Year 7, Day 175: Deuteronomy 24

Theological Commentary: Click Here

Deuteronomy 24 continues the string on miscellaneous laws.  Again, I find that this chapter gives us laws that simply make sense.  If we just do the thing that makes sense and is right, there is no trouble in keeping the law.

For example, it makes sense that if a man divorces his wife and she has moved on to another person, why would he take her back?  Why would she even want to go back.  I’m a strong advocate of keeping marriage going and working through the rough spots together.  But if people do come to the place where they simply cannot imagine going one day more with their current spouse – especially in the case of infidelity as this chapter indicates – then be done with it and move along!  Why go back to a person that you left because they could be loyal and faithful in the marriage?

Another example is the law about letting the person who owes you money come out of their house and give you the debt as opposed to you going in to collect.  The reason it makes sense to not go in to collect is because you might see something else that the person owns.  Then you open yourself up to greed as you desire something of theirs.  You might ask for it unfairly, putting the person who owes you in a bind.  In the end, it is better to let those who owe you money bring it to you so that you are not tempted.

The laws at the end about leaving food in the field or on the trees for the sojourner also makes sense.  First of all, if we always claim every fruit of a plant, how will the plant ever reproduce to make new fruit?  Second, how will the surrounding nature – birds, squirrels, etc) ever be able to do their job and spread around the seeds to create a healthy environment?  That doesn’t even begin to talk about the true focus of the law, which is one of hospitality and care for the other person.  How will other people see us if we always take everything that we can as soon as we can and never leave anything for other people?  A society like that is self-centered and self-focused and erodes very quickly.

The law about the millstone also makes sense.  What is at the core of this law is a person’s ability to survive.  The millstone was used in taking grain and turning it into flour to be used for bread – one of the most basic of foods.  Saying that a person lost their millstone is essentially saying that a person has lost their ability to provide even the most basic of needs.  We should be able to collect what is owed to us.  At the same time, we should also be careful to whom we give a loan.  We should only give loans to those for whom it is reasonable to think they can pay us back.  Those who cannot pay us back should be given in charity, not in loan.

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