The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Deuteronomy 19:15,
"One witness is not enough to convict anyone accused of any crime or offense they may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses."
As the Lord gave the law to Moses, it provided for the civil society to function well as a people, to look to the needs of providing a level of propriety within the culture of Israel and to express his expectations for the people to avoid his condemnation as well as secure his blessings for the nation. Through the law, God provided definition of sin. The people of Israel were to have a moral and ethical standard far above the peoples they displaced in the promised land, as well as her neighbors. The law defined that standard.
Nonetheless, the hearts of the Israelites were not to be trusted. The human heart is deceitful above all things. Anticipating the exploitation of God's law to harm one another, the Lord qualified the requirements for bringing accusations of violating his law by requiring more than a single witness of a crime.
I am reminded of Paul's observations, "'There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.' 'Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.' 'The poison of vipers is on their lips.' 'Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.' 'Their feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and misery mark their ways, and the way of peace they do not know.' 'There is no fear of God before their eyes.'" Romans 3:11-18.
And, yet, God so loved people like this, he sent his Son to pay the penalty for their sins. "He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all." Isaiah 53:5-6.
"One witness is not enough to convict anyone accused of any crime or offense they may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses."
As the Lord gave the law to Moses, it provided for the civil society to function well as a people, to look to the needs of providing a level of propriety within the culture of Israel and to express his expectations for the people to avoid his condemnation as well as secure his blessings for the nation. Through the law, God provided definition of sin. The people of Israel were to have a moral and ethical standard far above the peoples they displaced in the promised land, as well as her neighbors. The law defined that standard.
Nonetheless, the hearts of the Israelites were not to be trusted. The human heart is deceitful above all things. Anticipating the exploitation of God's law to harm one another, the Lord qualified the requirements for bringing accusations of violating his law by requiring more than a single witness of a crime.
I am reminded of Paul's observations, "'There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.' 'Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.' 'The poison of vipers is on their lips.' 'Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.' 'Their feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and misery mark their ways, and the way of peace they do not know.' 'There is no fear of God before their eyes.'" Romans 3:11-18.
And, yet, God so loved people like this, he sent his Son to pay the penalty for their sins. "He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all." Isaiah 53:5-6.
Simply amazing! God's unfathomable love for mankind!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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