Deuteronomy 24:16-2216The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin. 17Thou shalt not pervert the judgment of the stranger, nor of the fatherless; nor take a widow's raiment to pledge: 18But thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt, and the Lord thy God redeemed thee thence: therefore I command thee to do this thing. 19When thou cuttest down thine harvest in thy field, and hast forgot a sheaf in the field, thou shalt not go again to fetch it: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow: that the Lord thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hands. 20When thou beatest thine olive tree, thou shalt not go over the boughs again: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow. 21When thou gatherest the grapes of thy vineyard, thou shalt not glean it afterward: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow. 22And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt: therefore I command thee to do this thing. (Deuteronomy 24:16‑22)
IN THESE next verses Israel were warned against perverting judgment. The father was not to suffer death for his children's sins, nor were the children to suffer for their father's sins. This was common practice among the heathen nations, but unlike them Israel's God was a righteous God; they were to be the display of His righteousness on earth, as indeed they will be in the coming day of glory.
Furthermore, they were not to oppress or take advantage of the stranger, nor the fatherless, nor the widow. But they were to remember that it was the Lord who had redeemed them out of Egypt's bondage and it was He who commanded them to do this.
When they harvested their fields and forgot a sheaf they were not to return and take it. It was to be left for the stranger, the fatherless and the widow. It was the same when they gathered their olives and their grapes. The gleanings they were to leave for the poor.
Perhaps an Israelite might argue that these gleanings belonged to him to do with them as he pleased. But the Lord reminds them of the time when they had nothing and were but slaves in Egypt, and now that He had set them free He would have them show an entirely opposite spirit to that of their oppressors of old. They were to especially consider the poor and to show them kindness and mercy.
O what a God we have, who in all His greatness thinks of the needs of each of His creatures, especially man, in spite of all his rebellion and sin. Surely we who know Him through His beloved Son, our Saviour, can say, "How good is the God we adore!"
"That the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hands." Well had it been for Israel had they remembered and carried out these gracious commands of Jehovah their God! But we learn from their prophets later on and also from the gospels how little they remembered these things and how far they had departed from these words of the Lord. How severely the Lord rebuked the leaders of Israel in His day, saying, "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation." Matt. 23:1414Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. (Matthew 23:14).
We know these commandments were given to Israel under law, but surely the spirit of them is for us too still down here in this world. May He whose love has set us free from the slavery of sin and Satan's power help us to manifest His grace to others the little while we wait for His return. He loves a cheerful giver. May we remember His words, "how He said, It is more blessed to give than to receive." Acts 20:3535I have showed you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. (Acts 20:35).
Messages of the Love of God 11/9/1975