AM Bible Study Group; October 19, 2011
Deuteronomy 22:1-12
Theme: In His law, God gave His people commands that taught them how to live graciously with others.
Some commentators have said that the laws that begin this chapter are miscellaneous and impossible to organize under one theme. But they do seem to fit well under the broader concept of our relationships with others in civil society. Put together, these individual, seemingly unrelated laws gave the people of Israel some basic rules for life in the covenant community under God. If we faithfully and reverently follow them ourselves, we’ll find that they guide us in gracious living among others.
In them, we find that we’re instructed to . . .
I. RESPECT EACH OTHER’S PROPERTY (vv. 1-3).
This law sounds very much like the one given in Exodus 23:4-5. It teaches us that if we see something that belongs to our neighbor that has somehow gotten away from him, we’re not to hide ourselves from the situation (as if to say, “It’s not my problem”); nor are we to keep it for ourselves (as if to say, “Finders-keepers; losers-weepers”). We are to bring it back to the original owner (v. 1). Even when we don’t know who the thing belongs to, or the person to whom it belongs is far away, we’re to keep it for them until they come and get it (v. 2). This is to be true with all that might belong to someone else (v. 3). We are not to “hide” ourselves from our obligation, but to do our best to respect the private ownership of the property of others; because to do otherwise would be to break the eighth commandment against theft. (And note as that, as Exodus 23:4 says, this is to be done faithfully even toward someone who is counted as our “enemy”.)
II. BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR (v. 4).
Just like Exodus 23:5, this passage commands that we are not to see our neighbor in need and turn away. It specified helping a neighbor with an animal who has fallen down because of a burden. We’re not to turn our eyes away from our neighbor in need and as Cain said, “Am I my brother’s keeper?”; but rather, we’re to “surely help him”. We’re to love our neighbor as ourself (Leviticus 19:18); and in Scripture, our neighbor is defined as anyone we encounter who needs us (see Luke 10:29 ff). God’s word here commands that we adopt the “good neighbor policy”.
III. SUBMIT TO GOD-DESIGNED ROLES (v. 5).
This speaks of women not wearing that which pertains to a man, or a man not wearing the garments of a woman. In our day, the sinfulness of transvestitism is often dismissed, and is tolerated instead as a psychological need to be affirmed. But in reality, the Bible tells us that it’s an abomination (that is, a thing detestable to God; see Deuteronomy 7:25; 18:10-12 for other practices that are called “abominations”). It’s a practice associated with sexual arousal; and in some cases, is an expression of same-sex attractions (see also Leviticus 18:22; 20:13). In the case of the pagan peoples who surrounded Israel, it may have been an expression paganistic ritualism that had idolatrous undertones; and this may be suggested by the prohibition against other types of outward adornments in Deuteronomy 14:1-2. What constitutes male garments and female garments may, obviously, changes in time and from one culture to another. But in gracious and reverent living, we’re to respect what is understood as appropriate and decent to the gender roles of the society in which we live, and not try to confuse the sexes.
IV. BE HUMANE (vv. 6-7).
A man may find a bird’s nest with the young and the mother together in it. If so, he is not to take them both for food. Rather, he is to take the young and let the mother go free. Some have suggested that this is a matter of good conservation; since the young would die without the mother; but if the mother is set free, she can then have more young. But it’s clear that it also commands the humane treatment of even the smallest of animals. If people would treat even small creatures with gentleness and care, they’d certainly treat each other that way. (See also Leviticus 22:28 on this.) God honors people who show kindness to even the smallest animals; and this is shown by the words that close this command: “that it may be well with you and that you may prolong your days” (see Deuteronomy 4:40; 6:2)
V. PROTECT THE LIVES AND SAFETY OF OTHERS (v. 8).
Careful and constant attention to the health and well-being of others is to be a way of life. We are to do nothing that might endanger anyone else. In these days, people would often spend time on the roofs of their homes. It was almost a family room of its own; and the people of that time were to make sure that there would not be a danger of anyone falling from the roof. In building a new home, they were to make sure a railing surrounded the roof so no one would fall off “that you may not bring the guilt of bloodshed on your household if anyone falls from it”. To do otherwise would be to commit negligent homicide. We apply this to day by making sure that all proper safety measures are taken to protect people in our homes, on our jobs, or in our cars.
VI. BE WELL-ORDERED AND ORGANIZED (vv. 9-11).
The order of God’s creation of things is not to be confused. Various kinds of crops are not to be sown together but are to be kept distinct (v. 9). Strange mixtures of natural fabrics are not to be created (v. 10). Animals that are not compatible with one another (big and small, clean and unclean) are not to be worked together (v. 11; see also 2 Corinthians 6:14). These prohibitions sound strange to us today; but there may have been paganistic meanings to attached to these practices that God wanted to keep from being associated with His people. And we are to beware of the idea that we can, somehow, do a better job with Creation than God. Science allows us to make good use of the things God has created; but this must be done with caution. Dangerous consequences may result from a reckless mixing together of things that God has designed to be distinct. And not only so, deliberate confusion and disorganization may come from a heart of rebellion against the Creator. In any case, it’s not a life-style that leads to reverent, civil living.
VII. KEEP GOD’S COMMANDMENTS BEFORE YOU ALWAYS (v. 12).
The tassels that God commanded here were intended to remind the people constantly of the law of God (see Numbers 15:37-41). To wear the tassels, as God commanded, kept the law constantly in His people’s attention. This teaches us that, in gracious living, every aspect of every area of our lives needs to be brought under the reverential fear of the Lord and into conformity with His word. Life together always goes better when we do; because the commandments of God are given to us by God for our good (see Deuteronomy 10:12-13).