Mary and Zechariah Rejoice (Luke 1:26-45)

This is the continuation of the first part of Luke, chapter 1. The angel Gabriel has visited Zechariah the priest, and to the astonishment of Zechariah, his wife Elizabeth, and others, Elizabeth at an old age is promised a son, John.

The Birth of Jesus Foretold

26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.

28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

Luke 1:48

29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.
30 But the angel said to her,

“Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month.37 For no word from God will ever fail.”

38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

Luke 1:38

Mary Visits Elizabeth

39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40 where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.

45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

Mary's Song

46 And Mary said:

“My soul glorifies the Lord
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.
50 His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
55 to Abraham and his descendants forever,
just as he promised our ancestors.”

56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

The Birth of John the Baptist

57 When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son.58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy.

59 On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah, 60 but his mother spoke up and said, “No! He is to be called John.”
61 They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who has that name.”
62 Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. 63 He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.” 64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God. 65 All the neighbors were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things. 66 Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, “What then is this child going to be?” For the Lord’s hand was with him.

Zechariah in Luke 1:62-63

Zechariah’s Song

67 His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:

68 “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,
because he has come to his people and redeemed them.
69 He has raised up a horn of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David
70 (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),
71 salvation from our enemies
and from the hand of all who hate us—
72 to show mercy to our ancestors
and to remember his holy covenant,
73 the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
74 to rescue us from the hand of our enemies,
and to enable us to serve him without fear
75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
76 And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High;
for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,
77 to give his people the knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins,
78 because of the tender mercy of our God,
by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
79 to shine on those living in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

80 And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel.

John the Baptist preached a message of repentance from sins
to prepare one's heart for receiving Jesus. 

Introduction to the Christmas Story (Luke 1:1-25)

Introduction (The Gospel according to Luke, chapter 1, verses 1-25)

1 Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. 3 With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

The Birth of John the Baptist Foretold

5 In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. 6 Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. 7 But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.

8 Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.

11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13 But the angel said to him:

“Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. 16 He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

The angel, Gabriel, appeared to Zechariah the priest.

18 Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”

19 The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. 20 And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”

21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. 22 When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.

23 When his time of service was completed, he returned home. 24 After this, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion.

Zechariah and Elizabeth with promised son, John the Baptist

25 “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”

In the next months, both Elizabeth and Mary would realize that they have been chosen to help fulfill the miraculous plans of God by Elizabeth giving birth to John (later called "John the Baptist") and Mary giving birth to Jesus (the Messiah).

Thank You, November Mornings!

I stumbled out of bed this morning and peeked out the curtain to see--SNOW!! It was a pleasant and shocking surprise just a week before Thanksgiving. The autumn trees are shedding their colorful leaves as the cold winter temps are creeping in. The change in seasons inspired me to find poems!

"The Last Leaves of November," by Robert Charity

November Morning

"A tingling, misty marvel 

  Blew hither in the night, 

And now the little peach-trees 

  Are clasped in frozen light. 

Upon the apple-branches 

  An icy film is caught, 

With trailing threads of gossamer 

  In pearly patterns wrought. 

The autumn sun, in wonder, 

  Is gayly peering through 

This silver-tissued network 

  Across the frosty blue. 

The weather-vane is fire-tipped, 

  The honeysuckle shows 

A dazzling icy splendor, 

  And crystal is the rose." 

~Evaleen Stein, November Morning

The Morns Are Meeker

"The morns are meeker than they were,

The nuts are getting brown;

The berry's cheek is plumper,

The rose is out of town. 

The maple wears a gayer scarf,

The field a scarlet gown.

Lest I should be old-fashioned,

I'll put a trinket on." 

~Emily Dickinson

Thanksgiving

"Give me the end of the year an' its fun 

When most of the plannin' an' toilin' is done; 

Bring all the wanderers home to the nest, 

Let me sit down with the ones I love best, 

Hear the old voices still ringin' with song, 

See the old faces unblemished by wrong, 

See the old table with all of its chairs 

An' I'll put soul in my Thanksgivin' prayers." 

~Edgar A. Guest, Thanksgiving

We Have Flowers

It has been a week since the tragic events unfolded in Paris. Listen to this sweet conversation between a father and son as he tries to comfort his son in Paris. It is in French with English subtitles.

NBC's coverage which includes the video in segments:

Le Petit Journal video from the CNN YouTube channel:

Do You Love Our Country?

Much is being said online these days about terrorism, illegal immigrants, refugees, and open vs. closed borders. Everyone everywhere has an opinion (even me!). I came across this excerpt written by Benjamin Rush in 1773. He analyzed the virtues associated with patriotism, love for fellow man, and moral and religious duty. I thought his words were timely and inspirational.

To His Fellow Countrymen

"Patriotism is as much a virtue as justice, and is as necessary for the support of societies as natural affection is for the support of families. The Amor Patriae is both a moral and a religious duty. It comprehends not only the love of our neighbors but of millions of our fellow creatures, not only of the present but of future generations. This virtue we find constitutes a part of the first characters in history. The holy men of old, in proportion as they possessed a religious[n] were endowed with a public spirit. What did Moses forsake and suffer for his countrymen! What shining examples of Patriotism do we behold in Joshua, Samuel, Maccabeus, and all the illustrious princes, captains, and prophets amongst the Jews! St. Paul almost wishes himself accursed for his countrymen and kinsmen after the flesh. Even our Savior himself gives a sanction to this virtue. He confined his miracles and gospel at first to his own country."

Amor Patriae: Love of One's Country

In my motherly opinion, in a time when we are debating whether or not to let refugees into our country, it seems necessary that we ask those needing refuge, "Do you love our country?"

Our melting-pot society is blended with varying religions and philosophical spirits of opinion. However, I relate to the sentiment expressed above in that our public spirit (patriotism) and moral spirit (religion) should have in the end the goal of demonstrating our love of country and our love and support of fellow citizens. Patriotism for a cause or for a religion that does not reflect life and liberty is not true patriotism or true religion.

Bennett, William J. "On Patriotism." The Spirit of America. Simon & Schuster, 1997, p. 41.

Walking with God

What does a walk with God actually mean? How does God want us to live? Here are some scriptures I've copied from the devotional book: Footprints: Scripture with Reflections Inspired by the Best-Loved Poem by Margaret Fishback Powers.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I [the Lord God] give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road. When you lie down and when you get up.
Deuteronomy 6:5-7

He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellow man, who despises a vile man but honors those who fear the Lord, who keeps his oath even when it hurts, who lends his money without usury and does not accept a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken.
Psalm 15:2-5

We are the temple of the living God. As God has said, "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people."
2 Corinthians 6:16

This is what the Lord says, "Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls."
Jeremiah 6:16

Live a life worthy of the Lord...please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.
Colossians 1:10

If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
1 John 1:7

I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people.
Leviticus 26:12

When I find myself overwhelmed with the concerns of this world, sometimes it is just good to be reminded of scriptural truths. The Bible is a comfort to a weary soul. It just takes some time to understand.

Leviticus: The Holiness of God and of Man

When I read Leviticus, I quickly realized it is full of too much detail to summarize in a blog post. Here is a brief recap of the book after my study.

 The central theme of the book of Leviticus is the holiness of God and of man. On Mount Sinai, the Lord spoke instructions to Moses, who then explained these rules to the Israelites. A key verse is when the Lord commanded in Leviticus 11:45, "Be holy because I am holy." In the first paragraph, it says, "The Lord spoke to Moses," and this same reference is used more than 50 times in Leviticus. The date of the book is about 1446-1406 B.C.

The Israelites were given laws and regulations for worship at the tabernacle, instructions on ceremonial cleanliness, moral laws, holy days, the Sabbath year, and the Year of Jubilee.

The Lord required offerings to be given as a way to receive atonement, or forgiveness, for sins. The individual could bring the offering, but only an anointed priest could approach the altar. It was Aaron and his sons who were authorized by the Lord to be priests.

My textbook explains that many ancient near east religions sought to appease the numerous gods they worshiped by offering sacrifices. But the Israelites were told to be specific in offering their sacrifices and to always approach the Lord with reverence, humility, and obedience. The offerings had different purposes:

Old Testament Offerings (Lev. 1 - 16)

The Grain Offering (Lev. 2) expressed a gift of tribute to the Lord as a sign of submission and dedication. This was an exercise of worship, and it also provided food for the priests.


The Fellowship (Peace) Offering (Lev. 3, 7, 19, 22) was a celebration of God's blessings in praise, thanks and devotion. God received the fatty parts of the animal sacrifice, and the worshiper and family and priest ate the meat.


The Whole Burnt Offering (Lev. 1) was symbolic of a judicial substitution for sin and it was offered as a general repentance for sin, worship and total dedication to the Lord. The sacrifice had to to burned entirely to the Lord.


The Sin Offering (Lev. 4-5:13) expressed purification from unintentional sins against God. If this was offered on behalf of the priest or community, the sacrifice was totally burned and the blood was sprinkled in the Holy Place. For lay persons, the priest received the meat, and the blood was poured out at the altar.


The Guilt Offering (Lev. 5:14-6:13) was used for paying a debt, penalty, and compensation for damages against a person or the holiness of God. The priest received the meat.

The Lamb of God

The study of offerings and sacrifice in the Old Testament deserves a greater explanation than mine here. Furthermore, the significance of the role of the priest, the worshiper, and the act of atonement and reconciliation with God is seen throughout the Old Testament and again in the New Testament.

In the New Testament, John said about Jesus, "Look, the lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). And when Jesus was instructing his disciples on being servants, he said "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45).

Jesus washed his disciples' feet. (John 13)

Ordination of Aaron and His Sons

In Leviticus 8-10, Aaron and his sons were given instructions on priesthood. They were authorized to wear priestly garments and follow holy rituals when approaching the Lord to minister on behalf of the people. Eventually, Aaron's sons (Nadab and Abihu) became careless in their priestly duties and offered "unauthorized fire before the Lord." The fire consumed them. Moses then said, in Lev. 10:3,

"This is what the Lord spoke of when he said, 

'Among those who approach me

I will show myself holy;

in the sight of all the people

I will be honored.'"

The theme of obedience and holiness is central to the Bible's explanation of how to please God. It was not that man was able to be perfect, but that his heart should be humble before God. His actions reflected his obedience or disobedience to God's laws and commandments.

From these readings, this is my understanding of holiness (so far): to be set apart for God, willing to acknowledge his presence, his provision, and his power and to live at peace with him. This requires faith.

"Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him" (Hebrews 11:6).

The Sanctuary

Beginning in Exodus 25, God told Moses to have the Israelites construct a holy place, or sanctuary (v. 8). It says the skilled workers were empowered by God's Spirit to do the work (31:1-11). The tabernacle plans were extremely detailed and specific, another way of teaching that approaching God was on his terms (obedience) and in his (holy) place, "make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you."

Materials (25:1-9)

Collect an offering from each man whose heart prompts him to give: gold, silver, and bronze; blue purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen; goat hair; ram skins dyed red and hides of sea cows; acacia wood; olive oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense; onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breastpiece.

Ark and Atonement (25:10-22)

Make a chest of acacia wood, overlay it with gold. Cast four gold rings and fasten them at the four feet. Make four poles of acacia wood overlayed in gold; insert the poles into the rings of the ark; do not remove them. Inside this ark, put the Testimony, which I [the Lord] will give you. Make an atonement cover, or lid, "Mercy Seat," of pure gold. Put two cherubim of gold at the ends of the cover; they are to face each other with their wings upraised and overshadowing the cover; put the ark in it.

The Table for the Bread (25:23-30)

Make a table of acacia wood, overlay it with gold. Make molding and a rim one handbreadth wide with gold; four rings and poles in gold; make plates and dishes of gold and pitchers and bowls for the pouring out of offerings. Put the "bread of Presence" on the table always. There would be 12 flat cakes to equal the 12 tribes of Israel (Lev. 24:6).

The Lampstand (25:31-40)

Make a lampstand of gold and hammer it out; flowerlike cups, buds, and blossoms shall be of one piece. Six branches to extend (3 on each side). Wick trimmers and trays all of gold.

Replica of a Menorah

Depiction of the Menorah on the Arch of Titus in Rome.

In Exodus 26-27, further instructions are given for making curtains, frames, the placement of the curtains, table, lampstand, and the Mercy Seat and the Ark of the Testimony in the Most Holy Place.

In Exodus 27, detailed instructions are given for making the Bronze Altar and the courtyard. It says that in the Tent of Meeting, Aaron and his sons are to keep the lamps burning before the Lord from evening until morning as a lasting ordinance among the Israelites for the generations to come.

The last photo and a greater in-depth study of this section of Exodus can be found here. ~ More later!

A.R. Allen: Lines to a Daughter--Any Daughter

One of the things that you really should know

Is when to say "yes," and when to say "no."

It's terribly, terribly risky to guess

At when to say "no" and when to say "yes."

Girls who are slaving for Woolworth and Kress

Lament for the day when they might have said "yes,"

Others are crying at night apropros

Of moments when clearly they should have said "no."

Woolworth and Kress were inexpensive stores.

There aren't any textbooks, there aren't any rules,

The subject's neglected in orthodox schools.

Experience helps, but you seldom remember

Your April mistakes by the first of November.

You can't be consistent; there's often a reason

For changing your mind with a change in the season.

You may be quite right in accepting at seven

Suggestions you'd better refuse at eleven.

Perhaps you'll consider these tentative hints:

"No" to a dirndl of highly glazed chintz,

"Yes" to the bashful young man at the dance,

"No" to the man who's been living in France,

"Yes" to a walk in the park in the rain,

"Yes" if he asks for a chance to explain,

"No" to all slacks unless you're too thin,

"No" to that impulse to telephone him,

"Yes" to a baby, and "no" to a bore,

"No" if you're asked if you've heard it before,

"Yes" to the friend when she says, "Don't you think

  Rabbit is just as becoming as mink?"

"Yes" to a Saturday, "no" to a Monday,

"Yes" to a salad and "no" to a sundae,

"No" to a wastrel and "yes" to a ranger,

"No" to a toady, and "yes" to a stranger

(That is providing you use some discretion),

"No" to three cocktails in rapid succession,

"No" to magenta and chocolate brown,

"Yes" to a whisper and "no" to a frown,

"No" if he's misunderstood by his wife,

"Yes" if you want it the rest of your life.

Remember, my darling, careers and caresses

Depend on your choices of "noes" and of "yesses."

From Harper's Magazine, February, 1947. 

America is Great Because She is Good

An inspiring and patriotic poem by a French political thinker, Alexis de Tocqueville, who visited U.S. prisons and toured America during the 19th century to better understand our democracy and way of life. I found this excerpt in William J. Bennett's book, "The Moral Compass: Stories for a Life's Journey." 

I sought for the greatness

and genius of America

in her commodious harbors

and her ample rivers,

and it was not there;

in the fertile fields

and boundless prairies

and it was not there;

in her rich mines

and her vast world commerce,

and it was not there.

Not until I went into the churches of America

and heard her pulpits

aflame with righteousness,

did I understand the secret

of her genius and power.

America is great

because she is good,

and if America ever ceases to be good,

America will cease to be great.

--Alexis de Tocqueville (1805-1859)

Attribution link

Robert Frost: The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

From Complete Poems of Robert Frost. Copyright, 1930, 1949, by Henry Holt and Company, Inc. 

The Laws at Mt. Sinai

In Exodus 21 – 23, Moses received the laws on Mt. Sinai. At first, some of these laws seem irrelevant to multicultural and modern societies, but there are timeless questions, such as how to determine justice, mercy, and restitution during times of crisis? As I was reading, I tried to recognize the nature of God and the moral lesson or parameter to follow for each (rather than focus on what law was broken).

The categories of law deal with the topics of servants, personal injury, negligence, theft, property damage, dishonesty, immorality, civil and religious obligations, and Sabbaths and feasts.

Servants (Ex. 21:1-12)

1. If you have a servant, he should work 6 years and then go free on the 7^th year without having to pay. If the servant was married when he arrived, then he and his wife can both go free together. If children were born during the years of servanthood, then the wife and children stay with the master, since they are his property, but if the man chooses to stay with them, then he can declare his love to the master, wife, and children. The master will pierce his ear and claim him for the rest of his life (to own him, but also to pledge protection and loyalty to him and his family).
2. If a man sells his daughter into servanthood, she is not to go free on the 7^th year as men do. Her relatives can redeem her. If the master wants her to be with his son, then he must grant her the full rights of a daughter. She must never be sold to foreigners.
3. If a master takes a servant as his wife, he is required to provide her with food, clothing, and marital rights for her entire life, even if he is not pleased with her and takes a second wife. If he doesn’t provide her with all three of these things, she is free to leave without paying any money.

Personal Injury (Ex. 21:12-36)

1. A murderer is to be put to death unless the act was not intentional.
2. If a man kills and it was an accident, he should flee to a designated place, but if he “schemes and plots to kill” then “take him away from my [the Lord’s] altar” and put him to death.
3. To protect the family, these people are in error and should be put to death: Anyone who attacks his father and mother; anyone who kidnaps and sells the victim; anyone who curses his father or mother.
4. If men quarrel and one is injured to the point he can’t get up and walk, the one who injured him must pay the injured man for his time and see that he is completely healed.
5. If a man beats his male or female slave with a rod and he or she dies as a result, he must be punished.
6. If men are fighting and hit a pregnant woman and she gives birth prematurely, then the offender is fined whatever the husband demands and the court allows!
7. If there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, and bruise for bruise. (The idea here, I believe, is to show remorse and restitution for the offense.)
8. If a man hits a servant and destroys an eye or tooth then the servant goes free to compensate for it.
9. If a bull gores a man to death, then it should be stoned to death and its meat not eaten, but the owner of the bull is not held responsible. If the owner has been warned and there is a habitual problem of the bull killing people, then the bull and the owner are to be put to death (!). However, is payment is demanded (by the judges or family) then the owner can redeem his life by paying.

Negligence

1. If a man uncovers a pit or fails to cover a pit back up and an ox or donkey (for example) falls into it, then the owner pays for the loss. He pays the owner and the dead animal becomes his.
2. If a man’s bull injures the bull of another man and it dies, they are to sell the living one and divide the money and dead animal equally. But, if the bull had the habit of injuring, then the owner must pay animal for animal, and the dead animal will be his.

Theft (Ex. 22)

1. Theft of an ox or sheep requires the thief to pay back 5 head of cattle for the ox and 4 sheep for the sheep.
2. If a thief is caught breaking in and struck and he dies, then the defender is not guilty of bloodshed. But, if it happens after sunrise, he is guilty of bloodshed.
3. A thief must make restitution, and if he has nothing to give, then he must be “sold” to pay for the theft (work off debt). It he stole an animal, then he must pay back double.

Property Damage

The guilty party pays restitution: a reparation made by giving an equivalent or compensation for loss, damage or injury caused; indemnification.

Synonyms: recompense, amends, compensation, requital, satisfaction, repayment; redress--the setting right of what is wrong, relief from wrong or injury, to correct or reform; atonement.

Dishonesty

1. If borrowed goods are stolen, the thief pays back double.
2. If a man takes a virgin, he must pay the “bride price.” If the father refuses to give her to the man, then he still must pay the bride price.

Civil & Religious Obligations

1. Do not allow a sorceress to live.
2. If a person has sexual relations with an animal, put the person to death.
3. Whoever sacrifices to any other “god” other than the Lord, “must be destroyed.”
4. Do not mistreat aliens/foreigners or oppress them, for you were aliens/foreigners in Egypt.
5. Do not take advantage of a widow or an orphan. If you do, they will cry out to Me [the Lord]. I will hear their cry and become angry. I will kill you with the sword. Your wives will become widows and children orphans.

  Laws of Justice & Mercy (Ex. 23:1-9)

1. Do not spread false reports.
2. Do not help a wicked man by being a malicious witness.
3. Do not follow the crowd by doing wrong.
4. Do not side with a poor man in his lawsuit by showing favoritism.
5. If your enemy's ox or donkey is wandering off and you see it, take it back to him.
6. Do not deny justice to your poor people in their lawsuits.
7. Do not have a false charge or put an innocent or honest person to death. God says, "I will not acquit the guilty."
8. Do not accept a bribe--it blinds those who see and twists the words of the righteous.
9. Do not oppress an alien/foreigner because you were once an alien/foreigner in Egypt. This is the 3rd time the Lord has given this instruction about being kind to aliens/foreigners.

 Sabbaths & Feasts (Ex. 23:14-19)

1. Sow your land and gather its yield for 6 years, but during the 7th year, let it rest and lie fallow so the poor of your people may eat. 
2. Work for 6 days, but on the 7th day, you need to rest, as well as your ox and donkey, servants, and any foreigners who are guests, so they can be refreshed. 
3. Pay attention to all of the instructions I [the Lord] have given; make no mention of names of other gods. 
4. Three times a year, hold feasts that are dedicated to the Lord: The Feast of Unleavened Bread (eat bread with no yeast for 7 days), the Feast of Harvest (bring the firstfruits of your labor), and the Feast if Ingathering (at the end of the year to celebrate the harvest).

MICAH 6:8

Covenants and Treaties in the Ancient Near East

The first covenant relationship in the Old Testament is seen between God and Noah in Genesis 6:18 and it extends throughout the Old Testament until Jeremiah explains how God promises there will be a "new covenant written on human hearts," as promised in the book of Jeremiah 31:31-37.

Unlike contracts (which emphasize a performance of terms) a covenant, or treaty, relies on personal loyalty within a relationship. (for example, Jacob and Laban), or Abraham and Abimelech). As in the latter example, sometimes the two parties are unequal in power, so the following elements were often used:

1. Covenants are person-oriented, based on a desire for relationship.
2. The stronger party usually initiates the relationship.
3. Terms are not negotiated but based on the grace of the stronger party.
4. Obligations are kept out of loyalty.
5. Covenants are usually in effect indefinitely.
6. Breaking a covenant involves damaging the relationship.

Ancient Near East (ANE) history documents the use of covenant treaties among suzerains and vassals during the Hittite Empire from about 1450 to 1200 B.C.  This practice is also written about in the Old Testament books of Exodus, Deuteronomy, and in Joshua 24.

Preamble (Names the Suzerain "sovereign")	Ex. 20:1	Deut. 1:1-5	Josh. 24:2
Historical Prologue (History of Relationship)	Ex. 20:2	Deut. 1:6 through 4:49	Josh. 24:2-13
Basic Stipulations	Ex. 20:3-17	Deut. 5 through 11	Josh. 24:14-15
Detailed Stipulations	Ex. 21 - 23	Deut. 12 through 26
Deposit/Public Reading (Money brought and a public reading)	Ex. 25:16	Deut. 31:9-13, 24-26	Josh. 24:26
List of witnesses (names or objects identified as "witnesses")	Ex. 24:4	Deut. 31:16-30	Josh. 24:22, 27
Cursings and Blessings		Deut. 28:1-68	Josh. 24:19-20
Public Oath or Ceremony	Ex.24:1-11	Deut. 27

These notes and explanations are from the textbook, They Spoke from God: A Survey of the Old Testament (250-253). 

This helps explain the loyalty that the Sovereign God was requiring of the Israelites. The covenant relationship was different than a legalistic agreement. If a party breaks a legal contract, it is not binding and the offended party can leave. But in a covenant agreement, the injured party is hurt and grieved. The covenant, however, continues as long as the initiator wills it.

In this case, the initiator was God. This is the message of the story and relationship between God and the Israelites throughout the Old Testament. Although they had grieved the Lord and would continue to sin, God was required to be loyal and faithful to His promises and to be present with His people.

This relationship is extended in the New Testament as well, and it is referred to in many passages. Eventually it would be changed to a "new covenant" between God and all mankind (for example: Luke 22:20, Hebrews 8:7-13, Ephesians 2:11-13).

Words Kill, Words Give Life (Proverbs 18:21)

The title of this blog entry came from a proverb and sermon I heard in church today. I can't take credit for it or the message, but I'm sharing it so I can come back to it and remember it!

Words kill,

words give life;

they're either poison or fruit--

you choose. 

(Proverbs 18:21-The Message Bible)

The tongue has the power of life and death,

and those who love it will eat its fruit.

(Proverbs 18:21-NIV)

WORDS...

1. Have power.

2. Are a choice.

3. Will bear fruit.

And a music video with POWERFUL words! You can watch it,

or just close your eyes and listen to it. The words are amazing,

"Through it all, through it all, my eyes are on You. 

And through it all...my eyes are on You... and it is well...with me."