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DEUTERONOMY
CHAPTER 24

1 When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house. 2 And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man's wife. 3 And if the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorcement, and giveth it in her hand, and sendeth her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, which took her to be his wife; 4 Her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before the LORD: and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.

This "thing" in America of marriage, divorce and remarriage creates emotional havoc in families. Children sometimes get the impression that it is their fault that Mom & Dad broke up. And adults carry emotional scars from bitter disagreements, not to speak of the strain it puts on the emotions of parents, grandparents and in-laws, etc.
This law was not given to begin or to endorse divorce. It was given only to regulate indecent behavior among sinful man (Matthew 19:7-9).
Divorce actually demonstrates a lack of commitment. Remember, love is not feelings, but a COMMITMENT to care. And that commitment includes even the worst of all circumstances, "for better or for worse."
The law God gives here is to restore a sense of commitment. Since men are so prone to see women as "chattel mortgage," we are brought face to face with God's statement that woman is a person and deserves respect. No longer can the man just throw her out, he must WRITE a declaration that he has divorced her. Now that makes the man admit to a lack of commitment! And it grants respect to the woman, allowing her to be married again.
Now verses 3-4 are a warning. Before a man divorces his wife, he needs to realize he cannot marry her again. THAT establishes a sense of LOSS, and requires the man to THINK.
Divorce goes directly against God's plan of one man and one woman for one lifetime.
Therefore, people should realize a sense of commitment. by the way, this lack of commitment in people's marriages bleeds over into partnerships, organizational employment, public servants, etc., etc.

5 When a man hath taken a new wife, he shall not go out to war, neither shall he be charged with any business: but he shall be free at home one year, and shall cheer up his wife which he hath taken.

Newly married couples need time together to work out the "kinks" in their marriage. Marriage is a commitment to cease being one's own person and commit to becoming the other person's PARTNER. While that should pose no loss in identity, it does pose a change from self to selflessness. ((Ephesians 5:22-33))

6 No man shall take the nether or the upper millstone to pledge: for he taketh a man's life to pledge.

Security for most loans is provided by collateral. For instance, if you build a house, the house itself becomes collateral for the loan. But you don't take a persons tools for earning his living as security for a loan. That would entice him to sin.

7 If a man be found stealing any of his brethren of the children of Israel, and maketh merchandise of him, or selleth him; then that thief shall die; and thou shalt put evil away from among you.

Kidnapping is a crime punishable by death. To take a person away from his life and then to sell him for profit is almost the same thing as murder. Notice God says this is "an evil" which needs to be put away. It is a disease which spreads, like leprosy.

8 Take heed in the plague of leprosy, that thou observe diligently, and do according to all that the priests the Levites shall teach you: as I commanded them, so ye shall observe to do. 9 Remember what the LORD thy God did unto Miriam by the way, after that ye were come forth out of Egypt.

Leprosy is a disease which spreads, and those who have it should be considerate of others. It is their charge to pay attention to all that the priests command them according to God's law (Leviticus 13).
God can HEAL!! He healed Miriam as an example. But her healing only came after paying attention to God and His law. She was "set aside" until God cleansed her.
Sin is a leprosy which spreads in the souls of men. And the ONLY WAY God will heal, is fi the sinner will do as God commands in His Word. And that is to "set aside" himself/herself as consecrated to God. Repentance begins with this COMMITMENT (Luke 9:23).

10 When thou dost lend thy brother any thing, thou shalt not go into his house to fetch his pledge. 11 Thou shalt stand abroad, and the man to whom thou dost lend shall bring out the pledge abroad unto thee.

If a man is poor and seeks a loan, then allow him to maintain his HONOR and SELF-RESPECT. If his commitment is not enough that he will BRING collateral, then don't make the loan.

12 And if the man be poor, thou shalt not sleep with his pledge: 13 In any case thou shalt deliver him the pledge again when the sun goeth down, that he may sleep in his own raiment, and bless thee: and it shall be righteousness unto thee before the LORD thy God.

A poor man may have only essentials. If he pledges his "cloak" (heavy over garment), don't keep it overnight. Let him have it at night to keep him warm. There must be a commitment on the part of the lender also. Those who borrow need freedom to work and earn the repayment.

14 Thou shalt not oppress an hired servant that is poor and needy, whether he be of thy brethren, or of thy strangers that are in thy land within thy gates: 15 At his day thou shalt give him his hire, neither shall the sun go down upon it; for he is poor, and setteth his heart upon it: lest he cry against thee unto the LORD, and it be sin unto thee.

Wen people work, they should be paid in timely fashion. To not pay them in timely fashion is to "oppress" them. And if the worker calls upon God, it will be counted as sin that God will recompense.

16 The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin.

Though parents are responsible for minors and damages can be assessed to parents, the death penalty must not be invoked upon the parent for the child. Each person must stand on his own when it comes to crimes which are punishable by death.

17 Thou shalt not pervert the judgment of the stranger, nor of the fatherless; nor take a widow's raiment to pledge: 18 But thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt, and the LORD thy God redeemed thee thence: therefore I command thee to do this thing.

Just because a man is poor, a widow or an orphan - doesn't mean that accontability for their treatment is nil. All are accountable to God for treatment of others. Poor people and widows and orphans deserve respectful treatment.
I believe God put this in His Word as definite WARNING. Be careful to be fair in treatment of these, because God will require an accounting to HIM one day.

19 When thou cuttest down thine harvest in thy field, and hast forgot a sheaf in the field, thou shalt not go again to fetch it: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow: that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hands. 20 When thou beatest thine olive tree, thou shalt not go over the boughs again: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow. 21 When thou gatherest the grapes of thy vineyard, thou shalt not glean it afterward: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow. 22 And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt: therefore I command thee to do this thing.

Jesus said, "..the poor always ye have with you." (John 12:28)
God is careful in His law to provide for them, and protect them. Some people are poor because they have no CHOICE in the matter.
Now I don't want anyone to get the wrong idea here and think that I am promoting a "health and wealth gospel." God NEVER promises that just because you follow His Word you'll be healthy or wealthy.
But God does promise that if we'll follow His Word we'll have a good understanding of finances and be better off as a result of that understanding.
Therefore, when He blesses us, we should care for the poor. (See Deuteronomy 15:7-10)

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