19 When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. 20 When you beat the olives from your trees, do not go over the branches a second time. Leave what remains for the alien, the fatherless and the widow. 21 When you harvest the grapes in your vineyard, do not go over the vines again. Leave what remains for the alien, the fatherless and the widow. 22 … Continue reading Deuteronomy 24-27: Overlooking the Sheaves

Being responsible not just for yourself and your own family, but also for your neighbors, is a theme that runs through these chapters.  Find your neighbor’s animal?  Take care of it until the neighbor returns for it, or return it if you know to whom it belongs.  See your neighbor’s animal fall to the ground?  Help him get it back on its feet. The message is clear: we are to be involved with our neighbors.  This is hard to do in a garage door society. It is entirely possible that I can go at least a week without speaking to … Continue reading Deuteronomy 21-23: Neighborly Responsibility

Of all the words used to describe the Lord, “practical” isn’t one that immediately comes to mind.  Yet, the Bible is full of very practical, useful commands.  Isn’t the one who issues practical commands practical Himself? 19 “When you are attacking a town and the war drags on, you must not cut down the trees with your axes. You may eat the fruit, but do not cut down the trees. Are the trees your enemies, that you should attack them? 20 You may only cut down trees that you know are not valuable for food. Use them to make the equipment … Continue reading Deuteronomy 17-20: Practicality

The Israelites were to set aside a tenth of the produce of their land.  I always thought this tenth was to go to the Levities (the church). I was mistaken! According to Deuteronomy 14: 22 Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year. 23 Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the presence of the LORD your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name, so that you may learn to revere the LORD your God always. … Continue reading Deuteronomy 14-16: The open hand

Over and over again, the Lord tells the people to be careful that they don’t fall into the trap of worshipping the gods of the people who live in Promised Land.  They are not to even worship Him in the foreign ways, but only in the ways they have been taught.  Clearly, God knew what a temptation it would be for them to be curious about the foreign gods. I learned something new today that I did not know about the Promised Land.  It never occurred to me to question why the Lord picked that particular geographic location out of … Continue reading Deuteronomy 11-13