Together in Christ: 'True Justice Is Rooted in God's Justice' — Deuteronomy 24:17-18

Tuesday, August 20, 2024

[Moses said:] "True justice must be given to foreigners living among you and to orphans, and you must never accept a widow's garment as security for her debt. Always remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the Lord your God redeemed you from your slavery. That is why I have given you this command."
— Deuteronomy 24:17-18 NLT

Key Thought

From the beginning of God's promise to Abraham to create a great people who honored Him, the Almighty emphasized one foundational principle: You are blessed to be a blessing. [1] Throughout the Torah, God reminded Israel that they had been hopelessly enslaved, abused, and treated with great injustice in Egypt. [2] When God delivered them from Egypt, He gave them commands for how they should live. The Lord demanded His people treat each other and those living among them with dignity, compassion, and justice. He revealed that He was righteous in character, gracious with compassion, and faithful in applying justice. [3] His character needed to be their character: "Be holy because I am holy," God repeatedly told his people. [4]

God demanded that His people treat others in ways that may not seem logical, politically expedient, or profitable to some people. This commitment to God's nature seems foolish to people lacking God's character, compassion, and justice. Yet the Lord insists that His people protect the widow, care for the fatherless and orphans, make provisions to sustain the poor, and treat the foreigners among them with the same respect and love [5] God treated His people when they were enslaved people in Egypt. Even today, these standards don't make political sense to many people. But, as people who live in relationships with others based on God's righteous character, gracious compassion, and faithful justice, we embrace God's standards until they become our own. After all, He has given us this command: "Love your neighbor as yourself!" [6]

[1] Genesis 12:1-3.
[2] Exodus 13:3, 20:2; Leviticus 26:13; Deuteronomy 5:15, 6:21, 16:11-12, 24:18, 22.
[3] Exodus 34:6; Deuteronomy 7:9, 11; Psalm 37:28, 57:10, 86:15.
[4] Leviticus 11:44-45, 19:2, 20:26; 1 Peter 1:15-16.
[5] Matthew 25:31-40.
[6] Luke 10:27.

Today's Prayer

Holy and righteous Father, conform our ways to Your ways. Transform us by the power of Your Holy Spirit so that our character, compassion, and justice reflect Your own. We ask this in Jesus' name and for the sake of the world so that it might know Jesus. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

  • Ruth 1:1-22, 2:1-23, 3:1-18, 4:1-22
  • 1 Timothy 5:3-16

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Illustration

Illustration of Deuteronomy 24:17-18 NLT — [Moses said:] "True justice must be given to foreigners living among you and to orphans, and you must never accept a widow's garment as security for her debt. Always remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the Lord your God redeemed you from your slavery. That is why I have given you this command."

About This Devotional

Together in Christ is a daily devotional that focuses on what Scripture teaches about godly living in relationships.

'Together in Christ' is written by Phil Ware.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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