Setting - Moses provides many commandments for Israel. The main instructions in the chapter addressed the assembly of the Lord and purity of the army camp, because the Lord (v. 14) “…walks in the midst of the camp…”
Multiple of commandments are brought up regarding having of an escaped slave, prostitution, who to charge for interest, vows and eating of your neighbors grapes and wheat.
Content – God wanted purity for His assembly. And the exclusion of emasculated men (a pagan act), illegitimate births (showing the importance of the sanctity of marriage) and no Ammorite or Moabite (due to their hostility toward Israel) (v 4.), “…because they did not meet you with food and water on the way when you came out of Egypt, and because they hired against you Balaam the son of Beor from Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse you.” But Egyptians showed favor toward Israel (MacArthur points to Ex. 12.36, but I see that the favor was prior to that with Joseph and how Pharaoh was generous to Joseph’s family).
God has had rules regarding purity of the camp when Israel went to war. Verse 14 says it all, "Since the LORD your God walks in the midst of your camp to deliver you and to defeat your enemies before you, therefore your camp must be holy; and He must not see anything indecent among you or He will turn away from you."
He also brings up other commandments. The one that stands out is how Israel wasn’t to charge interest to their countrymen, but they could to foreigners. This applied to money, food or anything.
The other one, is not delaying to fulfill your vow to the Lord (v. 21), "When you make a vow to the LORD your God, you shall not delay to pay it, for it would be sin in you, and the LORD your God will surely require it of you.” Verse 23 states it well, “You shall be careful to perform what goes out from your lips…”
Application – God doesn’t dwell in areas where sin exists. Since God and sin can’t reside in the same area, God outlines specific requirements to Israel in where they are to keep them and the area (army camp) pure. This applies to ourselves and our home and where we as Christians assemble (e.g. church). Under the new covenant, the Holy Spirit (i.e. God) dwells within us. As 1 Cor. 6:19 states, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?” As well as our home, Joshua 24:15, "As For Me And My House We Will Serve the Lord."
Multiple of commandments are brought up regarding having of an escaped slave, prostitution, who to charge for interest, vows and eating of your neighbors grapes and wheat.
Content – God wanted purity for His assembly. And the exclusion of emasculated men (a pagan act), illegitimate births (showing the importance of the sanctity of marriage) and no Ammorite or Moabite (due to their hostility toward Israel) (v 4.), “…because they did not meet you with food and water on the way when you came out of Egypt, and because they hired against you Balaam the son of Beor from Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse you.” But Egyptians showed favor toward Israel (MacArthur points to Ex. 12.36, but I see that the favor was prior to that with Joseph and how Pharaoh was generous to Joseph’s family).
God has had rules regarding purity of the camp when Israel went to war. Verse 14 says it all, "Since the LORD your God walks in the midst of your camp to deliver you and to defeat your enemies before you, therefore your camp must be holy; and He must not see anything indecent among you or He will turn away from you."
He also brings up other commandments. The one that stands out is how Israel wasn’t to charge interest to their countrymen, but they could to foreigners. This applied to money, food or anything.
The other one, is not delaying to fulfill your vow to the Lord (v. 21), "When you make a vow to the LORD your God, you shall not delay to pay it, for it would be sin in you, and the LORD your God will surely require it of you.” Verse 23 states it well, “You shall be careful to perform what goes out from your lips…”
Application – God doesn’t dwell in areas where sin exists. Since God and sin can’t reside in the same area, God outlines specific requirements to Israel in where they are to keep them and the area (army camp) pure. This applies to ourselves and our home and where we as Christians assemble (e.g. church). Under the new covenant, the Holy Spirit (i.e. God) dwells within us. As 1 Cor. 6:19 states, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?” As well as our home, Joshua 24:15, "As For Me And My House We Will Serve the Lord."
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