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

Wednesday, August 20, 2025

[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."

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]

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

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

2 Related Resources by Heartlight

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."

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Wednesday, August 20, 2025

A one-year devotional guide through the book of Acts.
"So Peter left the cell, following the angel. But all the time he thought it was a vision. He didn't realize it was actually happening. They passed..."
A daily devotional about God's power for our battles.
"You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater,..."
A devotional to help reclaim Jesus as the daily Lord of our lives.
"Dear Friend, I want you to learn to rejoice in Our work in you. We — Father, Son, and Spirit — delight in your obedience and service to....."
A daily passage of Scripture emphasizing praise to our God.
"Our God is a God who saves! The Sovereign Lord rescues us from death."

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.