LESSON 22
ADDITIONAL JUDGMENTS
By E. L. Bynum, Pastor
Memory Verse: Exodus 22:1 (N.W. 23:20)————Lesson: Exodus 22:1-31
I. JUDGMENTS I N REGARD TO PROPERTY. v. 1-15
A. Judgments Concerning Theft. v. 1-4
1. Restitution for selling or killing an ox or sheep. v. 1 . It took more boldness to steal an ox, so the penalty was greater.
a. Adultery is considered to be thievery. Consider these Scriptures and read the context. II Sam. 11:2-3, And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon. And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite? II Sam. 12:6, And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.
b. David had to pay fourfold, the baby died, Amon and Absalom slain, and Tamar raped. II Sam. 12:15-13:33; 18:1-8
c. Zaccheus made a promise to repay. Luke 19:8, And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.
2. A man's right to protect himself and his possessions. v. 2. Liberals tell us, that we should not be armed, but they are wrong.
3. Restitution to be made by the thief. v. 3. There was a difference in whether it was stolen at night rather than the day.
4. Restitution to be made or the thief to be sold as a servant. v. 3
5. Double restitution if the animal was alive. v. 4. It is sad that our criminal justice system does little to force thieves to make restitution.
B. Judgments Concerning Trespass. v. 5-6
1. Restitution for damage done to crops. v. 5
a. The property boundaries by piles of rocks, not by fences, so animals had to be guarded to keep them from eating another man's crop. Deut. 19:14, Thou shalt not remove thy neighbour's landmark, which they of old time have set in thine inheritance, which thou shalt inherit in the land that the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it. Prov. 22:28, Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.
b. The danger today comes from those who would remove the ancient landmarks of Bible doctrine.
2. Restitution for damage by fire. v. 6. It was not enough to just say, I am sorry.
C. Judgments Concerning A Trust. v. 7-13
1. Restitution for things held in trust. v. 7-8
a. By the thief v. 7
b. By the trustee. v. 8
2. Judges to decide disputed matters. v. 9
3. Responsibility for animals kept in true. v. 10-13
a. The death or disappearance of an animal. v. 10-11
b. Restitution to be made if it is stolen. v. 12
c. If torn by a wild beast, the pieces must be delivered as evidence. v. 13
D . Judgments Concerning Borrowed Things. v . 14-15
1. Restitution to be made if the owner was absent. v. 14
2. No restitution if the owner was present. v. 15. We need to learn and do what is right, not just the law of our land says.
II. JUDGMENTS IN REGARD TO HUMAN RIGHTS
A. Judgments Concerning Immoralities. v. 16-20
1. Seducing a maid who was not betrothed. v. 16. The Hebrew word for seduce means, "entice, deceive, persuade, flatter, allure."
a. He was to pay her father and marry her. v . 16. She did not have to be pregnant, but they were to marry if they committed fornication. Deut.22:28-29, If a man find a damsel that is a virgin, which is not betrothed, and lay hold on her, and lie with her, and they be found; Then the man that lay with her shall give unto the damsel's father fifty shekels of silver, and she shall be his wife; because he hath humbled her, he may not put her away all his days.
b. If she was betrothed it was far more serious. Deut. 22:23-27, If a damsel that is a virgin be betrothed unto an husband, and a man find her in the city, and lie with her; Then ye shall bring them both out unto the gate of that city, and ye shall stone them with stones that they die; the damsel, because she cried not, being in the city; and the man, because he hath humbled his neighbour's wife: so thou shalt put away evil from among you. But if a man find a betrothed damsel in the field, and the man force her, and lie with her: then the man only that lay with her shall die: But unto the damsel thou shalt do nothing; there is in the damsel no sin worthy of death: for as when a man riseth against his neighbour, and slayeth him, even so is this matter: For he found her in the field, and the betrothed damsel cried, and there was none to save her.
2. If her father refused to let her marry, the guilty man was to endow her with a proper dowry. v. 17
3. Witchcraft punishable by death. v. 18. Deut. 18:9-14; Isa. 47:12-14; Lev. 20:6, And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people. Gal. 5:19-21, Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft... that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
4. Beastiality punishable by death. v. 19. Lev. 18:23, Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion. Lev. 20:16, And if a woman approach unto any beast, and lie down thereto, thou shalt kill the woman, and the beast: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
5. Sacrifice to other gods forbidden. v. 20. Ex. 20:3-5; Ex. 23:13; Deut. 4:12-24
B. Judgments Concerning Oppression. v. 21-28
1. Protection of foreigners. v. 21
2. Widows and orphans protected. v. 22-24. Deut. 26:12, When thou hast made an end of tithing all the tithes of thine increase the third year, which is the year of tithing, and hast given it unto the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within thy gates, and be filled. Deut. 27:19, Cursed be he that perverteth the judgment of the stranger, fatherless, and widow. And all the people shall say, Amen. James 1:27, Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
3. Protection for the poor. v. 25-27
a. God's Word on interest (usury). v . 25. Lev. 25:35-37; Neh. 5:3-10
(1) This refers to protection for the poor. Since most of those who would desire to borrow were the poor, they are protected. Prov. 28:8, He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor.
(2) The Bible does not forbid usury (interest), unless it be the unkind treatment of the poor. Matt. 25:27, Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and [then] at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
b. Raiment held as security to be returned before night. v. 26-27
4. Blasphemy and the cursing of rulers forbidden. v. 28. Prov. 24:21, My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change. I Pet. 2:17, Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king. Ex. 7:1; Psa. 82:6; John 10:34-35
C. Judgments Concerning Offerings To God. v. 29-31
1. Firstfruits to be offered without delay. v. 29. "Liquors" in v. 29 is translated from the Hebrew word "dema`," and it simply means "juice." Prov. 3:9-10, Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
2. Firstborn sons to be brought without delay. v. 29. Ex. 13:2, Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine. Ex. 13:12, That thou shalt set apart unto the LORD all that openeth the matrix, and every firstling that cometh of a beast which thou hast; the males shall be the LORD'S. The Christian is a kind of firstfruits, thus each one belongs to the Lord. James 1:18, Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
3. Firstlings of the flock to be offered without delay. v. 30
4. Contaminated flesh to be destroyed. v. 31. This is because God's people are to be a holy people. Lev. 19:2, Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy. I Pet. 1:15-16, But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
LESSONS: Our modern generation did not invent human rights. God was concerned about the rights of others long before man was greatly concerned. Property rights were secured under the Law. Communism would like to destroy the individuals right to property, but they are wrong. If property rights are denied, then we can be sure that human rights will soon be a thing of the past.
—by E. L. Bynum
STUDY QUESTIONS
1. Why was the restitution greater for stealing and selling an ox, than for a sheep.
2. Why was there a different law in regard to protecting ones home and possessions at night than in the day time?
3. What happened to the thief, if he could not make restitution for what he had stolen?
4. If a man was placed in charge of another's animal, what happened if it was killed by a beast?
5. Why was the father to be paid a dowry?
6. What was the penalty for practicing witchcraft?
7. How were the Israelites to treat foreigners who were in their midst?
8. What is usury and why was it forbidden?
9. If a man's clothes were left as a pledge, when were they to be returned to him?
10. What was to be done with flesh that had been torn by beasts?
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