Tag Archives: poetry

EXODUS 23 LAWS ON PARTIALITY, JUSTICE & KINDNESS

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July 7

EXODUS 23

“You shall not spread a false report. You shall not join hands with a wicked man to be a malicious witness. 2 You shall not fall in with the many to do evil, nor shall you bear witness in a lawsuit, siding with the many, so as to pervert justice, 3 nor shall you be partial to a poor man in his lawsuit. 4 “If you meet your enemy’s ox or his donkey going astray, you shall bring it back to him. 5 If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying down under its burden, you shall refrain from leaving him with it; you shall rescue it with him.6 “You shall not pervert the justice due to your poor in his lawsuit. 7 Keep far from a false charge, and do not kill the innocent and righteous, for I will not acquit the wicked. 8 And you shall take no bribe, for a bribe blinds the clear-sighted and subverts the cause of those who are in the right.9 “You shall not oppress a sojourner. You know the heart of a sojourner, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt. – Exodus 23:1-9

EXODUS 23 LAWS ON PARTIALITY, JUSTICE & KINDNESS

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

The Lord prohibits us from bearing false witness against someone

Partiality must not be exercised in order for justice not to be perverted

There must be no discrimination in showing kindness to others

Foreigners must also be treated with respect like any one else you’ll encounter.

The book of James covers the sin of partiality in chapter two. In the first verse of this chapter, he reminds believers that partiality must not be exercised by anyone who claims they believe in Jesus Christ. In verse 8 of James 2, he directs us why we cannot be partial because of the royal law, which is to love your neighbor as yourself. In verse 12 he also talks about justice and mercy: that those who have not shown mercy will be judged because mercy triumphs over judgment. He calls this the law of liberty.

I referred to the book of James because it covered these following verses in Exodus 23 that tackles the same requirements for God’s people to follow. Matther 7:12 also summarizes this. 12 “So, whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. It reminds us of God’s nature which is clearly spoken about in 1 John 4:8 which says “8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” If you claim you know God, you will be impartial, just and kind.

REFLECTION

  • What can you say about those who discriminate the poor, the sick and needy?

EXODUS 22 ON TREATING THE POOR & GIVING YOUR BEST TO GOD

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July 6

EXODUS 22

25 “If you lend money to any of my people with you who is poor, you shall not be like a moneylender to him, and you shall not exact interest from him. 26 If ever you take your neighbor’s cloak in pledge, you shall return it to him before the sun goes down, 27 for that is his only covering, and it is his cloak for his body; in what else shall he sleep? And if he cries to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate.28 “You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people.29 “You shall not delay to offer from the fullness of your harvest and from the outflow of your presses. The firstborn of your sons you shall give to me. 30 You shall do the same with your oxen and with your sheep: seven days it shall be with its mother; on the eighth day you shall give it to me.31 “You shall be consecrated to me. Therefore you shall not eat any flesh that is torn by beasts in the field; you shall throw it to the dogs. – Exodus 22:25-31

EXODUS 22 ON TREATING THE POOR AND ON GIVING YOUR BEST TO GOD

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

The Lord wants us to show compassion to the poor and needy

Whenever they come to us, we ought to give out of generosity

We must give our best when we give an offering to God

For he is the one who gave us all that we possess and have.

Many bible verses tell us that we serve a God who is full of steadfast love and compassion. He takes care of all our needs and always comforts us.  He is merciful and just in how he treats us, forgiving us and doesn’t give us punishments we deserve all the time.

Since he made us all in his own image, he placed in our hearts an ability to show compassion and love for others as well. But because of our sinful nature, we usually forget to show such consideration and kindness to the poor and needy. We get so wrapped up in our own little world that we build for ourselves, one that prioritizes our comfort and our security. Because we live in a fallen world, we only think of our own welfare most of the time. God stipulated laws so we can go against our nature and follow the design that he made us to be: loving and compassionate human beings. He requires us to give our best to him. I think it is a protection for our idolatrous nature to ask from us to give our best to him so we don’t feed our selfish nature that wants to go against God’s design.

REFLECTION

·       How can our selfish nature hinder us from being compassionate to others?

EXODUS 22 ON BORROWING AND LENDING

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July 4

EXODUS 22

9 For every breach of trust, whether it is for an ox, for a donkey, for a sheep, for a cloak, or for any kind of lost thing, of which one says, ‘This is it,’ the case of both parties shall come before God. The one whom God condemns shall pay double to his neighbor.10 “If a man gives to his neighbor a donkey or an ox or a sheep or any beast to keep safe, and it dies or is injured or is driven away, without anyone seeing it, 11 an oath by the Lord shall be between them both to see whether or not he has put his hand to his neighbor’s property. The owner shall accept the oath, and he shall not make restitution. 12 But if it is stolen from him, he shall make restitution to its owner. 13 If it is torn by beasts, let him bring it as evidence. He shall not make restitution for what has been torn.14 “If a man borrows anything of his neighbor, and it is injured or dies, the owner not being with it, he shall make full restitution. 15 If the owner was with it, he shall not make restitution; if it was hired, it came for its hiring fee.– Exodus 22:9-15

EXODUS 22 ON BORROWING AND LENDING

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When one borrows something from someone

It is with care and respect that the borrower handles them

If the borrowed object was damaged by the borrower

Just compensation is expected if the damage was intentional.

In Proverbs 22:7, it says that the borrower is slave to the lender. There is truth to this because when we use someone else’s property, we ought to take care of it while we are using it. Same goes when we borrow money, we ought to responsibly pay it back. The lender must not enslave the borrower with very high interest rates if they are to honor the laws of the Lord. These laws teach us boundaries and how to honor other people’s possessions. It teaches us to be responsible for those things that do not belong to us and also to honor the oaths and agreements we take. Integrity is key in lending and borrowing. Ps 37:21 says “The wicked borrows but does not pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives.” The word of God is clear that when something is borrowed it should be paid back. Someone refusing to repay manifests a wicked heart. God wants us to have a generous and giving heart.

REFLECTION

  • How is it dangerous to lend something to someone wicked and untrustworthy?

EXODUS 22 CONSEQUENCES OF THEFT

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July 3

EXODUS 22

“If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and kills it or sells it, he shall repay five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep. 2 If a thief is found breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there shall be no bloodguilt for him, 3 but if the sun has risen on him, there shall be bloodguilt for him. Heshall surely pay. If he has nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft. 4 If the stolen beast is found alive in his possession, whether it is an ox or a donkey or a sheep, he shall pay double.5 “If a man causes a field or vineyard to be grazed over, or lets his beast loose and it feeds in another man’s field, he shall make restitution from the best in his own field and in his own vineyard.6 “If fire breaks out and catches in thorns so that the stacked grain or the standing grain or the field is consumed, he who started the fire shall make full restitution. 7 “If a man gives to his neighbor money or goods to keep safe, and it is stolen from the man’s house, then, if the thief is found, he shall pay double. 8 If the thief is not found, the owner of the house shall come near to God to show whether or not he has put his hand to his neighbor’s property.  – Exodus 22:1-8

EXODUS 22 CONSEQUENCES OF THEFT

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

God commanded us not to steal someone else’s possession

This is a boundary that brings order and leads to a good relation

When one takes what does not belong to him, he violates that boundary

The thief must be able to pay back what he stole if found guilty.

According to a commentary by Guzik, the Mosaic law does not send a person to jail because of theft. Instead, they are required to pay what he stole plus additional penalties. Another commentary from Kaiser says: In this passage, the penalty could be anywhere from 500% (he shall restore five oxen for an ox) to 200% (he shall restore double). “The reason for the fivefold penalty in the case of stealing an ox is probably because one man stole the means of another man’s livelihood. The principle would extend to taking any of the man’s plowing or cultivating implements.”

God commands us not to steal in Exodus 20:15 and 17. During those times, animals were the source of their livelihood. These laws were probably designed for the judges to implement the proper restitution for the damage of the theft.

REFLECTION

  • Why do you think God prohibits us from stealing? What does it do to us?

EXODUS 21 LAWS REGARDING ANIMAL CONTROL AND RESTITUTION

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July 2

EXODUS 21

28 “When an ox gores a man or a woman to death, the ox shall be stoned, and its flesh shall not be eaten, but the owner of the ox shall not be liable. 29 But if the ox has been accustomed to gore in the past, and its owner has been warned but has not kept it in, and it kills a man or a woman, the ox shall be stoned, and its owner also shall be put to death. 30 If a ransom is imposed on him, then he shall give for the redemption of his life whatever is imposed on him. 31 If it gores a man’s son or daughter, he shall be dealt with according to this same rule. 32 If the ox gores a slave, male or female, the owner shall give to their master thirty shekelsof silver, and the ox shall be stoned. 33 “When a man opens a pit, or when a man digs a pit and does not cover it, and an ox or a donkey falls into it, 34 the owner of the pit shall make restoration. He shall give money to its owner, and the dead beast shall be his. 35 “When one man’s ox butts another’s, so that it dies, then they shall sell the live ox and share its price, and the dead beast also they shall share. 36 Or if it is known that the ox has been accustomed to gore in the past, and its owner has not kept it in, he shall repay ox for ox, and the dead beast shall be his. – Exodus 21:28-36

EXODUS 21 LAWS REGARDING ANIMAL CONTROL & RESTITUTION

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When we own animals, we are responsible for them

If they hurt someone, there ought to be restitution to the aggrieved

The Lord ensures that human life is more precious to him than beasts

He sets boundaries to owners of animals to keep human life preserved.

Isn’t it interesting that God didn’t forget animals in these following laws stipulated in this account? You will see that humans are expected to have control over their animals. As Genesis 1:26-28 says God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.” It shouldn’t be a surprise if God calls man out to be responsible for their animals and the damage they may have caused. Restitution to the aggrieved must be paid off in order for the owners to manifest their accountability for their animals. Sadly, in our world today, we sometimes forget the boundaries through laws that God gave for us to follow. We violate them.

REFLECTION

  • How can domesticating animals be a danger for us to violate God’s boundaries?

EXODUS 21 LAWS TO PROTECT HUMAN LIFE & TO HONOR PARENTS

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June 30

EXODUS 21

12 “Whoever strikes a man so that he dies shall be put to death. 13 But if he did not lie in wait for him, but God let him fall into his hand, then I will appoint for you a place to which he may flee. 14 But if a man willfully attacks another to kill him by cunning, you shall take him from my altar, that he may die.15 “Whoever strikes his father or his mother shall be put to death.16 “Whoever steals a man and sells him, and anyone found in possession of him, shall be put to death.17 “Whoever curseshis father or his mother shall be put to death.18 “When men quarrel and one strikes the other with a stone or with his fist and the man does not die but takes to his bed, 19 then if the man rises again and walks outdoors with his staff, he who struck him shall be clear; only he shall pay for the loss of his time, and shall have him thoroughly healed.   – Exodus 21:12-19

EXODUS 21 LAWS TO PROTECT HUMAN LIFE & TO HONOR PARENTS

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

The Lord created life and every human is precious to him

Because God owns every human being, we have no right to kill

God stipulated laws so that the preservation of life will be honored

When humans exercise violence to harm someone, it is against life

When someone intentionally strike his parents, they ought to be punished

God brought about life through parents, so God wants them honored

Though these laws were originally made for slaves and masters, we can easily see how our civil and criminal laws were extracted from them. God was setting boundaries here regarding the importance of keeping peace, honor and love and most especially to preserve “life” whom he created himself.  If you look closely at civil and criminal laws made by governments in varying cultures, we will have a sense that these laws were based on God’s laws. The justice system ensures every human life to be preserved. What’s interesting in this account is the importance of honoring parents. In Exodus 20:12, God commanded us to honor our parents that our lives may be long. This only shows how the roles of parents are so precious to God. They are the ones who bring about human life in this world, which reminds parents of the special role they play in this world. They are responsible for every child they have brought about to life.

REFLECTION

  • Why do you think the fifth commandment is the only one with a promise?

EXODUS 21 GOD’S INSTRUCTIONS ON MASTERS AND SLAVES

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June 29

EXODUS 21

“Now these are the rules that you shall set before them. 2 When you buy a Hebrew slave, he shall serve six years, and in the seventh he shall go out free, for nothing. 3 If he comes in single, he shall go out single; if he comes in married, then his wife shall go out with him. 4 If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall be her master’s, and he shall go out alone. 5 But if the slave plainly says, ‘I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free,’ 6 then his master shall bring him to God, and he shall bring him to the door or the doorpost. And his master shall bore his ear through with an awl, and he shall be his slave forever.7 “When a man sells his daughter as a slave, she shall not go out as the male slaves do. 8 If she does not please her master, who has designated he for himself, then he shall let her be redeemed. He shall have no right to sell her to a foreign people, since he has broken faith with her. 9 If he designates her for his son, he shall deal with her as with a daughter. 10 If he takes another wife to himself, he shall not diminish her food, her clothing, or her marital rights. 11 And if he does not do these three things for her, she shall go out for nothing, without payment of money.  – Exodus 21:1-11

EXODUS 21 GOD’S INSTRUCTIONS ON MASTERS AND SLAVES

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

God made laws for his people to follow regarding masters and slaves

The slaves bought by the master will serve him six years

The slaves shall be free on the seventh years unless he wants to stay

If he stays, his master brings it to God and he becomes his slave forever.

During those times, it was customary to buy slaves. This account is not just about slavery but it is mostly about how God set boundaries and stipulations that need to be followed so that there is fair treatment and justice between masters and slaves. If you think that this has no bearing on our current days when we no longer have slaves and masters, we can think of it in the workplace where we have employers and employees. God shows us his mercy and justice in this account. He wants to bring faithfulness and service to slaves but he also wants to bring them justice with fair treatment from their masters. Just as we are in the workforce, we need to stay faithful and honest to our employers.

REFLECTION

  • What was God’s point in giving them instructions regarding slaves and masters?

EXODUS 20 INSTRUCTIONS ABOUT THE ALTAR

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June 28

EXODUS 20

22 And the Lord said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the people of Israel: ‘You have seen for yourselves that I have talked with you from heaven. 23 You shall not make gods of silver to be with me, nor shall you make for yourselves gods of gold. 24 An altar of earth you shall make for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your oxen. In every place where I cause my name to be remembered I will come to you and bless you. 25 If you make me an altar of stone, you shall not build it of hewn stones, for if you wield your tool on it you profane it. 26 And you shall not go up by steps to my altar, that your nakedness be not exposed on it. – Exodus 20:22-26

EXODUS 20 INSTRUCTIONS ABOUT THE ALTAR

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

The Lord guides and instructs his people what kind of altar he wants

They are not to make an altar made of from silver or gold

The Lord wants them to make an altar made of earth

On it, they shall make sacrifices, whether sheep or oxen

If they use stone, it must not be cut stone or they defile it

They are not supposed to go up the steps so they’re not exposed.

The building of an altar was how people made atonement for their sins in those times. But now we have been saved by Jesus’ perfect sacrifice on the cross. Why would God be very specific about using earth or stone instead of gold or silver? I think that gold and silver are considered precious and distracts us from the true focus of the worship, who is God alone. As human beings, we put emphasis on physical things that are of value. God probably does not want us to be distracted from him and into the material used. It was to appease him of his anger and wrath over our sins.

The Babylonians built a very high altar almost reaching up to the sky, because they think they can see heaven better. The focus of the building is on their ability to built a towering altar, not on worshiping God. Now, that Jesus redeemed us through his death on the cross, we don’t have to physically build an altar. The Lord wants worshipers who worship him in truth and spirit. He wants our repentant heart and confession and reliance on him.

REFLECTION

  • What do you think of churches that still have altars?

EXODUS 20 THE REST OF GOD’S LAWS

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June 27

EXODUS 20

12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.13 “You shall not murder. 14 “You shall not commit adultery.15 “You shall not steal.16 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.”18 Now when all the people saw the thunder and the flashes of lightning and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking, the people were afraidand trembled, and they stood far off 19 and said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, lest we die.” 20 Moses said to the people, “Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin.” 21 The people stood far off, while Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was. – Exodus 20:12-21

EXODUS 20 THE REST OF GOD’S LAWS

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

If you want to have a long life, respect your parents

And do not ever think of harming another human being

Stay faithful to the Lord your God and to your loved ones

Do not take what is not yours and someone else’s possessions

Make sure that you don’t utter lies against another person

If you follow God’s law, he will protect you and you’ll be treasured.

One law that has a promise of long life is to honor one’s parents. It is sad to watch many parents, especially those who do not know God, abuse or neglect their own children. The child’s development is stunted and because of an unsafe environment, that child grows up deprived of love and respect. It will be quite a challenge to honor their parents when they haven’t experienced love, care and acceptance themselves.

Notice how the laws of God have one theme: love God with everything you got and love others as yourself. They were summarized by Jesus in Matthew 22:37-39. If we follow the summarized version of the law, we will definitely follow the rest of his commands. Our relationships will be focused on loving God and treating ourselves and others with love.

REFLECTION

  • How are God’s commands like healthy boundaries that protect all human beings?

EXODUS 19 ON IDOLATRY AND THE SABBATH

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June 26

EXODUS 20

And God spoke all these words, saying,2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.3 “You shall have no other gods before me.4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing steadfast love to thousandsof those who love me and keep my commandments.7 “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. 11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

                                                                                        – Exodus 20:1-11

EXODUS 19 ON IDOLATRY AND THE SABBATH

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

God spoke to his people all his requirements and laws through Moses

He commanded them not to make an image of the Lord their God

They are only to bow down to him and no one else, for he is jealous

He reminded them to remember that it was him who rescued them

If they disobey these laws, their children will bear the consequences

From third to fourth generation, they shall experience God’s wrath

But to those who follow his laws and praise and honor God

They will receive God’s blessings and will receive his steadfast love.

God emphasized the importance of faithfulness to him and to his laws. One cannot say they are true believers and disobey the commands of God. These two commands reveal who he is and how he hates sin. He wants complete faithfulness from his people.

REFLECTION

  • Why do you think God didn’t want images of him made as verse 4 says?