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Today’s reading was from Deuteronomy 21–23. The heading at the top of chapter 21 is fitting: Various Laws. As I read through these chapters, it became clear that many of the laws God gave were designed with the good of others in mind—taking care of your brother’s lost items and livestock, prohibiting adultery, protecting escaped slaves, and promoting financial fairness among Israelites.

For example, an Israelite wasn’t to charge interest on a loan to another Israelite (though they could to a foreigner), and vows were not to be made lightly. If a vow was made—especially to the Lord—it was to be fulfilled promptly. Better to say nothing at all than to make a vow you won’t keep.

A few laws stood out more than others. The first comes from chapter 22,

“You shall not see your brother’s ox or his sheep going astray and ignore them. You shall take them back to your brother… with any lost thing of your brother’s, which he loses and you find; you may not ignore it.” (Deuteronomy 22:1, 3)

I grew up with the inconsiderate playground saying, “Finders keepers, losers weepers.” But God’s law works differently. His justice is always aimed at protecting and restoring—never exploiting or dismissing. We’re not allowed to ignore what doesn’t belong to us. We’re to be people of honor, returning what’s lost and caring for what’s not ours until it is.

Another law that stood out was one related to sexual immorality. In the case of infidelity discovered after betrothal, we read,

“They shall bring out the young woman to the door of her father’s house, and the men of her city shall stone her to death… because she has done an outrageous thing in Israel…” (Deuteronomy 22:21)

It’s a hard passage to read, but what stood out to me was not just the judgment—it was how this connects to another passage. I wrote in the margin of my Bible, “Joseph—Mary’s fiancé—knew this law. And yet, he was willing to put Mary away quietly.” Joseph’s response was one of mercy, even though he believed he had been wronged. God often invites those who are in the right to lead with compassion. We see this thread of mercy woven all throughout Scripture.

Another law caught my attention in verses 28–29 of chapter 22,

“If a man meets a virgin who is not betrothed, and seizes her and lies with her… he shall give to the father of the young woman fifty shekels of silver, and she shall be his wife…”

As I read this, my mind made an immediate connection to the story of Amnon, David’s eldest son. He violated his sister Tamar and then cast her out. He not only refused to marry her, but dishonored her publicly. His actions show the complete disregard of both the letter and the spirit of this law—God’s heart was to protect, not to permit abuse.

Then there’s Deuteronomy 23:3,

“No Ammonite or Moabite may enter the assembly of the Lord… even to the tenth generation.”

This verse has intrigued me for quite a while. If no Moabite was permitted to enter the assembly, how could Ruth—a Moabite woman—become the great-grandmother of King David? After much study and conversation (especially with my friend Marty), I’ve come to a settled conviction: In the ancient world, descent was traced through the father’s line, not the mother’s. Ruth married Boaz, a man of Judah, and so her descendants—David included—were sons of Israel, not Moab.

One final verse that stood out was in Deuteronomy 23:23,

“If you refrain from vowing, you will not be guilty of sin. But you shall be careful to do what has passed your lips, for you have voluntarily vowed to the Lord your God what you have promised with your mouth.”

I haven’t made a habit of making many vows. But there’s one I’ve made and one I fully intend to keep: my marriage vow to Karen, who—next to Jesus—is the love of my life. The keeping of our word still matters to God, and vows should be made thoughtfully and honored fully.

Takeaway: God’s laws weren’t random—they were rooted in His character and His care for His people. Many of them revealed His desire for justice, mercy, integrity, and protection of the vulnerable. Even the difficult commands point us to deeper principles: return what’s lost, protect the weak, honor your word, and lead with compassion. When we let these truths shape our lives, we don’t just follow rules—we reflect God’s heart.