Deuteronomy_24

Scripture

Deuteronomy 24:17-22 NIV

“Do not deprive the foreigner or the fatherless of justice, or take the cloak of the widow as a pledge. Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the LORD your God redeemed you from there. That is why I command you to do this. When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow, so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. When you beat the olives from your trees, do not go over the branches a second time. Leave what remains for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow. When you harvest the grapes in your vineyard, do not go over the vines again. Leave what remains for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow. Remember that you were slaves in Egypt. That is why I command you to do this.”

Observation-What does it say?

Moses is speaking to the Israelites and giving them rules as a means of setting them apart to the Lord, who delivered them from their bondage to slavery in Egypt. In this section of the chapter, he was instructing them to show compassion to the fatherless, foreigner and widow; the same compassion that God had shown them.

Understanding-What does it mean?

Remember where we came from and what we truly deserved in order to appreciate the undeserved gift we’ve received and share it with others. 

One of my professors in Bible college said that the only thing we deserve in life is hell. Whenever we feel entitled, selfish and focused on what we don’t have, we need to remember what we ultimately deserve, but was graciously saved from. Whenever I feel tempted to become upset with the Lord when things don't go my way or I start feeling entitled like I deserve more, I always think about the greatest Gift He's given me.  That never fails to bring me back to a humble and grateful state.

I’ve really been enjoying Pastor’s current sermon series on Ruth. On Sunday, we discussed how there was a parallel between Boaz and Jesus and a parallel between Ruth and us. Boaz was a man of high standing who could have had any woman, however, he chose Ruth, a woman from another country, no prestige, and nothing to offer. Boaz chose her, invited her to his table, protected her and provided for her. She didn’t do anything to deserve his favor, but he still gave it to her.

Life Application 

Remembering how Christ had chosen and saved us, how will that make us in turn treat the fatherless, foreigner and widow? AKA sinners, the lonely and forgotten in society?

Our mission at DSC is to multiply Christ followers everywhere. We are not able to do that by only associating with those we are comfortable with who are clean, righteous, and already have Jesus. I am reminded that Jesus came for the sick, not the righteous. I am reminded that He ate with tax collectors and sinners. I am reminded that He died for sinners like you and I. As a result, let’s go out into the world, out of our place of comfort and pray for, invest in and invite the mentally ill, drug addicted, homeless, poor, widows, orphans, sinners and allow the Lord's grace to change them from the inside out. As Ive heard it been said, “At the foot of the Cross, we are all the same.” Without the grace of God, we would all be alone, lost, and broken. Without God’s willingness to reach out to foreigners like us, we would all be doomed to one dark fate. 

Dear Jesus, thank You for Your amazing grace. I pray that Your Holy Spirit would continue to lead us to connect to the Father like You do, love others like You do, forgive like You do, serve like You do and reach out like You do in order to multiply Christ followers everywhere. Amen.

-Michelle Gaddi