Daily Living

Intro: Let us never get so theoretical, so knowledgeable, that we forget that God cares about the day to day living of His people. Who God is, who Jesus is, profoundly effects every aspect of our lives and the life of the people of God.

CTS: Loving God and neighbor is shown in how we obey God’s Word for daily life.

A good verse to keep in mind as we walk through this large text is this

Micah 6:8 ESV

8 He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

We will see how this text is broken up into seven sections and derive principles that God was communicating to His people, and how they apply to us in a modern context.

In essence, these laws are applications of the 10 Commandments. Do these laws speak to every situation? No, but from the examples in them, the Israelites were going to be able to see how the 10 commandments applied to specific daily situations. These were major areas of concern because of where Israel just came from.

I. Worship (20:22-26)

Exposition

The first section is application of the first four commandments. How we love and worship God is important to God. Here is what God says regarding it.

Who we worship: The clear point is that God dictates worship alone. Don’t make any other gods in place of me, no images or anything else. I spoke. I delivered. Only me.

How we worship: The means of worship would be a simple altar, not made with great tapestry or impressive size or beauty, but rather, a reminder that simplicity is the call. The temptation would have been to worship those things, the altar itself, rather than the object of worship being God himself. We also do it in a pure way, never demanding attention to ourselves.

Why we worship: And the why of our worship is that God is worthy. Is He not worthy of all that He is and all that He is done. So our worship is the means by which we love God.

The way that Israel was to worship was contrary to their pagan Egyptian upbringing and the surrounding nations. Worship was to be done as God prescribed and not defined by the worshiper themselves.

Application for today

For the church, we must be careful in our worship that we do not dictate worship as we see fit. We must in simplicity focus on God, and anything that distracts or takes away from worshiping in spirit and in truth according to Jesus in John 4:24 is to be eradicated. Requirements of ornate decorations to certain things within worship means you are dictating what worship should be. Ask yourselves that question when it comes to the gathering of the body. Do you get upset if something in the sanctuary is not there that has been there forever, that it doesn’t feel like worship?

II. Servants (21:1-11)

What is interesting here is outside of the worship of God, the first laws addressed in regards to dealing with one another was with slaves. That is because they had just been delivered from slavery.

Exposition

Before we jump into the laws themselves, we need to define “slavery” here in in the OT as in comparison to what we normally think of when the word “slave” is said in our context today. The Hebrew word here does mean “slave” here in the ESV and many other translations, and its not a wrong translation. It could also be translated servant. But we also must remember that we have a different cultural view of slavery, one that is rightfully condemned as heinous and wrong. The kidnapping of a people group and enslaving them to work on plantations, while all the while mistreating and abusing them, is often what we think of, and of course, this is not what God intended.

So what do we do slavery here? We must define it, and the laws here give us an idea of what slavery for the Israelites was. It’s interesting to note that the first set of laws after the 10 Commandments is in reference to slavery, as though God first wants to show Israel how proper servanthood is to be done.

It was voluntary (people hired themselves into the service of others, often because of debt). They would receive room and board and an honest wage.

It was temporary (2) The servant worked for six years and would be released on the seventh, and they did not leave empty handed.

It was civil. The slave could not be abused and could even be seen as benevolent in some cases to seek to get someone out of debt.

It was not oppressive or racially based.

It was preserved the sanctity of the family (3-7). If the slave came with a wife, he would leave with her. He could have opportunity to marry while he was a slave, but that wife couldn’t leave with him until her own service was up. His options were to go free and wait for her, get a job and pay the debt himself to free her, or commit himself to work permanently for the master.

Women servants: In the section of (8-11), we see about female servants a different pattern, but one that was also beneficial for her and prospects of marriage. The father was not trying to get rid of her, but put her in a better position. The daughter could be ransomed if the master didn’t want her so that she could not be sold to foreign peoples. He could offer his son to her and then she becomes part of the family. If that son was to get another wife (again, a common practice but not condoned), make sure she was protected, she would have to be taken care of. If the master doesn’t treat her well, she is to go free.

Application for today

Though we do not observe slavery today like this, we can take principles that we are to treat those that are employees well, taking care of one another those whom we have hired to do a particular task. Pay well and treat well.

How this points to Christ and the Christian is that Jesus became a servant himself to save us. Because of His own death, burial, and resurrection, we have been redeemed and saved from slavery to sin. Now we are bound as servants to Jesus, a perfect, righteous, generous, merciful, and gracious Master. We now are bondservants of the Lord Jesus Christ, as Paul often introduces himself in his epistles.

III. Behavior (21:12-32)

Exposition

The commandments here deal much with an exposition of the murder, stealing, and the command and the honor father and mother command.

The main principle here is how we treat people. If we were to get a clear verses on how to deal with behavior, it would be verses 23-25

Exodus 21:23–25 ESV

23 But if there is harm, then you shall pay life for life, 24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.

The punishment should fit the crime. This isn’t a barbaric command to literally take these things from people if that happens, but the principle is clear that whatever is done needs have a proper punishment involved. This would protect the poor. Ancient societies in that time would demand monetary payment for even the most brutal of acts, including murder, and if you were rich enough, you could get away with anything. That still happens to this day.

These laws have to do with killing and unintentional killing. In clear cases of malice and hatred, there needs to be punishment. Here we see capital punishment involved. With the parents being struck and cursing their mother and father (here the implication is either killing them or endangering their lives with abuse and curses) the punishment was severe, but needed.

This shows that the consequences of our behavior are serious and that God takes life seriously. The life of others, including mothers, fathers, pregnant women, slaves, are more important than money.

Application for the church:

We should value life and respect life in all aspects. We should honor one another not by hurting or harming one another, including every generation.

We also know that for the believer, what we deserve for our sin was taken upon Christ and we have been forgiven. We also in the new covenant are reminded by Jesus himself that we don’t retaliate, but rather, forgive. That doesn’t mean that society should operate with allowing people to get away with anything. We should encourage the government to bear the sword rightly and with punishment that fits the crime.

Romans 13:4 ESV

4 for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.

But the individual believer, we are often commanded to be forgiving and to not hold sin against one another, because sin has not been held against us.

IV. Restitution (21:33-22:15)

Exposition

This is exposition mostly of the “do not steal” and “do not covet” commands. There is a long list of laws here, but the main principle here remains that when people steal property, the punishment should fit the crime. The livelihood of many is at stake.

Those that do not work hard and attempt to steal in order to make ends meet with be met with punishment to pay back. Restitution was needed for this society. There would be questions of accidental death of livestock that would come into play. Fairness and restitution were given so that God’s judges and people could operate in harmony.

We also know that for some here that would steal, they would not be able to pay back the money in an exponential manner, so they would often go into servanthood to that person. Here we see good principle that I think is lost. The opportunity to make things right and pay back. I think we see here a good principle that rather than shun the person away, it would be wise to have that person repay the stolen goods. It also gives an opportunity for redemption and love to be shown to that person in the midst of their punishment, a chance at a reformation.

Illustration: Did you ever have to experience this or seen a movie or TV show that showed when a kid or someone broke a window and the parents forced the children to go and help that person for the day to make up for the damage they caused? It would be means of having to pay the piper, but also be reminded of the livelihood of that person, that this person is a person as well. Sometimes, the offending parties would become reconciled and actually spark a relationship through that.

Application for the church

Here we are reminded too that in a new covenant sense, we should be people of fairness, but also of forgiveness. We don’t want to encourage continued refusal to work, but there can be times of great help and push towards people to reconcile themselves to us and to others in the church, where relationships of forgiveness and serving can help.

We are also reminded too that we could never make restitution to God for the wrong we have done against him, yet Jesus came and paid that debt for us. We should be people of great grace towards others as well.

V. Holiness (22:16-20)

Exposition

Two major areas are now addressed and expounded on. Again, the command to worship God alone is at play, but also, the issue of sexual sin is addressed. Remember what God was covenanting His people to do in chapter 19.

Exodus 19:5–6 ESV

5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; 6 and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.”

God desired for His people to live separate and holy lives. These four verses address sexual sin and how to deal with it. Here, we have sex outside of marriage, and again, a clear statement that God desires that sex stay within the confines of marriage. Also, it protects the woman who was seduced by demanding that her bridal price still be paid, and that even a shotgun wedding could be said no by her family.

God also makes clear that those that conjure up demonic magic were going against the clear call that God alone would be worshiped.

Bestiality is exact stated in verse 19, and doesn’t need to be explained in detail. It goes against nature as God intended.

And again, sacrifices against other gods goes against the first and second commands.

Application for the church

The command to be holy remains for the church. Really, all of these commands root back into that command given in Exodus and carry over into the NT. 1 Peter makes this clear a number of times. The church is to be set apart.

1 Peter 1:15–16 ESV

15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

The issues of sex are a hot topic and often are seen that Christians are a bunch of fuddy duddies that are against it, trying to suppress natural urges. But sex is a beautiful gift from God, and to be enjoyed in the confines of marriage between one man and one woman, and that gift is supremely enjoyed in that relationship.

1 Thessalonians 4:3–8 ESV

3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, 5 not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. 7 For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. 8 Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.

Also, the church will be unpopular in its stance that only God is to worshiped, and that any other god is false and leads to destruction. God alone is set apart, and those that put their faith and trust in Christ are set apart. Though exclusive, the call of the Gospel is inclusive of all, to the ends of the earth.

VI. Social Justice (21:21-23:9)

Exposition

(21-24, 23:9) Reading 21-24 of chapter 22 should give us a really good summary statement in regards to justice for the Israelites. Justice should be a mark of the God’s people, and how others are treated, inside and outside, should be at the forefront of their minds.

Foreigners must not be treated like you were in Egypt. Do not oppress them.

Widows and orphans must be taken care of. If you refuse to, I will bring justice to you and your own family will be widowed and orphaned.

The poor should not be taken advantage of. You should lend without demanding interest. This doesn’t mean interest can’t be taken up in business ventures, but helping someone should never be seen as a means to gain more from them.

As you can see there, this is a clear call to compassionate ministry to the immigrant, sojourner, the oppressed and outcast of society, the poor. God’s people should be the first to pick up on compassion for people groups who need help.

(28) Respect the authority of God and those whom he puts in authority. This should bring us to Romans 13 in NT in honoring those that God has put over us as rulers.

(29-31) We should be giving our best to the Lord. As God saved the firstborn, we should be willing to give him our firstfruits. A clear reminder is God gave His own firstborn to save us. Everything is God’s, we are merely stewards of it, including our own children themselves.

(32:1-9) Continuing on in the next chapter is the issue of justice in regards to false witness. Don’t blackmail, don’t bribe, don’t side with others to stack the deck against someone. Do right to even the one who you are in conflict with by making sure you do the right thing. A good modern example would be to take someone’s wallet back to them, regardless if you are in conflict with them or not.

Application for the church

Though there are many principles here in this large section, the overall idea is that we must be people of justice. We must take care of those that are oppressed in our own society. We must be thinking of the immigrant among us and love them. We must be people of the truth, never taking advantage of others, regardless of what they have done to us. In the new covenant, we are even told that those in the church should never sue one another in court. The church needs to be a place of unity and reconciliation. We should speak truth, never stack the deck to get our way, and be people of justice in our society.

Why? Because we were once oppressed by sin and death ourselves, yet Jesus gave Himself up for us to make us His own adopted children. We were once orphans, but now we are part of His family. We should view all people with the view that they are either brothers and sisters in Christ, or potential brothers and sisters in Christ that need Jesus.

We should be reminded what 1 Peter 2:10 says when we deal with others:

1 Peter 2:10 ESV

10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

VII. Thanksgiving (23:10-19)

Exposition

The final section here is very much a bookend to the text of the Book of the Covenant. Where we began with worship, we end with worship. That worship here is geared to how God’s people respond with thanksgiving to the Lord.

The first section is an exposition of the fourth command of keeping the Sabbath. We see how that command is brought out in detail here. Israel was to farm for six years their fields, and then they would allow it to rest. This gave the poor among them opportunities to glean. Also, the weekly Sabbath was reiterated as a compassionate command to give people and livestock rest, which was essential to the well-being of others.

And then another reminder that God alone is to be worshiped, that not even the stories of other gods should be taught among one another, most likely in a way that indicates that they are real.

And the closing part of this is three instances of worship: The Passover (assumed) and these two Festivals. Unleavened bread and feast of Harvest. One would be a reminder of their redemption while the other would be a reminder of God’s provision.

I love that two-fold idea that of worship. Remembrance of redemption and His provision.

Application for the church

We don’t observe these festivals anymore, but the principle remains the same. We celebrate every Sunday these two things in worship. We give thanks to God for His redemption provided for in His Son Jesus Christ, that Jesus died for our sins and rose again from the dead. We remind ourselves of the Gospel daily and weekly. We also give thanks to the Lord for His provision for us daily, and continue to ask for His provision, trusting in Him. We give back to Him in thankfulness through our time, talents, and possessions.

In essence, we celebrate God’s goodness with worship to the Lord.

Conclusion: We need Jesus!

Seeing all of these laws, and really, the demands of them should be another clear reminder that we are in desperate need of someone who has fulfilled all of these laws in Himself. Jesus said this:

Matthew 5:17 ESV

17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

All of the demands of the Law are met by Jesus. He is righteous where we are not. But it also means that for us as the church, we are called to live as the redeemed people of God with principles of worship, justice, and to be servants of the living Christ.

Jesus is ultimately the answer to all of these needs.

Jesus became a servant for us to make us servants of Him, and He is a good master.

Jesus honors life by giving His own life to save us, so we should honor all life as precious to God.

Jesus paid a debt we could not pay back, giving restitution to God through himself, to pay our debts and save us.

Jesus is holy and set apart, and makes us holy through His sacrificial work. We then live as the holy people we are called to be.

Jesus is completely just and loves all people, the foreigner, the outcast, the widow, the orphan. We then seek to live just as Jesus did in the power of the Spirit, loving those around us.

Jesus is the Passover Lamb who delivered us. Jesus is the bread of life from heaven provided in the wilderness. We worship and thank Him with our lives, obeying Him and His commands as the church.