The Scaredness of Life - Part Two (Deuteronomy 21: 15-23)

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Episode Notes

Title: The Sacredness of Life – Part Two
Scripture: Deuteronomy 21:15-23

Summary:

In this episode, we explore three distinct scenarios presented in Deuteronomy 21:15-23, each highlighting the sanctity of life and the importance of justice and fairness in ancient Israelite society.

1. Inheritance Rights of the Firstborn (Deuteronomy 21:15-17):
   • If a man has two wives and loves one more than the other, but the firstborn son is from the less-loved wife, the man must still honor the firstborn’s inheritance rights. This law ensured that personal feelings did not interfere with the rights and dignity of the firstborn son, reinforcing the principle that the father’s authority is not absolute and must align with God's laws.
2. Dealing with a Rebellious Son (Deuteronomy 21:18-21):
   • The passage outlines the severe consequences for a stubborn and rebellious son who does not obey his parents despite repeated discipline. Parents were to take such a son to the city elders, and if found guilty, he would be stoned to death. Although this penalty is harsh, its primary purpose was to serve as a deterrent, emphasizing the serious nature of rebellion and its potential to disrupt societal harmony.
3. The Unconventional Death (Deuteronomy 21:22-23):
   • This section addresses the treatment of someone guilty of a capital offense. After execution, the body was to be hung on a pole but not left overnight. This practice indicated that the person was cursed by God, serving as a public warning and underscoring the sacredness of life and the need for justice.

Key Takeaways:

• The Sanctity of Life: Each of these cases reinforces the idea that life is sacred and must be treated with respect and fairness, regardless of personal feelings or family dynamics.
• God’s Laws Above Personal Authority: Fathers and parents are reminded that their authority is not absolute; they must adhere to God’s laws to ensure justice and dignity for all family members.
• Community Responsibility: The involvement of community elders in cases of severe disobedience highlights the collective responsibility to uphold God's laws and maintain societal order.
• Deterrence and Justice: Severe penalties served as deterrents to prevent anarchy and ensure that the community understood the gravity of certain offenses.

Reflection

These passages encourage us to consider how biblical principles apply to our lives today. Reflect on the ways in which you can uphold justi

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Transcript

The Sacredness’s of Life – Part Two (Deuteronomy 21:15-23)

Transcript:

If a man has two wives, and he loves one but not the other, and both bear him sons but the firstborn is the son of the wife he does not love, when he wills his property to his sons, he must not give the rights of the firstborn to the son of the wife he loves in preference to his actual firstborn, the son of the wife he does not love. He must acknowledge the son of his unloved wife as the firstborn by giving him a double share of all he has. That son is the first sign of his father’s strength. The right of the firstborn belongs to him.

(Deuteronomy 21: 15-18)

Are you confused yet? Let me explain. This man has two wives, which is polygamy, a topic we will address in a moment. Each wife has a son, but the man loves one wife more than the other. 

According to Mosaic Law, the firstborn son was to receive a double portion of the inheritance. 

This case presents a scenario where the firstborn son is from the less-loved wife. Despite the man's feelings, the law required that the firstborn status and its privileges go to the true firstborn son, regardless of his mother's status.

The man might be tempted to give the firstborn status to the son of the wife he loved the most, but Moses makes it clear that the true firstborn, even if from the unloved wife, should receive the inheritance rights.

Now, let's address the fact that this man has two wives. 

Various scholars have interesting comments on this. One says that we should not interpret God's legislation regarding the rights of sons born into polygamous families as approval of polygamy. 

Let me be clear, monogamy was God’s perfect will for us; He did not approve of polygamy but tolerated it in Israel without punishing it through civil procedures.

Similarly, God does not approve of divorce but allowed it in certain cases.

It helpful to note that God did not always feel compelled to comment on every sinful practice in Scripture whenever it occurred. This is especially true when people’s sins had relatively limited consequences. He did comment when sins involved the relationship to Himself and when they affected other people and the wider society. 

The husband in this passage is forbidden to follow his feelings and disregard the law. He must acknowledge the son of the unloved wife as the firstborn by giving him a double portion of all he has. 

The key point here is that the father's authority is not absolute. He must adhere to the law, ensuring the unloved son is treated with dignity and given his rights, which underscores the sanctity of life.

Next, we come to the case of a disobedient son, starting in verse 18: 

18 If someone has a stubborn and rebellious son who does not obey his father and mother and will not listen to them when they discipline him, 19 his father and mother shall take hold of him and bring him to the elders at the gate of his town. 20 They shall say to the elders, “This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious. He will not obey us. He is a glutton and a drunkard.” 21 Then all the men of his town are to stone him to death. You must purge the evil from among you. All Israel will hear of it and be afraid.

(Deuteronomy 21: 18-21)

This is a case of good parents having a bad son. Can good parents have bad children? Absolutely. 

The passage clearly states that the parents had treated all the children equally and they had disciplined the son when appropriate, but he remained rebellious. Verse 20 indicates a long history of rebellion, not just a single instance.

The parents were to take the son to the elders at the city gates, akin to taking him to City Hall where the elders conducted their business. 

This teaches that parents must prioritize their love for the Lord above their love for their children and follow God's directives.

This case of a rebellious unresponsive son demonstrate principles of justice and the sanctity of life. Even in complex family dynamics, God's laws ensured dignity and fairness.

So what are the men—the elders—supposed to do in this situation? 

Whoa! This is a really intense situation. If you are a rebellious child, the penalty is death. The original commandment was very clear: "Honour your father and your mother." 

In an extreme case of years of rebellion, drunkenness, and gluttony, ancient Israel was not to tolerate such behavior, and the son was to be stoned.

However, I should hasten to add that there is no record of this punishment actually being carried out. Several scholars and Bible authorities note that no evidence in the Bible or extra-biblical literature indicates this punishment was ever enacted. 

What is important here is that rejecting the authority of parents and the community affects the entire community.

The threat of this punishment served as a deterrent. Even if this punishment wasn’t carried out, just stating it and the possibility of the threat could act as a deterrent. I think that’s exactly what’s going on here. 

This passage supports the idea that anarchy in the home breeds anarchy in society, making this a serious matter. The ultimate authority rests with the community, not just the parents. It's an interesting concept.

Now, one more case, which I'll call "the unconventional death." Look at verse 22: 

If someone guilty of a capital offense is put to death and their body is exposed on a pole, you must not leave the body hanging on the pole overnight. Be sure to bury it that same day, because anyone who is hung on a pole is under God’s curse. You must not desecrate the land the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance.

(Deuteronomy 21: 22-23)

Notice this passage carefully. Hanging him on the tree is not the cause of death. He committed a crime worthy of death; you put him to death and then hang him on a tree.

In the previous case, the method of death was stoning. Hanging on a tree is different. So why hang him on a tree? Verse 23 explains.

The purpose of hanging him on a tree after death was to show that the person was cursed by God. Again, life is sacred and must be handled with care. 

If someone takes a life, under the Old Testament covenant they deserve for their life to be taken, and there needs to be public recognition of that as a deterrent for others. 

Hanging on a tree signifies being cursed by God. Even if you're not familiar with Deuteronomy, you might recognize this concept from the New Testament

We’ve covered a lot quickly today, but let me try and summarize.

In this chapter, God instructed the Israelites on how to handle unsolved murder, an unwanted wife, an unloved son, an unresponsive son, and a murderer. 

These five cases signpost on a practical level that life is sacred. 

This passage does not directly connect these five cases to creation in Genesis, but others have suggested, and I am suggesting, that the underlying principle is the value and sacredness of life, as outlined in the 6th commandment.

Human beings are created in the image of God, and therefore, human life is sacred. Communities also have a responsibility to address it seriously with the teaching here on dealing with unsolved murders.

An unwanted wife is to be treated with dignity and respect.

An unloved son still has rights. Rebellion against authority and murder are not to be tolerated, and those who commit such acts deserve punishment that serves as a deterrent.

So, the sacredness of life is a thread running through all these cases. 

The principle of being made in the image of God makes human life valuable and sacred, different from that of animals.

What struck me is this: "You shall not murder" is a very general principle revealed in the 6th commandment that underscores the sacredness of life. But what does that really mean when the rubber hots the road.

Obviously, it means you should not kill people in the sense of murder, but are there other practical ramifications? Because life is sacred, this principle applies to various situations, like seen here in unsolved murders, unwanted wives, unloved sons. These specific scenarios illustrate how the sacredness of life translates into practical, everyday situations.

In this passage, we see how a general principle can be broken down into specific, actionable guidelines. This is an interesting aspect of Scripture that deserves more thought.

Often, we find general principles in the Bible, but we are encouraged to meditate on these principles day and night. Part of that meditation involves thinking about how these principles apply in practical, everyday specific situations, and we’ve been given just five today.

Another NT example says, "Husbands, love your wives." 

What does that mean in practical terms? The only hint given in that passage is, "Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it." 

So, it seems I am to love my wife to the point of sacrificing myself for her. 

But what are the practical specifics of this kind of love that rise out of that principle?

To illustrate, let's look at the great chapter on love, 1 Corinthians 13. 

This chapter provides specifics on what love looks like. Go read it if you  have a moment, but to close today I would simply like to summarise what I think this famous passage teaches about love.

The Corinthians were envious and jealous, boastful, proud and arrogant, rude and self-seeking only looking to their own interests. Their behavior was not loving. 

Love does not deal with other people in a way that injures their dignity. It does not insist on having its own way, nor does it put one's own interests before the needs of others. It is not irritable or touchy.

Isn't this something to think about? Love is not easily provoked but absorbs offensive insults and inconveniences for the sake of others' welfare. 

Also, it does not keep a record of offenses; it does not pay back. Love takes no delight in evil or the misfortune of others but takes great pleasure in what is right. 

Love cannot share the glee of the successful sinner. Love absolutely rejects rejoicing over evil or gossiping about the misdeeds of others. It is not glad when someone else falls. 

Love stands on the side of the gospel and looks for mercy and justice for all, including those with whom one disagrees.

Christian love does not wish to conceal the truth; it is brave enough to face the truth. It does not rejoice in wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth.

Love covers unworthy things rather than bringing them to light and magnifying them. It puts up with everything and is always eager to believe the best.

Love believes all things and puts the most favourable construction on all our actions. It is always hopeful that those who have failed will not fail again, rather than concluding that failure is inevitable. It does not allow itself to become overwhelmed but perseveres steadfastly through difficult trials. It endures all things.

Do any of those phrases stick with you? 

These nuances get down to the nitty-gritty of what love looks like in practical terms. 

We talk about loving one another, but this passage, tells us what we should do about it practically.

So let us respect, acknowledge, and love humans because we are all made in the image of God.