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- What attributes of God’s character does this passage reveal?
- How does the passage point to Jesus?
- How should the truth of this passage change me?
- How do the events of today’s reading help you better understand the grand narrative of Scripture?
Deut. 22-23
Many of God’s laws make little or no sense to me. Even without understanding, however, I see a deep respect in them. Not just for other people, but for all living things. There is also a deep respect for what God has established. That’s what got the Ammonites and Moabites in trouble. They tried to curse the nation God was building. It seems respect has a limit where direct opposition to God exists.
Deut. 24
God commanded the freedom for a newly married man to stay home for a full year, “so that he can bring joy to the wife he has married.” (Deut. 24:5b). I love that! It tells me a few things about God, what He values, and what He desires for us.
- God is not opposed to our finding pleasure in this life. We aren’t to take that pleasure at the undue expense of others, of course. Neither are we to inhibit the rightful pleasure of others.
- The fact that God made concessions for a man to enjoy and bring joy to his new bride shows that God does indeed desire good things for us.
- This concession for joy is centered on family. More specifically, marriage. Seems to me to reinforce the value God places on these things.