Deuteronomy 24:1-22


Compassion is vital to living in a way that pleases the Lord.  This chapter deals with helping those who are poor and either need to borrow money or they have no means of providing for themselves.  Divorce is not necessarily a form of compassion, but the chapter does demonstrate a means of protecting a woman who is rejected by her husband from simply being discarded or abused but required an official divorce.  God wants us to be a compassionate people who care about others.

PROTECTING THE UNWANTED WIFE: Marriage was designed by God to be between one man and one woman until they were separated by death.  However, because of the sinfulness of men God permitted divorce to release a person from marriage in the event that immorality had occurred.  That is not to say that immorality requires divorce; rather it appears to permit divorce.  It also seems that the purpose of the divorce was to allow the rejected spouse to marry again.  However, should the second marriage also end for any reason, it was not permitted for the first marriage to be reconciled.  As we consider the subject of divorce it is always important to remember that it is NEVER God’s plan for divorce to happen and is always only an option because of the sinfulness of men and the hardness of his heart.  However, I believe that it is important for us to remember to treat with compassion those who have gone through the terrible tragedy of divorce.  We must remember to love those who have suffered in this way.

PROVIDING FOR THE UNDERPRIVILEGED PEOPLE: Moses also gave clear instructions as to how to provide for and treat those who do not have enough money or food.  No collateral was to be taken from them in the case of a loan, and food was supposed to be left in the fields so that they could go and gather what they needed to be able to eat.  I find it interesting that the land owner was not expected to give from what he gathered to the poor, rather he was to leave some in the fields were the poor were permitted to go and work in the fields to feed themselves.  I believe the principles of this passage are important for us to remember.  First, those who have in abundance must make provision for those who do not. Second, those who do not have enough; must not just wait for a “handout” rather they should be willing to work in order to get what they need.  Our problems today stem from the rich telling the poor to work and the poor waiting for the rich to give.  God would have the rich to give willingly and the poor to work faithfully.

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