February 17 - Deuteronomy 24-26
In one way the command for a wife not to return to her previous husband after a divorce and remarriage might be confusing to us , because we might think that the original union was being restored, so that would be good. However, I believe this law might be in the Law, so that people will not take divorce lightly. We must realize that God does not want anyone to simply go from one marriage to another. He wants us to take marriage so seriously that we would realize He wants one man and one woman for life.
Then, the command for a man to spend the first year at home with his new wife is very remarkable. The need in a new marriage is for the husband and wife to continue to grow in their relationship with each other, but often that does not happen today because of work or other pressures. This rule makes that initial bonding so much easier to achieve.
The other laws here emphasize the need for respect, generosity, and honesty in our dealings with other people. This includes the admonitions to pay our workers promptly, to leave part of the harvest for the poor, and to only give forty blows as a punishment. God does not want us to humiliate people even in their punishment.
The rule about the brother taking his dead brother's wife to carry on the family name shows us how important family is to the Lord. It is especially evident when the punishment for not following this law is to have the brother's wife spit in his face and to be labeled as one who did not carry on the family name for the rest of his life.
In chapter 26 there is again the lesson to remember to bring the first-fruits and the tithes to the Lord and to remember all of His past blessings in the process. Our giving should cause us to rejoice in all of the things God has given us in our lives. Our giving should be an act of faith and an act of worship.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Deuteronomy 27-30. I pray that I will be able to publish my blog from Santo Domingo during our mission trip. However, here are the other readings so you can follow along, if I miss a day or the entire week.
February 19 - Deuteronomy 31-34
February 20 - Joshua 1-4
February 21 - Joshua 5-8
February 22 - Joshua 9-11
February 23 - Joshua 12-14
February 24 - Joshua 15-18
February 25 - Joshua 19-21
Then, the command for a man to spend the first year at home with his new wife is very remarkable. The need in a new marriage is for the husband and wife to continue to grow in their relationship with each other, but often that does not happen today because of work or other pressures. This rule makes that initial bonding so much easier to achieve.
The other laws here emphasize the need for respect, generosity, and honesty in our dealings with other people. This includes the admonitions to pay our workers promptly, to leave part of the harvest for the poor, and to only give forty blows as a punishment. God does not want us to humiliate people even in their punishment.
The rule about the brother taking his dead brother's wife to carry on the family name shows us how important family is to the Lord. It is especially evident when the punishment for not following this law is to have the brother's wife spit in his face and to be labeled as one who did not carry on the family name for the rest of his life.
In chapter 26 there is again the lesson to remember to bring the first-fruits and the tithes to the Lord and to remember all of His past blessings in the process. Our giving should cause us to rejoice in all of the things God has given us in our lives. Our giving should be an act of faith and an act of worship.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Deuteronomy 27-30. I pray that I will be able to publish my blog from Santo Domingo during our mission trip. However, here are the other readings so you can follow along, if I miss a day or the entire week.
February 19 - Deuteronomy 31-34
February 20 - Joshua 1-4
February 21 - Joshua 5-8
February 22 - Joshua 9-11
February 23 - Joshua 12-14
February 24 - Joshua 15-18
February 25 - Joshua 19-21