(Readings Feb 28-Mar 6)

10. Holiness in Daily Life
portions of Exodus and Deuteronomy
   
Key Point:
This section teaches the holy living expected by a holy God.  The laws emphasize respect for life, property, individual dignity, one’s parents, the poor, animals, and even trees.  Laws regarding ceremonial and dietary cleanliness are also detailed.

Key Verse:
“For I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess” (Deut. 30:16, DB page 301).

Outline:
III.       Laws of Special Crimes
    Crimes against the person
    Crimes against property
IV.    Personal Rights and Remedies
Restitution, injuries and damage, masters and servants, credit, contracts, weights and measures, inheritance, Levirate marriage
V.    Marriage, Divorce, and Sexual Relations
Marriage, divorce, sexual violations (adultery), prostitution, incest, homosexuality
VI.    Health and Dietary Laws
    Leprosy, discharges, clean and unclean animals, blood, and fat
VII.    General Welfare Laws
Duties toward the poor, parents, elderly, widows and orphans, strangers, deaf and blind, neighbors, animals
VIII.    Rules of Warfare
IX.    Responsibilities Under the Laws
    Blessings of obedience, punishments for disobedience   
   
 
Thought Questions:

1.    How is our criminal justice system different from that described in the Old Testament?





2.    How important is the concept of restitution in the Mosaic Law?





3.    What are some ways that the poor are protected under the old law?





4.    Israel was theocracy (ruled by God), but we are a democracy (ruled by the people). Should Christians be politically involved to make our nation godlier, or should Christians stay out of the political realm?  Explain your answer.





5.    Why do you think the sexual sins—adultery, homosexuality, bestiality—were punished so severely?




6.    How would you describe the basic principles of this law?

7.  How do the laws regarding kind treatment toward the poor, elderly, etc., apply to us?