Deuteronomy 23-25 Hopefully Our Legislators Won't Get Any Ideas

I was complaining yesterday about the myriad of new regulations affecting banks, but some of these laws make those regulations pale in comparison! 

“No man who has had part of his sex organs cut off may come into the meeting to worship the Lord.” 

(I wonder who had the duty of checking?)

There were some good things in these chapters, though.  In times of war, all soldiers would be encouraged to hear, “The Lord your God moves around through your camp to protect you and to defeat your enemies for you, so the camp must be holy.”

“A man who has just married must not be sent to war or be given any other duty.  He should be free to stay home for a year to make his new wife HAPPY.”  Wow!

“Parents must not be put to death if their children do wrong, and children must not be put to death if their parents do wrong.  Each person must die for his own sin.”  I imagine many parents of teenagers were thrilled to see this one!

In court, if a person was found guilty of a crime that required a beating as punishment, “The judge will make that person lie down and be beaten in front of him … But don’t hit a person more than 40 times …”  Imagine what such swift justice might do to our judicial system’s dockets!

There’s a telling phrase about the Amalekites, who God had ordered to be eradicated.  Their real sin was this:  “They were not afraid of God.”  Healthy fear of the One who created us and controls our lives is a good thing.

Father, help us to have wisdom in making new laws.  Keep us from making so many that the people feel like that ox muzzled while treading grain.  Remind our legislators that they too will have to abide by them (and don’t let them make any laws and exclude themselves from them).

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford