Deuteronomy 24 and 25
If the people were hard of heart, God was not like them, and the greater part of this chapter speaks in kindness of the poor and defenseless, whether it were one’s brother or a hired servant, or a stranger, or an orphan, or a widow.
“Thou shalt remember,” not how great thou art, or anything of the kind, but “that thou wast a bondman in Egypt, and the Lord thy God redeemed thee thence.” (verse 18)
If you are a believer in the Lord Jesus, dear reader, do you remember often enough that you were a slave of that cruel tyrant Satan until God, in Christ, redeemed you? Turn to Ephesians 2:1-9,1And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 4But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:1‑9) and read that wonderful statement, true of everyone who trusts in Jesus.
Chapter 25:3, God lays down a rule regarding punishment of wrong-doers, and in the next verse He thinks (how good and how gracious He is!) of the humble ox treading out the grain.
Verses 5-10. It was important for an earthly people that the family name should be kept up: this would have no force with a heavenly people, the Church of God. They have no proper hopes on earth, but in heaven.
Honest weights and measures are commanded in verses 13 to 16, and the enemies of God were not to be made friends of (verses 17-19). Amalek cared nothing for God, —did not fear Him and attacked the weaker ones of the flock. It is the true character of this world under the leadership of its prince and god, Satan.
ML 02/08/1925