Venturing through the Old Testament can—at times—seem like an arduous task for the modern mind. It is even harder for those of us in the Western Church. Here are a couple of lenses that we have found helpful:

Understand that these laws we read about today guide people in an ancient, more barbaric world far removed from modern conveniences.
Understand that we are a solar flare and power grids going down from our own modern world coming closer (returning, really) to the OT world we read about today. There is a tendency to think that those in antiquity were more “simple”. This is a tactic of the enemy to give us the illusion we are more “advanced”. We are not. Human progress and achievement has moved us forward, but our base nature remains. God allows the world to progress based on Acts 17. He places some of us in modern “time and bounds” because that is our best chance to respond to His call. Others groped for Him in an ancient setting.

But let’s keep this in mind: we’re not far away from the people we read about today.

As Ecclesiastes 3.18 draws out, “I said in my heart with regard to the children of man that God is testing them that they may see that they themselves are but beasts.”

Understand that it is God’s Spirit in mankind that makes any order possible and He brings the conditions for this order based on His timing, and His will to bring many sons and daughters back to glory. Be aware of the human condition and see the laws we read of today that are simply a reflection of keeping our base nature in check.

Be thankful we are not under these laws or these conditions (and pray for those who still live in a world that resembles the one you read about today).

Visit the poor and oppressed in their affliction. Carry the New Covenant in your heart -- take today’s reading and thank God for the order we enjoy in this Western world. Disciple and follow our Master in tending and keeping our human progress “gains” by showing love. Visit the poor and oppressed in their affliction.

Love brings order. Meditate on this today.

[Deuteronomy 25.1-19]

25.1 When people have a dispute, they are to take it to court and the judges will decide the case, acquitting the innocent and condemning the guilty. 2 If the guilty person deserves to be beaten, the judge shall make them lie down and have them flogged in his presence with the number of lashes the crime deserves, 3 but the judge must not impose more than forty lashes. If the guilty party is flogged more than that, your fellow Israelite will be degraded in your eyes.

4 Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.

5 If brothers are living together and one of them dies without a son, his widow must not marry outside the family. Her husband’s brother shall take her and marry her and fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law to her. 6 The first son she bears shall carry on the name of the dead brother so that his name will not be blotted out from Israel.

7 However, if a man does not want to marry his brother’s wife, she shall go to the elders at the town gate and say, “My husband’s brother refuses to carry on his brother’s name in Israel. He will not fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law to me.” 8 Then the elders of his town shall summon him and talk to him. If he persists in saying, “I do not want to marry her,” 9 his brother’s widow shall go up to him in the presence of the elders, take off one of his sandals, spit in his face and say, “This is what is done to the man who will not build up his brother’s family line.” 10 That man’s line shall be known in Israel as The Family of the Unsandaled.

11 If two men are fighting and the wife of one of them comes to rescue her husband from his assailant, and she reaches out and seizes him by his private parts, 12 you shall cut off her hand. Show her no pity.

13 Do not have two differing weights in your bag—one heavy, one light. 14 Do not have two differing measures in your house—one large, one small. 15 You must have accurate and honest weights and measures, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you. 16 For the Lord your God detests anyone who does these things, anyone who deals dishonestly.

17 Remember what the Amalekites did to you along the way when you came out of Egypt. 18 When you were weary and worn out, they met you on your journey and attacked all who were lagging behind; they had no fear of God. 19 When the Lord your God gives you rest from all the enemies around you in the land he is giving you to possess as an inheritance, you shall blot out the name of Amalek from under heaven. Do not forget!

[ WHAT ] is this passage saying and what is a key truth or thought that we learn?

+ Who is bringing these laws?

+ What do vv. 1-3 say about mercy?

+ What does v. 4 say about animals and God’s care for all creation?

+ Vv. 7-10 is a tough passage. Do you think this had anything to do with the fact that widows were vulnerable in the ancient world? What does it say about God’s posture towards honoring a brother?

+ Vv. 11-12 are easily the hardest verses to process in this chapter. We just read about mercy in vv. 1-3. But here we see a harsh punishment. The Hebrew texts actually talk about a portion of a woman’s palm (not the whole hand), but what processing does this raise for you? Do you think that women doing this (causing infertility) had become common (possibly taking on the customs of surrounding cultures) and that a visible deterrent was used to stop the trend?

+ What practical applications are there for us on a heart level in vv. 13-16?

+ Vv. 17-19 remind the Israelites to remember the pagan and Godless culture from which they were delivered. Why would God have to remind them of this and tell them to “blot out the name of Amalek”?

[ HOW ] is the Lord calling me to action/obedience?

+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?

+ Jesus said that all of His disciples (collectively) will do “greater things than He did”. What steps are you taking to disciple others and show them the love of Christ (a love that—even when fumbled by man -- has done much to bring order to the world)?

[ WHO ] am I walking with and praying for to discover Jesus?

+ What is my next step?

+ Is there anyone you can begin to share Christ’s love with?