Principles in Moses' Law

            Deuteronomy 15-16 are good examples of the way that great principles underlie the Law of Moses.  Very often, the specifics of the Sinaitic regulations seem downright random, but here we have some pointers of meaning.  For example, Deuteronomy 14:1-2 at least offer this insight into the dietary regulations:  “You are sons of God, His treasured possession.”  Now this doesn’t really offer much insight into why the animals listed in vv. 3-20 are considered ‘abominations,’ but it does at least let us see that Israel’s distinctive diet was connected to their call to be God’s ‘peculiar’ people.  (We might sniff out some of the reasons that these animals are ‘abominable.’  The distinction in animals is especially about those that ‘cross type,’ that is, they look like one thing but act like another.  Fish with scales and fins are fish; everything else looks like a bottom-feeder.  The birds on the list are largely raptors and carrion-eaters.)  So Israel’s unique devotion to the Lord is reflected in their unique diet.

            A second principle underlying Moses’ law is the notion of trust.  First-fruit offerings, first-born animals, and tithes are given to the Lord.  Why?  Because the Lord provides.  The notion of a first-fruit tithe is a declaration, “The Lord gave the first portion; He will give more.”

            Third, merciful justice underlies the Law.  Regulations follow about the length of loans and the proper way to lend.  This includes regulation about lending to the poor, even when the Sabbath year is near:  mercy entails making the loan; justice means that the loan can’t be given to dominate the poor.  Indeed, even those who enter into servitude aren’t kept forever; they are released in the seventh year, too.  Now, this is all pretty out of step with modern economic realities.  Our economic system is based on the idea of expanding capital through the use of interest:  I place my money in the bank, letting them use it.  They loan it to an entity for interest.  I get some of that interest back as a return on my investment.  Growth of capital is huge in our system.  The good news is that no one expects that modern economies will function on the basis of Deuteronomic principles (see Thursday’s post).  But there is application here:  using our personal resources for merciful justice, understanding the bondage that too much debt can cause us, and investing wisely—avoiding banks or corporation with a reputation for predatory behavior and encouraging, through our investment, merciful justice, as well.