Page 139 - The MacArthur Daily Bible

TN_02_MacArthur_Bible_Feb.qxd 8/8/03 14:37 Page 120

FEBRUARY 5
ox, a sheep, or any animal to keep, and it dies, 25 “If you lend money to any of My people
11
is hurt, or driven away, no one seeing it, then who are poor among you, you shall not be like
an oath of the LORD shall be between them a moneylender to him; you shall not charge
26
both, that he has not put his hand into his him interest. If you ever take your neighbor’s
neighbor’s goods; and the owner of it shall garment as a pledge, you shall return it to him
accept that, and he shall not make it good. before the sun goes down. For that is his only
27
12 But if, in fact, it is stolen from him, he shall covering, it is his garment for his skin. What
13
make restitution to the owner of it. If it is torn will he sleep in? And it will be that when he
to pieces by a beast, then he shall bring it as cries to Me, I will hear, for I am gracious.
evidence, and he shall not make good what 28 “You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler
was torn. of your people.
14 “And if a man borrows anything from his 29 “You shall not delay to offer the first of your
neighbor, and it becomes injured or dies, the ripe produce and your juices. The firstborn of
30
owner of it not being with it, he shall surely your sons you shall give to Me. Likewise you
make it good. If its owner was with it, he shall shall do with your oxen and your sheep. It
15
not make it good; if it was hired, it came for its shall be with its mother seven days; on the
hire. eighth day you shall give it to Me.
16 “If a man entices a virgin who is not 31 “And you shall be holy men to Me: you
betrothed, and lies with her, he shall surely shall not eat meat torn by beasts in the field;
17
pay the bride-price for her to be his wife. If you shall throw it to the dogs.
her father utterly refuses to give her to him, Psalm 18:46–50
he shall pay money according to the bride-
price of virgins. 46 The LORD lives!
18 “You shall not permit a sorceress to live. Blessed be my Rock!
19 “Whoever lies with an animal shall surely Let the God of my salvation be exalted.
be put to death. 47 It is God who avenges me,
20 “He who sacrifices to any god, except to And subdues the peoples under me;
the LORD only, he shall be utterly destroyed. 48 He delivers me from my enemies.
21 “You shall neither mistreat a stranger nor You also lift me up above those who
oppress him, for you were strangers in the rise against me;
land of Egypt. You have delivered me from
22 “You shall not afflict any widow or father- the violent man.
49
23
less child. If you afflict them in any way, and Therefore I will give thanks to You,
they cry at all to Me, I will surely hear their O LORD, among the Gentiles,
cry; and My wrath will become hot, and I will And sing praises to Your name.
24
kill you with the sword; your wives shall be 50 Great deliverance He gives to His king,
widows, and your children fatherless. And shows mercy to His anointed,
To David and his descendants
forevermore.
22:22 widow or fatherless child. God Proverbs 6:26–29
reserved His special attention for widows and 26 For by means of a harlot
orphans who often had no one to care for A man is reduced to a crust of bread;
them. He also reserved a special reaction, His And an adulteress will prey upon his
wrath, for those abusing and exploiting them. precious life.
This wrath would work out in military inva- 27 Can a man take fire to his bosom,
sions as the sword reduced the abusers’ fami- And his clothes not be burned?
lies to the same status of being without
28 Can one walk on hot coals,
spouse or parents.
And his feet not be seared?
22:25 interest. One way in which the people
showed their concern for the poor and needy
was to take no business advantage of them.
Charging interest was allowable (Lev.25:35–37; 6:26 crust of bread. Here the smallest piece
Deut.23:19,20),but not when it was exorbitant of bread demonstrates how the prostitute
or worsened the plight of the borrower. The reduces the life of a man to insignificance,
psalmist identified a righteous man as one including the loss of his wealth, freedom, fam-
who lends money without interest (Ps.15:5). ily, purity, dignity, and even his soul (v. 32).

120