AUGUST 29TH, 2004
I. The purity of the family was paramount
in the eyes of God. (1-8)
A.
Jews were forbidden to
tolerate certain people within their families.
1.
Eunuchs were not to be
accepted. (1)
2.
Illegitimate children were
not to be accepted. (2)
3.
Users of other gods against
the Children of God were not to be accepted.
(3-6)
4.
Edomites and Egyptians could be accepted, beginning with their
grandchildren. (7-8)
B.
These would be considered
harsh rules in our day, but we can see the importance that God placed on purity
in the home and religious practices.
II.
When the Children of Israel
were moving or camping, they had to maintain cleanliness in three areas:
A.
MORAL POLLUTION (9) – Soldiers must not be caught up in sins
of the flesh because a good soldier and a guilty conscience do not go together.
B.
CEREMONIAL POLLUTION (10-11) –
Bathing was to be done in a private area,
outside of the area, and at night.
C.
NATURAL POLLUTION (12-14) – The
inside of the camp was not to be polluted
With what came from the inside of a
man.
III.
Some more aspects of the Law
to ponder. (15-25)
A.
Israel was to be a haven for
abused servants. (15-16)
B.
Prostitution, prostitutes,
homosexuals, and those who handle the money in such things (dogs) were
prohibited. (17-18)
C.
There was to be no interest
rates among the Jews. (19-20)
D.
Vows were Lawful bindings
that must be kept. (21-23)
E.
The necessity of the moment
could be met at the neighbor’s expense, but you could not benefit beyond the
moment at the neighbor’s expense.
(24-25)
-
God’s people are not
free-loaders, and they respect other people’s property.
Conclusion – Please read
Deuteronomy 24 for next Sunday.