MAINTAINING ORDER. Deuteronomy 21 In communities and families within those communities, there is an order that must be maintained for the well-being and safety of everyone who lives there. The Lord knew that situations would arise requiring difficult decisions. Due to human nature and sin, we will face issues that are not simply clear-cut "black and white" matters. The grey areas of life can leave us uncertain about how to proceed—how to avoid ignoring what is wrong while also keeping a peaceful, orderly society. The instructions God gave Moses to pass on to His people outline specific principles that guide us.
Death had swept through the community when a murder was committed and blood was shed. A person's life was deliberately taken. The identity of the perpetrator and the cause remain unknown. Elders, judges, and priests are summoned because the incident occurred near their homes. A decision must be made even though the murderer is unidentified. The blood of the innocent victim must be atoned for. The God-given procedure must be followed correctly. They slowly descend into the rough valley of death. Priests draw near to God on behalf of the people, one of whom is guilty, but the impact of his actions affects the entire community. To remove the guilt, substitutionary blood must be shed. The watchers need to see that their substitute is dead.
In Israel, if someone was murdered and the murderer was not found, the entire nation was held responsible. A unique sacrifice had to be made on behalf of all the people. The guilt of the murdered person was placed on them all until an innocent substitute was sacrificed for them. The land needed to be cleansed of the guilt of murder because the blood of the victim “cried from the ground.” The unplowed ground might have symbolized the fact that the field was useless as a result of murder. The flowing water near the fallow ground would symbolize cleansing from the guilt for the shed blood that had gone into the ground.
A nation, a community, and an assembly must have an active social conscience about what happens there. What affects one person in that group affects everyone. It is wrong for us to turn our backs and say we are not involved in what happens to a member of an identifiable group of which we are a part. Even publicly acknowledging that a wrong action has been addressed effectively reminds everyone that God sees and knows what happens among us. He will judge the unknown perpetrator who has escaped because He knows who they are. Their sin will find them out even if we do not.
An unresolved crime, especially murder, makes almost everyone in a community uneasy. If not addressed, there will likely be resistance from those in authority. It is expected that some action will be taken to fix the situation, even if the root of the problem remains unknown. The example of the young heifer taken down into a rough valley where a flowing stream is present suggests that some action was taken on behalf of the nearby community, even though the perpetrator of the crime was not found.
The action they took in Israel was to acknowledge that only God knew the answer to the problem, and they entrusted the whole matter to God's care through the sacrifice they made. When those in authority fail to address a wrong or pass judgment on a potentially divisive situation, God's people can be distracted from the goal and blessings of a well-ordered assembly.
The clean animal was led down into the valley onto land that had never been used and must be slain there so its innocent blood would soak into that ground that is still the way God made it at creation. This entire act puts the matter into God’s hands because He alone knows all about every part of the murder.
Similarly, it happened to God’s Perfect Lamb. He was taken and tested to find fault, yet He was found perfect in holiness and willingly bore our sin and shame on His own body on the cross. Those who have eyes of faith can see the Shepherd who has died for the flock, and we are safe in the fold. Up from the rough valley of death, our Lord Jesus Christ has come, and the story can be told that grace has dealt with guilt through the shedding of blood.
All of God's people need to be aware of what might be causing a problem, and those who are spiritually mature must take responsibility to resolve it. "When one member suffers, all suffer with it." We cannot dismiss our duty to others by saying, "I don't want anything to do with this problem." We are part of the situation whether we like it or not.
Anything that arises among God's people that impacts them spiritually, morally, socially, or physically requires our attention. Sometimes, a clear answer may elude us, and we must leave a matter unresolved to everyone's satisfaction. The key point is that we have done everything we can, carefully and thoroughly. Afterward, we must entrust the entire matter to our omniscient God, who knows what we do not, and can do what we cannot. Additionally, a public announcement or prayer to God's people can help others understand that we have done all we know to address the problem.
Another issue the Israelites needed to learn was respect for one another and for outsiders who enter their lives. When a man married a woman from a different ethnic background, he was responsible for helping her adapt to her new environment, rather than expecting her to hold onto her original cultural customs. Her hairstyle and fingernails often reflected her place of origin and religion. To maintain order among God's people, she had to leave her past lifestyle behind and conform to her new surroundings and her husband's ways. A multicultural community of believers, each clinging to their own culture, was not what God intended. He unites “one” out of many. We are “one body in the Lord.”
It is difficult for us, in this day of grace, who have a Christian conscience, to understand what we see as a very unfair practice. In ancient times, and likely still in some places around the world, polygamy and similar practices were permitted by God to continue because of the hardness of human hearts. God does not promote or approve of polygamy, divorce, or other social failures but allows them without imposing the death penalty immediately because of His mercy and patience. If someone refuses to submit to the biblical changes needed to follow the pattern of life God expects, they are allowed to go their own way without immediate punishment. They will have to live with the consequences of their choices.
Partiality based on personal likes or dislikes is not permitted among God's people. Showing favoritism causes division within the community of believers. When someone is part of a fellowship of saints, the rights and privileges of God's family belong equally to every individual. "God is no respecter of persons," and to keep order in the family, we must avoid anything that would belittle one person and elevate another. Personal inheritance rights in families, marriages, assemblies, or nations are not determined by the personal opinions of those who distribute privileges or property. Instead, such rights are based on the individual's position and identity, not on the administrator's discretion.
Regardless of whether the mother of an Israelite man’s firstborn was his favorite wife or not, that son inherited the family’s leadership role. He received a double portion of the inheritance, while the other children received a single portion. Favoritism toward a favorite wife did not override the firstborn’s birthright. Despite a person’s personality or position, certain established principles remained in place.
Respect for parents by their children was one of those things that were required. Disrespect for one’s parents and refusing to obey them was considered a serious offense in Israel. If such behavior persisted, it had to be addressed publicly. The reason appeared to be that if disrespect was tolerated and disobedience went unpunished, rebellion might follow, which could impact the entire society. Rejecting and continuously resisting parental authority could even lead to capital punishment.
The potential danger of disrespect and rebellion was so severe that the body of someone executed for that crime was publicly displayed. This served as an example to others, acting as a public display of contempt for anyone who defies those who love and care for him. That law probably had a positive effect on the people because we never read about it being enforced in the Bible.
Disrespect is easy for others to notice, which can lead to a rebellious attitude with public consequences. Some people resist and rebel against authority despite the need for order to benefit everyone. To some, stubbornness is just a difficult personality trait. In God's view, rebellion is comparable to the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness to iniquity and idolatry. One person's attitude can have a harmful effect if it is rebellious or a positive one if it is gracious and godly.
A heretic is a self-opinionated individual who believes he is right and expects others to accept him as he is and conform to his ideas. "A heretic after the first and second admonition, reject." When someone resists the disciplined life required in a society—whether it be a nation, a city, a Christian assembly, or even a family—the order necessary to prevent chaotic discontent is lacking. That person will need to be disciplined in some manner to preserve order.
Capital crimes today receive extensive media coverage, and anyone seeking gruesome details can find them. This has led to some "copy-cat" crimes carried out by individuals seeking notoriety or attention. God's way is to address the problem legally and swiftly. Don't leave issues lingering for gossip. Act as necessary to uphold the law and resolve the matter quickly.
When events and/or sins are made public and exposed, the problem will still lead to unnecessary talk and speculation. Orderly living emphasizes that which keeps society functioning in the most helpful and contented way possible. The lives of families and groups depend on those responsible for others' well-being, based on their maturity and experience in maintaining order. This can and should be done in a gracious, spiritual manner.