Deuteronomy 21 & 22: THE FIRSTBORN
Verse of the Day: (21:17) But he shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the firstborn, by giving him a double portion of all that he hath: for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn is his.
1. Forgive (21:1-14)
Be merciful, O LORD, unto thy people Israel, whom thou hast redeemed, and lay not innocent blood unto thy people of Israel’s charge. And the blood shall be forgiven them. (21:8)
God is fair and just, and He shall vindicate the innocent. God commanded Israel that the elders and the priests of the city that was nearest to the corpse found on their land, offered a heifer, that had never laboured the field, for the slain, and then they would investigate the cause of his death. Even though God knew who the murderer was, yet He was testing the faith and obedience of Israel. God knows our secret sins, and let us therefore confess and forsake them, and He shall forgive us, and purify us, for His glory. (1 John 1:9-10)
2. Firstborn (21:15-21)
Then it shall be, when he maketh his sons to inherit that which he hath, that ne may not make the son of the beloved firstborn before the son of the hated, which is indeed the firstborn: (21:16)
God is not a respecter of persons. God commanded Israel that their fathers must give double portions of their inheritance to their firstborns, even though they hated them. This was God’s law to protect and honour the firstborns. Indeed, God shall richly bless us when we show no favouritism, but treat everyone equally, and obey Him. (Acts 10:34-35)
3. Father (22:1-30)
And the damsel’s father shall say unto the elders, I gave my daughter unto this man to wife, and he hateth her; (22:16)
One of God’s Ten Commandments, and the only one with a promise, is that we shall have longevity when we honour our parents. Indeed, parents are from God and they are our authority. Though they may not be perfect and godly parents, we must still obey them unless they are unreasonable and evil. God commanded Israel of how they must love others and their properties and never to commit dishonest or wicked deeds. One of the commands was concerning marriage, and unless the wife had committed fornication, the only reason for divorce, the father of the wife must protect her from her husband’s false accusation. This was not only to protect the innocence of his daughter, but also to make sure that her reputation was honoured. Children, let us honour and respect our parents as they raise us up for God’s glory. Let us, as parents, love and raise our children in God’s way, so that they shall know Him, and make Him known to others. (Ephesians 6:1-4)
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that You are the Firstborn, my Saviour, who died for me.
