A GOD OF ORDER AND CLARITY
There is a reason for the order of these next few passages in the next chapter of our weekly study of Deuteronomy. God was first laying the groundwork of a foundational truth before moving on to adding more parts to the whole building.
Without the right and proper foundation a structure will always fall.
Foundations are very important; though they often seem trivial and insignificant when they are being built. At the end of the story; they are the part that holds everything else together.
SEEKING TRUTH AND GOD’S GUIDANCE
We have now finished our studies of Deuteronomy, Chapter 21, and we are opening our bibles to study Deuteronomy, Chapter 22.
Please pray for God’s truth and guidance as we go through this VERY FULL and DIFFICULT chapter.
God must guide us through all of the cultural trappings and the case-laws that are given within these scriptures. The truth has to be spoken in love in all situations. Souls depend on truth; not fairy tales or whatever feels most comfortable, or sounds good to the governing powers of the nation. Sometimes when the truth spills over into the reality of our days it can get very uncomfortable and not feel like truth at all. Test it against God’s Word. Time and patience will tell the truth that God intended for us to know.
Some of these passages might accidentally hurt feelings or even be considered misinformation and lies. It may sound to you like this lesson is given in hate by some of those who review the lesson and disagree with its content. I’m sorry if that happens; but I would much rather hurt feelings now than to deal with seeing people sentenced to eternal damnation because they didn’t hear the truth from anyone.
We have arrived at a place where no subject can be candy-coated or ignored and still remain effective for God’s Kingdom purposes.
SOMETIMES TRUTH FEELS LIKE FICTION
Some of the subjects we will discuss in Chapter 22 may sound very strange to today’s ears; nevertheless; we must know and respect that these scriptures are the Word of God, and it is that WORD that brings us hope and light and eternal abundant life.
Have we forgotten some very important aspects of the godly life simply because we are now the members of a modern-day society?
Let’s take a prayerful look at this chapter’s subjects and explore that possibility a bit further.
We will start out on an easy path, then we will progress as time moves on. Looking at verses 1 – 4 of Deuteronomy 22, it is clear to see that they speak to us of how to get along with our neighbors.
Let’s read that passage:
Deuteronomy 22:1-4: If you see your fellow Israelite’s ox or sheep straying, do not ignore it but be sure to take it back to its owner. If they do not live near you or if you do not know who owns it, take it home with you and keep it until they come looking for it. Then give it back. Do the same if you find their donkey or cloak or anything else they have lost. Do not ignore it. If you see your fellow Israelite’s donkey or ox fallen on the road, do not ignore it. Help the owner get it to its feet.
These verses just seem to be a reminder that we are always to be neighborly, even on the days when it is inconvenient and we just don’t feel like doing anything but closing our door and hibernating.
LOVE GOD; LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR
The way Jesus summarized the commandments was to “love God” and to “love your neighbor as yourself.” In other words, do the same things for your neighbor that you would want them to do for you. If their livestock escapes from the pasture; catch the animal and hold it in safety until the owner comes to claim it again.
Don’t look the other way and pretend that you did not see. Exert the energy that it takes and go out of your way a bit and be a good neighbor.
If you see your neighbor on the side of the road having trouble; stop and help him out.
Note this doesn’t say “if you like your neighbor,” or “if you agree with your neighbor on all things.” It simply says “stop and help your neighbor” no matter what you think of his lifestyle, or his appearance, or the members of his family or his political or religious convictions; you need to stop and help him. Your opinion of him does not matter in the least.
At least the first part of this chapter is very straight forward and easy to understand, even in modern day terms.
Just remember; If you see your neighbor having car trouble – help him out!
REMEMBER CAIN AND ABLE
Cain and Abel settled this whole issue in front of God a long time ago.
When Cain asked the question; “Am I my brother’s keeper?” God answered It by saying “YES” in many various and different ways. If your neighbor thinks different than you; he is still your neighbor. Be kind and help him out. Do not ignore him because of your differences.
If you are like Able and understand what God desires of you, and you have a neighbor who happens to be like Cain who desires only to dishonor God; he is still your neighbor. Be kind. Stop and help him out whenever he needs help. Do not ignore him when he is in need.
Sometimes our neighbor is in need and doesn’t even realize that it is so.
Like the neighbor whose sheep ran away and appeared in your back yard without his knowledge; just catch the little lamb and return it to your neighbor. Even if he doesn’t agree with anything you have ever said to him; he will remember your kindness and consider it to be love.
Don’t worry about your neighbor repaying you for your kindness. You actually did this for God and God will be the one who repays you in the end of the story.
Give your neighbor time to understand who you are and what you are about. Do not force his trust or friendship. In time, through kindness, he will come to understand and accept you as part of the community; even if you two are totally different in every way.
This fact is sure and it is illustrated throughout the scriptures. It falls right under the second summary of the Commandments given by Jesus; Love your neighbor as yourself.
End of story.
Subject closed; except to remind you to always remember it because you may need to act accordingly sooner than you realize.
WE MAY NEED TO REMEMBER THIS NEXT WEEK TOO
Next week will not be so easy. I just hope that there are not any new laws on the books next week that would silence what I want to say in truth and love.
It was very tempting not to divide this chapter into logical sections and to speak out today while I can be assured that it is safe to do so; but the next subject is tricky and long and there is a lot to consider; so I did not include more of the passages of Deuteronomy 22 in today’s lesson.
I will say that today’s thoughts can carry right over into next weeks thoughts. It may not seem obvious when we first arrive, but it will all come clear to us eventually as we progress through the rough and rocky avenues of truth in the scripture passages that appear next in this chapter.
Go ahead and read all the way through Deuteronomy 22 and prepare your heart for the next section of this passage of scriptures. It will not be an easy subject for those in today’s world to discuss.
We will definitely have to stop and remember that we are ALL neighbors.
What I am going to say in love might sound like hate to some untrained and immature ears of the neighborhood community. I hope not; but I suspect so.
Even the words I must end this lesson with today might sound rather ironic to many after they hear the words of next week’s lesson.
Hopefully the truth will win out in the end. God’s way is always truth and the truth will set us free.
Until then; let’s all remember to love our neighbors as ourselves.