Jo’s Place

A Concern for Justice God’s instructions concerning justice continue, in the Book of Deuteronomy Chapter 19: verses 14–21 (in the NLT)… “When you arrive in the land, that the Lord, your God, is giving to you, as your special possession, you must never steal anyone’s land, by moving the boundary markers, that your ancestors set up , o mark their property.  “You must not convict anyone, of a crime, on the testimony of only one witness.  The facts, of the case, must be established, by the testimony, of two or three witnesses.  “If a malicious witness comes forward …and accuses someone of a crime, then both the accuser and accused must appear before the Lord, by coming to the priests and judges, in office at that time.  The judges must investigate the case thoroughly.  If the accuser has brought false charges, against his fellow Israelite, you must impose, on the accuser, the sentence he intended, for the other person.  In this way, you will purge such evil, fr...

Justice for the People “Appoint judges and officials, for yourselves, from each of your tribes, in all the towns, that the Lord your God is giving to you.  They must judge the people fairly.  You must never twist justice …or show partiality.  Never accept a bribe, for bribes blind the eyes of the wise …and corrupt the decisions of the godly.  Let true justice prevail, so you may live and occupy the land that the Lord your God is giving to you.  “You must never set up a wooden Asherah pole, beside the altar, that you build for the Lord your God.  And never set up sacred pillars, for worship, for the Lord your God hates them.  “Never sacrifice sick or defective cattle, sheep, or goats, to the Lord your God, for He detests such gifts.  “When you begin living in the towns, that the Lord your God is giving to you, a man or woman, living among you, might do evil, in the sight of the Lord your God …and violate the covenant.  For instance, they might...

​ An Example of Just Punishment One day, a man, who had an Israelite mother and an Egyptian father, came out of his tent and got into a fight with one of the Israelite men.  During the fight, this son, of an Israelite woman, blasphemed the Name of the Lord, with a curse.  So, the man was brought to Moses, for judgment.  His mother was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan.  They kept the man in custody until the Lord’s will, in the matter, should become clear to them.  Then the Lord said to Moses,  “Take the blasphemer outside the camp, and tell all those, who heard the curse, to lay their hands on his head.  Then let the entire community stone him to death.  Say, to the people of Israel: Those who curse their God will be punished, for their sin.  Anyone, who blasphemes the Name of the Lord, must be stoned to death, by the whole community of Israel.  Any native-born Israelite or foreigner, among you, who blasphemes the Na...

​ A Call for Justice (God continued His instructions to Moses, for the people of the covenant.)  “You must not pass along false rumors.  You must not cooperate with evil people by lying on the witness stand.  “You must not follow the crowd in doing wrong.  When you are called to testify in a dispute, do not be swayed by the crowd to twist justice.  And do not slant your testimony, in favor of a person, just because that person is poor.  “If you come upon your enemy’s ox or donkey, which has strayed away, take it back to its owner.  If you see that the donkey, of someone who hates you, has collapsed under its load, do not just walk by  (and do nothing) .  Instead, stop and help.  “In a lawsuit, you must not deny justice to the poor.  “Be sure never to charge anyone falsely with evil.  Never sentence an innocent or blameless person to death… for I never declare a guilty person to be innocent.  “Take no bribes, for a bribe ma...

“In that day,” says the Lord,  “I will be the God of all the families of Israel,  and they will be My people.   This is what the Lord says:  “Those who survive the coming destruction will find blessings even in the barren land, for I will give rest to the people of Israel.”  Long ago the Lord said to Israel:  “I have loved you, My people, with an everlasting love.  With unfailing love I have drawn you to Nyself.  I will rebuild you, my virgin Israel.  You will again be happy and dance merrily with your tambourines.  Again you will plant your vineyards on the mountains of Samaria and eat from your own gardens there.  The day will come when watchmen will shout from the hill country of Ephraim, ‘Come, let us go up to Jerusalem to worship the Lord our God.’ ”  Now this is what the Lord says:  “Sing with joy for Israel.  Shout for the greatest of nations!  Shout out with praise and joy:  ‘Save your people, O...