command, and the expectation is much higher than many would like to suppose. It is also the more difficult for men play at Saturdays and Sundays, they would rather the approval of the pastor, the man, then to be open and broken in truth. We can put on masks, convince others that we are "spiritual", but it is a self righteous, a socially righteous condition, not founded in the truth that brings humility. No, the priest job is to say what God said, and the pastors job is to plagiarize the Word of God. As we have come to see thus far, it is God's word that trumps culture, tradition and even what would appear to be the miraculous. Remember in a previous chapter, if one came showing signs and wonders but suggested another word, god or religion other than what God has given in His word, we go with God's word. This is what God has established, this is the measuring stick. Here we see as well that those practicing witch craft are not be feared. Even in our day men and women are drawn to such things, witch craft, talking to dead loved ones and mediums, who can instead of walking by faith, suggest a look into the future, a revelation of things to come. Even if they could produce something that you could not explain, something that looked real to you, what did the God of the universe say? I would rather irritate the whole world than anger God. So there would also come those not so obvious, those that claimed to be of God and their doctrine for the most part relatively in tact. The measure for them is that what they said has to come true and the same standard that upholds the Word of God, remains in tact for them as well. I may listen until you stray, but once you stray then I must confront, and for now, in this time, I believe the scriptures sufficient in every question of doctrine. I believe that there will be prophets again in the end times, but for those in this day and age that insist that they are prophets, I would suggest that you are the wrong sort. To prophecy is to say what God has said, and there is this wonderful thing now called scripture, where a man can study this and have it written upon the pages of his heart. So now anyone who has access to scripture, has access to the words of God. Anyone who repeats scripture, is repeating what God has said. 

Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, 2 through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, 3 who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5 for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.

6 If you put these things before the brothers,[a] you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed. 7 Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; 8 for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. 9 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. 10 For to this end we toil and strive,[b] because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.

11 Command and teach these things. 12 Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. 14 Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. 15 Practice these things, immerse yourself in them,[c] so that all may see your progress. 16 Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers. 1 Timothy 4