Slices
Prepare
Pray: ‘Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me’ (Psalm 51:10–12).
Bible passage
Social responsibility
16 ‘If a man seduces a virgin who is not pledged to be married and sleeps with her, he must pay the bride-price, and she shall be his wife. 17 If her father absolutely refuses to give her to him, he must still pay the bride-price for virgins.
18 ‘Do not allow a sorceress to live.
19 ‘Anyone who has sexual relations with an animal is to be put to death.
20 ‘Whoever sacrifices to any god other than the Lord must be destroyed.
21 ‘Do not ill-treat or oppress a foreigner, for you were foreigners in Egypt.
22 ‘Do not take advantage of the widow or the fatherless. 23 If you do and they cry out to me, I will certainly hear their cry. 24 My anger will be aroused, and I will kill you with the sword; your wives will become widows and your children fatherless.
25 ‘If you lend money to one of my people among you who is needy, do not treat it like a business deal; charge no interest. 26 If you take your neighbour’s cloak as a pledge, return it by sunset, 27 because that cloak is the only covering your neighbour has. What else can they sleep in? When they cry out to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate.
28 ‘Do not blaspheme God or curse the ruler of your people.
29 ‘Do not hold back offerings from your granaries or your vats.
‘You must give me the firstborn of your sons. 30 Do the same with your cattle and your sheep. Let them stay with their mothers for seven days, but give them to me on the eighth day.
31 ‘You are to be my holy people. So do not eat the meat of an animal torn by wild beasts; throw it to the dogs.
Explore
Much of this passage may seem alien to us. It is no longer solely about crimes that can be easily dealt with by punishment. Now we move on to the proper treatment of others.
All these social responsibilities will help to distinguish the Israelites’ ways from the oppressive ways of the Egyptians. God loves his people dearly, wants the very best for them, and wants them to be aware of the needs of others (vs 25– 27). Verse 28 warns that they must not blaspheme God or curse their rulers.
Today, believing in God is no longer a given. Curses flow freely without thought from many lips. In Britain, as in many countries around the world, we choose our government and we need to respect the choice of the majority, even if it is not ours. We can’t pick and choose which bits we follow.
Most importantly, we must not hold back from offering our best to help steer our land in a godward direction.
Respond
God wants us to be his holy people (v 31). What do you think that means in practical terms in your daily life? Ask God to keep you focused on him today and make you aware of opportunities to spread his love.
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: 1 Samuel 18,19; Mark 14
Pray for Scripture Union
Our new online resource centre enables us to see much more clearly how all our resources are being used. Join with us in celebrating the large number of children and young Prayers people who are hearing the good news of Jesus through those using them.
