# 05 2025 Dev. Ex.23:4. Do Good! Read all of chapter twenty three first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s Story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.
Vs.4. ‘If you come across your enemy’s ox or donkey wandering off, be sure to return it.
”Ex.23. Chapter 21 expands on the fifth and sixth commandments. This is based on the culture of the time; parents are to be respected, people were bought and sold as slaves, murder and accidents are covered. Ch.22 expands on the eighth commandment as well as aspects of the seventh and the tenth commandments. Ch.23 expands on the ninth commandment and how to treat a neighbor. Also, there are rules pertaining specifically to Jewish life.
Vs.1-9. “Laws of Justice and Mercy- Do not spread false reports…Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong.” Do good to your neighbor and your enemy. “Do not deny justice to your poor people in their lawsuits. Do not accept a bribe…Do not oppress a foreigner”. These are common sense laws, they promote goodness, righteousness and peace.
Vs.10-19. Sabbath Laws and Annual Festivals. “Six days do your work, but on the seventh day do not work, so that your ox and your donkey may rest, and so that the slave born in your household and the foreigner living among you may be refreshed.” This is practiced by many countries, many people work five days a week, not for religious reasons but for health reasons. There is good reason to rest based theological reasons; God rested the seventh day of creation but more importantly, the sabbath reflects “God’s rest” extended to followers of Jesus in the New Heaven and the New Earth.
“The Three Annual Festivals”- Passover, The Festival of the Harvest, first fruits also called Pentecost because it is celebrated 50 days after passover and the Festival of Booths. These Festivals required a pilgrimage to the Temple in Jerusalem. Today they are celebrated where ever a Jewish family lives. Christians also celebrate Pentecost, the giving of the Holy Spirit, fifty days after Easter.
Vs. 20-33. “See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared.’ Here God reestablishes the Covenant made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. This angel is the Spirit of Christ, preparing the way ahead of you. “Worship the Lord your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you, and none will miscarry or be barren in your land. I will give you a full life span.”This is God’s promise to his people and that promise is to us as well, the Spirit of Christ is with us and by Him Christ walks with us. Praise be to God!
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Heavenhigh 