Wednesday: Judge Righteously
As believers, we have been called to reflect the character of God. Paul wrote, “My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you” (Galatians 4:19). After all, we had originally been made “in the image of God” (Genesis 1:27), an image later defaced by sin. And as we saw, when Moses talked about the power and majesty of God, he also said that God didn’t take a bribe and that He cared about the weak and the outcast. God does this; therefore, we need to do the same, as well.
Read the following texts in Deuteronomy. What is the common theme among them all?
Image © Krieg Barrie at Goodsalt.com
It’s all but proverbial how the weak, the poor, the outcasts don’t get the same kind of “justice” in most human courts as do those with money, power, and connections. It doesn’t matter the country, the era, the culture, nor how lofty the principles of justice and equity that are enshrined in constitutions or laws or whatever; the reality remains the same: the poor, the weak, and the outcasts almost never get the justice that others do.
That’s what is so remarkable about what the Lord Himself was saying here. This unfairness, which is everywhere else, should not be done in Israel, among God’s people, the ones who are to represent Him to the world. In a sense, to use a term from the modern era, the Lord wanted there to be “equal justice under the law” in ancient Israel.
But this goes even deeper than mere jurisprudence. “You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy” (Leviticus 19:2). Yes, they knew who the true God was, and they had the correct forms of worship, and they brought the right kinds of offerings. That’s all fine. But in the end, what good was all that if they were mistreating the weak and poor among them? Over and over, in the prophets, the Lord rails against the oppressors of the poor and the needy in Israel. How can you be “holy” and mistreat others at the same time? You can’t, regardless of how strictly you adhere to proper religious rituals.
| Read Amos 2:6; Amos 4:1; Amos 5:11; Isaiah 3.14-15; Isaiah 10.1-2; and Jeremiah 2:34. What are the prophets saying that reflects what the Lord had warned ancient Israel about? What do these words say to us today? |
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Today's lesson states that we are called to reflect the character of God. It then goes on to say how this happens when it quotes Galatians 4:19 - Christ is formed within us.
Later on in the lesson, it states that "Yes, they (the Israelites) knew who the true God was, and they had the correct forms of worship, and they brought the right kinds of offerings. That’s all fine". But actually, it wasn't "all fine" because they didn't actually 'know' who the true God truly was.
When we truly 'know' the true God, the true God is formed within us meaning that we actually become re-formed to be like Him in nature and character - we become partakers of the Divine nature (2 Peter 1:3,4). What does this mean and how does it happen?
2 Corinthians 3:18 reflects the principle that we become like the 'thing' we spend our time and effort focussing on. If we truely want to 'know' who God is, we will spend our time and effort searching God out. And God will make that search fruitful (Jeremiah 29:13,14). We won't just learn who God is, we will actually be transformed into the likeness of that which we are learning about. Knowledge will become knowing.
2 Timothy 3:1,5 says that in the last days there will be an issue in that people will have an outward form of godliness (like the lesson mentioned the Israelites had), but that there will be in inward absence of the true power of true godliness. 2 Timothy 3:2 tells us what this absence of true power is caused by - self-seeking.
So, yes we are called to reflect the character of God - but to do so by actually being transformed into the likeness of the character of God - by having our self-seeking transformed into God's other-benefiting love. This is not something God can do for us - but something God does with us, in us. Therefore this will (only) happen as we seek God through seeking to know him first-hand for ourselves with all our heart, soul and strength. God promises it will happen - but He needs us to co-operate with Him by giving Him first place in our daily life (Jeremiah 29:13,14).
I found it intriguing that the author references quotes from Amos, so I read the whole book and found this summary on Bible Hub:
Amos Summary
Deuteronomy was given to all the 13 tribes of Israel with the call to love the LORD and their neighbours and even the strangers within their gates. The LORD's Principles of Life and Love were to be in their hearts/minds not just their rituals. Many years later God sent Amos to warn them.
What is the Present Truth that parallels Deuteronomy and Amos?
I believe it is the Three Angels message that we have been called to trumpet to the world. It is the end of the world and this is the time for your final choice - choose to love and worship the true God or partake of the plagues of Babylon!
[Moderator's note: We are usually reluctant to post comments with video links in them, but his one was interesting enough to make me sit up and listen]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGgWaPGpGz4
In the modern world judgement is executed so often in the arenas of social media. These pages thrive on conflict and confrontation and the ideas of tolerance and reconciliation are often pushed into the background. I did research work on Facebook and community building over a period of two years and while it is possible to build up a community spirit within than medium, it does not take long to tear it down either. The victims are almost invariably those who are a bit different.
There are many stories of cyberbullying, particularly among school students. And the consequences are not pretty. Too many young people give up and commit suicide.
It is an example of what I call the "sick chook syndrome" In the farmyard, a chook (chicken for American readers) that is a bit different is attacked relentlessly by the other chooks.
Should we as Christians avoid such media? How should we interact effectively so that we treat one another fairly?
Perhaps it helps if we understand that the judgemental activities in the social media reveal to us who are the new weak and needy in our modern society. We need to be wise in our support and you need to understand how social media works.
Deuteronomy was written long before the Internet was invented but the principles of justice and mercy, understanding and tolerance, and the protection of the weak and disadvantaged are just as relevant in cyberspace as they were in the Negev Desert 3500 years ago.
Hi Maurice,
There are a lot of good and bad about the Internet and Facebook (or social media in general).
This controversy about Facebook and social media, however, does remind me of the warning that Moses is saying to the Israelites here in Deuteronomy, how we should treat strangers. It's a different method of communication than in Moses times, but the message is still the same, that we should be mindful of how we treat the strangers(most of the people on Social Media are strangers), the poor, the widows, and the fatherless, (also, the prisoners); whether they are visiting within our tribes (neighborhoods), or on the Internet (or some far away country). They all deserve the same Equal justice and human treatment as we do.
And I still get very frustrated when I see the rich and celebrities given Special Treatment than the marginalized people among us.
As for cyberbullying, I have to intervene on behalf of my Niece regarding this. About 8 or 9 years ago, my Niece was being cyberbullied over Facebook, by another young teenage girl; my niece was about 16 or 17 at the time. I posted on my Niece page that if this activity continued, that I would report it to the authority. I talked to my Niece that same day, and made her aware that anyone and everyone was able to read all of what is going on with you and this other young girl. I told her to delete her page, start a new page if you want to, but this activity can not continue. My niece listened to me, and did just that, deleted the page, and created a new page with additional security to block unknown people from seeing her posts.
But just think about what could have happened if I had not said anything (I don't even want to think about it), and that kind of cyberbullying continued. The teenage mind are not developed and mature enough to realize what they are doing on Social Media, or the consequences to themselves and others. And there are several young people out there doing cyberbullying activities for the "fun" of it, not realizing that the vulnerable are not taking it as a "Joke". And I'm not going to even get started talking about the evil people out there on all the Social Media platforms.
But do we stop engaging with social media just because there is so much evil out there, or in it? No, we show evil that Jesus has already "Won" the victory!! The Battle is over! We have to increase our presence on social media to let the evil know that God's Glory will shine through all of the evil.
Last story on this Facebook matter. One of our members moved to another state, but she continue to communicate with us, her church friends on Facebook. Then she started sending out political ads and clips from her Facebook to all her friends Facebook home page. When my Facebook page was over-run with good and bad political ads, I say to myself "I've got to stop this". So, I posted on my Home page, for all of my friends to see, "Please do not send me any Political ads or clips, or I will delete you." I have not received any political ads or clips from that friend or anyone else since then, that was about 5 years ago. I have not change my security features, I just made it "clear" that I did not want to participate in that sort of activity, and it stopped. I don't really read or engage with Facebook anymore, (and I have no desire to join any of these other popular social media pages either); my husband usually tells me about our family posts, then I go out there and look at those. I thought about writing some spiritual thoughts on my Facebook, but just haven't done it yet. But in the meantime, we All just have to PRAY, that's the only solution for all of this.
Be Blessed.
God is a God of both mercy and justice.
The acid test of our Christianity is how we deal with these less fortunate, because Jesus associates himself with them, as Matt. 25 last part states. Talk is cheap. We have found God faithful to his promises after caring for the homeless and hungry for many years, God has so wonderfully set us up in a modest home and fed us daily, giving us a lovely warm bed and joy in our marriage! He is faithful. By his grace we will be married 67 years in December. God bless you richly! Ria
I think Ellen states it well:
"There should be no giving of special favors, or attentions to a few, no preferring of one above another. This is displeasing to God. Let all bear in mind the words of inspiration: “The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.” When you pass by one who is in need of your sympathy and kindly acts, and bestow your favors upon others simply because they are more pleasing to you, remember that Jesus is insulted in the person of His afflicted ones. He says, “I was an hungered, and ye gave Me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave Me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took Me not in: naked, and ye clothed Me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited Me not.” To the surprised inquiry, “Lord, when saw we Thee” thus? the answer is given, “Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these [who were afflicted and needed your sympathy], ye did it not to Me.” “They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.” The bruised and wounded, the lame of the flock, are among us, and these test the character of those who claim to be children of God. The Lord will not excuse the wrongdoer. He will never sanction partiality to the wealthy or oppression of the weak. He requires exact and impartial justice; more than this, He requires that His followers shall always have compassion for the suffering, pity and love for the erring...." PH 141 13.9
"The days of probation are nearly ended." Ph 149 14.4
"All the universe of God is looking upon us with intense interest." PH 149 15.1