Today's Bible Study Lesson
“The
Laws of Justice and Mercy”
Aim: Remember
that
God
expects believers to care for each other;
Aspire
to
be impartial in showing justice and mercy; and Practice
helping
those who are in need.
Background:
Exodus 23
Bible Lesson:
Exodus 23:1-12
Memory
Verse:
“Thou shalt not follow a multitude to [do] evil;
neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest
[judgment]: Neither shalt thou countenance a poor man in his cause.”
Exodus 23:2-3 KJV
Some
Highlights:
-
The
second book of the Bible Exodus describes departure of the nation of
Israel from their bondage in the land of Egypt. Moses is recognized
as the one inspired by God to author the Book of Exodus. Joseph and
his brothers descendants fell into slavery while in Egypt when the
political power changed and there was a fear that the large
population of Israelites was a threat to the Egyptians. God heard
the cry of the Israelites and provided Moses to lead them out of
Egypt after repeated requests for freedom and God sending
devastating plagues which convinced Pharaoh of God’s mighty power.
The book of Exodus has two parts, an historical section (chapters
1-19) and the regulation section (chapters 20-40).
-
Chapter
20 records the 10 Commandments given by God through Moses to the
Israelites. The following chapters give specific regulations
regarding various aspects of life. Chapter 22:16 – Chapter 23:9
provides Laws of Human Relations and Chapter 23:10- 13 provides the
regulations the Sixth day of the week, the Sabbath.
-
Chapter
23:1-3: We are prohibited from sharing or giving false information
and from being a party to others who would give and promote the
spread of untruths. The prohibition includes not bearing false
testimony in court or in any other setting. We are not to be
persuaded or influenced by popular opinion to join in wrong doing.
When called upon to testify in a dispute, we are not to be swayed
from telling the truth and nothing but the truth. Our testimony is
to be impartial neither favoring the rich and influential or the
poor and lowly.
-
Chapters
23:4-6: Specific case studies are given as examples of righteous
behavior. In the first case, we come upon an enemy’s ox or donkey,
that is lost. It is to be returned to its owner. In the second
case, we come upon the donkey of one of our least favor people, that
is faltering under a heavy load. One must stop and lend assistance.
We are to assist those in need whether friend or foe. Even though
we might want to ignore the need of someone who has mistreated us,
we are exhorted stop and help. In the third case, we are faced with
serving a role in a lawsuit. One must not be a party to the
subversion of justice in favor of the poor or the wealthy.
-
Chapter
23:7-9: Judicial imperatives. Accusations and charges must be made
carefully and never given falsely. One must never be the party to
the sentencing of an innocent person to death. This imperative
should govern one’s daily conversation because harsh words and
false statements can damage or destroy a person’s reputation and
psychologically scar a person for life. Likewise, a guilty person
should never be
declared innocent. We nor judges should accept bribes because they
will lead to the twisting of the truth in favor of the one who is
offering
the bribe. Even a person with good intentions can be influenced by a
bribe to mishandle the truth. Strangers and foreigners are
especially at a disadvantage and can be subject to oppression;
therefore, we are to remember that we were once strangers and
foreigners and should treat them as we would want to be treated. In
the case of the Israelites, they must remember their experiences
from Egypt before their deliverance.
-
Chapter
23:10-12: Sabbath imperatives. The land was to go uncultivated after
six years of harvesting. This was to allow the land to rest from
harvesting. Whatever grew on the land during the time of rest was to
be harvested by the poor which would provide them an opportunity to
regain the their food security and their financial footing. This
respite for the land also applied to the vineyards and the olive
groves. The Sabbatical period was compared to the Sabbath day which
was observed in their time as a day of rest from labor for all
people and beast of burden, allowing both to be refreshed after six
days of labor.
Take
Aways:
-
Remember
we, Christians, are a peculiar people known by our acts of love
rendered to one another and to others.
-
Fairness
and impartiality should not be strangers in our treatment of
others.
-
Our
blessings from God are not meant to be horded, but to be shared to
bless others.
Bible
Verses to Keep in Mind:
“But
whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and
shutteth up his bowels [of compassion] from him, how dwelleth the
love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word,
neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.” 1 John 3:17-18 KJV
“If
a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he
that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God
whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he
who loveth God love his brother also.” 1 John 4:20-21 KJV
“Will
the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, [or] with ten thousands
of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn [for] my transgression,
the fruit of my body [for] the sin of my soul? He hath shewed thee, O
man, what [is] good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to
do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”
Micah 6:7-8 KJV
“Be
not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have
entertained angels unawares.” Hebrews 13:2 KJV
“Ye
have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and
hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them
that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them
which despitefully use you, and persecute you;” Matthew 5:43-44
KJV
“A
new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have
loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all [men]
know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
John 13:34-35 KJV
“Even
so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how
great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue [is] a fire, a
world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it
defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it
is set on fire by hell.” James 3:5-6 NKJV
“If
you claim to be religious but don't control your tongue, you are
fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless.” James 1:26 NLT
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