Monday
Do not spread false reports. Do not help a wicked man by being a malicious witness.
Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you give testimony in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd, and do not show favoritism to a poor man in his lawsuit.
If you come across your enemy’s ox or donkey wandering off, be sure to take it back to him. If you see the donkey of someone who hates you fallen down under its load, do not leave it there; be sure you help him with it.
Do not deny justice to your poor people in their lawsuits. Have nothing to do with a false charge and do not put an innocent or honest person to death for I will not acquit the guilty.
Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds those who see and twists the words of the righteous.
Do not oppress an alien; you yourselves know how it feels to be aliens because you were aliens in Egypt.
(Exodus 23:1-9, NIV)
The Book of Exodus was written by Moses as a continuation of the narrative begun in Genesis concerning God’s covenantal relationship with Abraham and his descendants. In addition to recording important historical events, Exodus offers profound insights about the nature of God and his plan of salvation as it unfolds in human history. Before its concluding section on the theology of worship, Exodus records the Ten Commandments and the numerous ordinances of the Book of the Covenant in chapters 20-23.
Today’s verses contain God’s laws on justice and these laws help to define how true neighbors should relate to each other. All of the ordinances of the Book of the Covenant were designed to assist the Israelites in practically applying the principles found in the Ten Commandments.
True justice, which is the foundation for a peaceful, stable social order, meant not bearing false witness, not submitting to popular opinion, not showing favoritism, and not accepting bribes. In a positive way it meant helping your enemy. By specifically identifying “the poor” and “the alien,” Moses was singling out categories of people in Hebrew society who were especially vulnerable since they lacked power and legal standing. God desires that his people establish “right relationships” with each other based on justice and compassion. True peace in society will only come where wholesome relationships are found.
Prayer
Holy God, author of the Ten Commandments, we thank you for your love for us. We are like the people of Israel who often were disobedient. Help us to obey your commandments and to follow your ordinances. Teach us that your way is better than ours. Give us a vision for a world in which people live in “right relationship” with each other. Amen.