Deuteronomy24:1-9 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs!
Today’s passage is Deuteronomy 24:1-9. Let’s go!
Deuteronomy 24:1-4 (NIV)
1 If a man marries a woman who becomes displeasing to him because he finds something indecent about her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce, gives it to her and sends her from his house,
2 and if after she leaves his house she becomes the wife of another man,
3 and her second husband dislikes her and writes her a certificate of divorce, gives it to her and sends her from his house, or if he dies,
4 then her first husband, who divorced her, is not allowed to marry her again after she has been defiled. That would be detestable in the eyes of the LORD. Do not bring sin upon the land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance.
On verses 1-4: What “indecent” thing could a husband find about his wife that would enable him to divorce her? It wasn’t adultery or having premarital sex, since both of these meant death (see Deuteronomy 22:20-22). So the answer to this question is not clear. That said, whenever you read verses 1 to 4 where Moses allows divorce, always remember what Jesus said about these verses:
Matthew 19:8-9 (NIV)
8 Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning.
9 I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery.”
In other words, divorce was never God’s ideal plan for any married couple. God’s heart is to protect and bless the marriage between a husband and wife as much as possible.
Deuteronomy 24:5 (NIV)
5 If a man has recently married, he must not be sent to war or have any other duty laid on him. For one year he is to be free to stay at home and bring happiness to the wife he has married.
On verse 5: Verse 5 regarding giving newlyweds the chance to enjoy their first year of marriage together is another example of God’s protective heart when it comes to marriage. I pray you would have a similar protective heart, protecting your own marriage and honouring the marriages of others.
Deuteronomy 24:6 (NIV)
6 Do not take a pair of millstones–not even the upper one–as security for a debt, because that would be taking a man’s livelihood as security.
On verse 6: What is a millstone? Back in Moses’ time, poor people could not afford to buy processed grain. Instead, they would buy raw grain and grind it against two millstones (a large heavy stone on the bottom and a smaller lighter stone on top — almost like a snowman). Without these millstones, a poor person would not be able to prepare food to feed their family. So when Moses tells the Israelites not to take a millstone as security for a debt, Moses is protecting the poor, making sure they still have a way to make food for themselves.
From verse 6 we can see that God’s heart is to protect the poor. May we have a heart to watch out for those around us who live in poverty, whether that poverty is spiritual, financial, or otherwise.
Deuteronomy 24:7 (NIV)
7 If a man is caught kidnapping one of his brother Israelites and treats him as a slave or sells him, the kidnapper must die. You must purge the evil from among you.
On verse 7: To protect the community from kidnappers, Moses issues a law that kidnappers in ancient Israel must die, another example of the protecting heart of God.
Deuteronomy 24:8-9 (NIV)
8 In cases of leprous diseases be very careful to do exactly as the priests, who are Levites, instruct you. You must follow carefully what I have commanded them.
9 Remember what the LORD your God did to Miriam along the way after you came out of Egypt.
On verses 8-9: Moses tells the Israelites to be very careful about dealing with diseases like leprosy (v8), and incidentally warns them also to be careful not to follow the example of Miriam, who became leprous after trying to usurp Moses’ leadership in Numbers 12 (v9). Here we see the heart of God to protect the people both from physical disease from leprosy as well as spiritual and relational diseases like gossip and backbiting.
Father, thank You that from this passage we see in so many different ways Your protective heart. Thank You for being my Protector and that You will protect me in this season. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
