Have you ever run across a person who tries to prove something to you, by quoting one Bible verse? As a Bible teacher, I hear it constantly. Someone will point to a text and say, “See, it says it right here!” But the Scriptures deserve to be weighed beyond one verse. Especially when it comes to laws that affect the lives of people. Misquotes and misunderstandings can cause a good deal of pain or confusion.
As to be expected, many of the laws in the study of Ke Tetse are pretty straightforward. But occasionally, we run across one that is hard to understand. Should we take it at face value? Typically, these “hard to understand laws” point to something much deeper in the areas of prophecy, Messiah, or evangelism.
One of the texts pointed out to me this week was the law of a captive woman found in Deuteronomy 21:10-11. It was used to justify actions to marry.
“When you go out to battle against your enemies, and the Lord your God delivers them into your hands, and you take them away captive, and see among the captives a beautiful woman and have a desire for her and would take her as a wife for yourself.”
At first glance, this text sounds rather, “Me Tarzan, you Jane.” But is it? To understand we must look at the entire context found back in Chapter 20, where Yahweh gives instructions for battle. Here we find that Yah distinguishes between cities that surrender to Israel and those that do not. For the ones that do not, Yahweh instructs Israel to only kill the men, which of course allows the women and children to be taken. Yahweh also tells Israel which cities that must be destroyed due to their corruption. This would include killing men, women, and children.
Within these instructions, is it possible to see an “end of days” scenario? Those who surrender or convert to the Kingship of Yeshua will work within His Kingdom. If the heads of the household (the men) do not surrender, then a new household will be put in place. For those who stand against Yeshua the Messiah, utter destruction will come their way. (Zechariah 14)
How does this relate to us today in the concepts of marriage and taking a wife? The text being used in Chapter 21 first refers to a single man who does not have a wife. The role of a single man is to care for his wife, cover her, and instruct his new bride in the ways of the Messiah even if she is not a believer.
However, if you are not pleased with her (meaning she does not come under the ways of YHWH) then you are to set her free in a way that honors her (1 Corinthians 7). Why? Because the husband shared the good news of Israel (the seed) with her.
“Fear not, for you will not be put to shame;
And do not feel humiliated, for you will not be disgraced;
But you will forget the shame of your youth,
And no longer remember the disgrace of your widowhood.
5 For your husband is your Maker,
Whose name is the Lord of armies;
And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel,
Who is called the God of all the earth?
6 For the Lord has called you,
Like a wife forsaken and grieved in spirit,
Even like a wife of one’s youth when she is rejected,”
Says your God. Isaiah 54: 4-6
As the text moves on, we see a second part of the instruction. But this time it deals with a man already married, “If a man has two wives the one loved and the other unloved” and both produce a son, the inheritance shall go two-fold to the firstborn son from the unloved wife (the original and first wife).
Let this sink in. A married man sees a woman that needs to be covered or protected. But his primary motive is based out of desire. In this instance, YHWH works in man’s sinful state and reminds the man that he will still need to honor the first wife, the one to whom he paid his original vow. Yah doesn’t justify polygamy in this text but seeks to work within our lives and the choices we make. This example is given through the story of Jacob, Leah, and Rachel. Leah maintained the honor and rights of the first wife through the firstborn named Rueben who was set to receive the double inheritance. However, due to Rueben’s disregard for his father’s bed, the inheritance was lost. Later, Leah was still given the honor of being buried alongside Jacob.
According to the law of Moses, we are to have people in place that judge or represent 10s, 100s, and 1000s (Exodus 18:21). Yahweh created us with a mind that seeks out guidelines that are well thought out or discussed, not edicts that bind people in fear and confusion. Naturally, some of these controversial laws need to be measured and weighed according to a person’s intent. Thank goodness for judges who dare to be righteous.
“See I have set before you today life and prosperity, and death and adversity; in that I command you today to love the Lord your God to walk in His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments that you may live . . .”
Deuteronomy 30:15-20
The word ‘Torah’ is the Hebrew word for teaching or direction for life. The “laws” were given to His people for their benefit and spiritual well-being. Of course, within this particular study, there are many laws given to the people for a variety of reasons. Here are just a few that can easily apply to us today.
Personal responsibility commands:
Don’t blame someone else for your sin–24:1
Clean up after yourself so your stink doesn’t affect others–23:13
Seek God’s prosperity over the world’s–23:6
Be careful about what comes out of your mouth, especially a vow–23:21-23
Build a home railing on your roof so visitors don’t fall off–22:8
Commands to support your family:
Don’t fight your husband’s battles–25:11
Don’t bring embarrassment or shame to your family by rebelliousness, prostitution, or false claims– 21:18 & 22:17, 18 & 23:17,18
Accept your gender, not someone else’s gender–22:5
Honor the family name–25:5
Commands for the community:
Don’t delay in paying wages to those you hired—24:15
Give justice to the alien, widow, orphan–24:17
Be willing to give up a few things to help others—24:19-22
Be respectful of what is holy—23:1-5
Let your loans be loans rather than an opportunity to take or make a profit—
24:10-14
When you look at these pictures this week, I want to encourage you to look beyond the surface. Is Yah giving these commands to appease basic human needs or is Yah giving us some sort of insight into how we are to treat others when we go out into a world of battle? Is He giving us a picture of what Messiah does or is doing? Is He just reminding us of how to be righteous (notice I am not saying how to be holy, for no man is holy)? Is He giving us a prophetic word so we can prepare for future battles? What are we being asked to do and can we handle His request to treat others with dignity? At the same time, are we willing to pray for Yah’s judgment against those who have sold their soul and spirit to other gods with no desire to repent?
If we are a holy priesthood and bring someone into the Kingdom, what will they see from us, that will make them desire the holy fruit of that kingdom? Will we allow them to mourn over their past life to live a new life? Will we be the “husband” of restoration or the “husband” of death?
Be blessed,
Rollyn