Focus on the Treasure of Relationship

In the 3rd century, a rabbi mentioned that Moses gave 365 "do not do" rules and 248 "do this" commands. David simplified them to 11 in Psalm 15, Isaiah to 6 in Isaiah 33:14, 15, and Micah to 3 in Micah 6:8. Habakkuk summed them up as one statement: "The just shall live by faith."

In today's text, we hear the cries of those who have been mistreated and hurt. We're reminded of the importance of understanding personal rights, especially when we've been wronged.

This is a statement about the rights we can expect when others wrong us or when we've been wronged.

Restitution

In Exodus 22, Moses instructs judges on how to handle cases related to restitution:

1. Restitution for Theft (1-4): If someone steals an ox or sheep and either sells or slaughters it:

- They must restore what they stole, plus an extra penalty.

- The penalty could be anywhere from 200% to 500% of the stolen item's value.

- If they can't pay, they'll be sold as indentured laborers, and the money goes to the victim.

- If a thief is killed while breaking in during the day, it's not considered guilt, but if it happens at night, there's guilt.

2. Negligence and Property Care (5-8): If someone's animal grazes in another's field, they must make restitution with their best produce. If they start a fire that damages property, they must also make restitution.

3. Disputes over Property Rights (9-13): If there's a dispute over lost property, judges decide, and the guilty party pays double restitution to discourage false accusations.

Illustrations:

The cause of both parties shall come before the judges; and whomever the judges condemn shall pay double: If there was a dispute regarding the loss of property, the judges heard evidence, investigated, and decided who was right and who was wrong. The guilty party had to pay double restitution - whether they were the accused or the defendant. There was a price for false accusation or lawsuit.

If a man delivers to his neighbor a donkey, an ox, a sheep, or any animal to keep, and it dies, is hurt, or driven away, no one seeing it:

Then an oath of the LORD shall be between them both, that he has not put his hand into his neighbor's goods; and the owner of it shall accept that: In such cases, the owner of the animal was obligated to accept the sworn testimony of the accused, unless there was evidence that gave reasonable doubt to the truthfulness of the accused.

4. Restitution for Borrowing and Lending (14-15): When borrowing, the borrower is responsible for the item. If it gets lost, they must make it good.

Restitution for Every Wrong

But what do you do when you feel as though you have been wronged so deeply there is not coming back from it. What do you say when someone has hurt you so close that it is as if you have been impacted beyond repair. To imagine that there can be such a thing as Restitution is even possible.

Restitution Defined.

1. to be in a covenant of peace, be at peace

There are four teachings action verbs that describe this incredible transaction.

1. (Qal)

1. to be at peace

2. peaceful one (participle)

2. (Pual) one in covenant of peace (participle)

3. (Hiphil)

1. to make peace with

2. to cause to be at peace

4. (Hophal) to live in peace

You see in the eyes of the Jewish law the act of restitution was an act of peace making. It was the act of setting and offender right to hold his rightful place in among the people of God.

So what when it is a wrong has no way of fixing or reversing the damage.

Moses uses these laws.

In the arena of purity

In the arena of partnership

In the arena of profession

Purity (16): When it comes to purity violations, like seduction, it's challenging to reverse the damage. Moses covers various purity-related issues like fornication, witchcraft, bestiality, and religious offenses.

Partnership (21-27): We should be mindful of how our actions affect others, especially strangers, the weak, and the poor.

1. When I've Done the Damage: Make things right legally if necessary, prioritize God in your actions, and live a holy life going forward.

2. When I Am the Victim: Let go of bitterness, put God first, and live a holy life going forward. Forgiveness is Christlike.

3. When I Have the Power to Protect: Make things right legally if necessary, stand up for God's values, and be a voice against impurity in society. Prioritize God and stand up for strangers and the poor. Live a holy life going forward.

Profession (28-31): Remember that this was a covenant people and their obedience to the law was an indicator of God’s priority.

But the people didn’t keep these laws either did they. Many times in Scripture we see these laws violated.

The sending of the dismembered concubine's body shocked the other tribes of Israel. Representatives from the tribes gathered at Mizpah to address the situation. They confronted the tribe of Benjamin, demanding that the perpetrators of the crime in Gibeah be handed over for punishment. However, the Benjamites refused to deliver the guilty men, leading to a conflict between the tribes.

The Civil War and Almost Wiping Out Benjamin:A civil war ensued between the eleven tribes of Israel and the tribe of Benjamin. The conflict was fierce, with many casualties on both sides. Initially, the Benjamites were successful in battle. However, in the subsequent battles, the other tribes devised a plan to lure the Benjamites out of Gibeah and defeat them. Eventually, the tribe of Benjamin was nearly wiped out, with only a small remnant of men escaping the destruction.

The Resolution:Realizing the severity of the situation and not wanting one of the twelve tribes to be completely annihilated, the other tribes decided to find wives for the surviving Benjamite men to ensure the tribe's continuation. They allowed them to abduct women from a festival in Shiloh, providing a solution to the problem.

This tragic and violent story in the Book of Judges serves as a grim reminder of the moral and spiritual decay of Israel during this period and the consequences of such corruption. It also highlights the complex and often brutal nature of the events recorded in the Book of Judges.

Eli and His Sons (1 Samuel 2:12-25):** Eli was a priest and judge in Israel, but his sons, who served as priests and judges as well, were corrupt and took advantage of their positions. They violated the laws of God concerning offerings and restitution.

Samuel's Sons (1 Samuel 8:1-3):** Samuel, the last judge of Israel, appointed his sons as judges over Israel, but they also failed to walk in his righteous ways. They took bribes and perverted justice.

Ahab and Naboth's Vineyard (1 Kings 21:1-16):** King Ahab coveted Naboth's vineyard, and when Naboth refused to sell it, Ahab's wife, Jezebel, orchestrated a false accusation and had Naboth killed, thereby violating the principles of restitution and justice.

Leaders' Oppression of the Poor (Amos 5:10-15):** In the book of Amos, the prophet condemns the leaders of Israel for oppressing the poor and perverting justice. This reflects a systemic failure to uphold the principles of restitution and fairness.

While these examples do not directly involve the failure to apply specific restitution laws from Exodus 22, they illustrate the broader issue of leaders and judges in Israel failing to uphold justice, righteousness, and the principles of God's law, including those related to restitution.

Restitution, in the eyes of Jewish law, (God’s Law) is about making peace and setting offenders right in the community of God's people. Even when damage seems irreparable, these principles guide us toward justice, holiness, and forgiveness.

The Issue of Grace:

The assumption with Christ’s loveis always that the emphasis is on the sacrifice. This usually translates into doing the nice deeds and such. It so grandly misses the point.

Consider the Treasure

Matthew 13:44–45 KJV 1900

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:

The emphasis is on love! It is the excitement over the treasure that caused the man to sell all he had.

We want to emphasize the sacrifice, but Christ emphasizes the treasure. Grace opens the door to really love a person whom you know is imperfect and offensive. It opens the door to real persistent reconciliation and forgiveness, not mere conditional acceptance. Mere law, even accurately and wisely given, can only diagnose.

It is no basis for a sound Relationships. Grace is the air that love breathes, and real love:

delights to forgive

delights to spend time with the other

delights to respect the other

delights to lift the other up.

It easily ignores and forgives the other’s faults

embraces the one that the law says ought not to be embraced.

This is the love which Christ has for the church, and this is the love we are empowered to have for others in Christ. The real secret to all of this is by grace, to see your spouse as the pearl, not the sacrifice for the pearl.

Other wise you are bound to resent those that you have loved selflessly because you have your eyes on the duty and sacrifice you have put in. Not on Christ’s estimation of their value as a treasure.

If you love, it means they have become the pearl you gladly sell everything to get. And this is the crushing law that tells you that you need grace – because only Jesus loves that way. You are a scoundrel and an idiot and a sinner. Jesus loves you anyway. He died for you.

This is true in every relationship

In our Church

In our Marriage

With our Children

In our Connection with our Families

With the Lost

With those who are trapped in Racial thinking

S