Exodus 21_23-36      I've Got Rights

Rev. David Holwick  ZE                                 Exodus series, #13

First Baptist Church

Ledgewood, New Jersey

September 27, 2009

Exodus 21:23-36


I'VE GOT RIGHTS!



  I. We love rights.

      A. And we want them now.


         From David Heller's book on letters kids write to God:


         Big G,

         I have only one request:  MORE RIGHTS FOR NINE-YEAR-OLDS.

         I am sick of hearing, wait till you're ten.

            George, age 9

                                                                    #2133

          1) We see rights as privileges that no one can infringe upon.


             And we'll fight for them!


             The headline alone is attention-getting: "Woman Arrested for

                Using Air Freshener".

             The parties were not named, but a woman called police

                because a neighbor objected to her smoking.

             And the neighbor objected very forcefully - she sprayed

                the back of the woman's head with air freshener for

                   almost a full minute.

             (Glade Potpourri brand, if you must know).


             The assailant allegedly said, "I will do it again, and take

                it to the Supreme Court because I have the right to

                   breathe fresh air," the police report said.

             Officers arrested her for battery.


             The town in Florida?  Niceville.

                                                                   #36019


          2) It is better to see rights as obligations.

              a) For people to get along in society, we must follow

                    some rules.

              b) While societies change, the principles remain

                    surprisingly constant.



      B. God gets into the details.

          1) The Ten Commandments covered the broad areas of life.

          2) These commandments expand the principles to everyday issues.

              a) This sermon will look into some of them.


II. Everyone has rights.

      A. All human life has worth.

          1) According to Genesis, it is grounded in the image of God.

              a) Animals also have worth, but humans are worth more.

              b) Even enslaved humans have worth, and therefore rights.

          2) Those who harm that life must be punished.


      B. The special issue of slavery.

          1) It was a pre-existing institution - Moses did not invent it.

              a) It goes back to ancient times.

                  1> War and economic distress created most slaves.

                  2> According to 22:3, thieves could be sold to repay

                        their victims.

              b) However, God's law sought to moderate the effects of

                    slavery.

          2) Limits on slavery in Old Testament.

              a) Was limited in time (at least for Jewish slaves).

                  1> Seven years maximum, then liberation.

                  2> Only for lifetime if slave wanted it.           21:6

              b) There are requirements for humane treatment.

                  1> Masters who abuse slaves are punished.

                  2> Punishment that resulted in serious injury led to

                        the slave's freedom.

              c) The situation for women was a special concern.      21:7

                  1> Women who became concubines were protected.

                      A> If the owner did not like her, she was bought

                            back.

                      B> If she was for his son, he had to treat her as a

                            daughter.

                      C> If owner married another woman, the concubine

                            was guaranteed continued support.


                       2> If the owner defaulted in these areas, she went free.

                      A> Jews seemed to have a preference for freedom!


III. Every crime bears a penalty.

      A. Death penalty for serious crimes.

          1) Intentional murder.                                    21:12

              a) No mercy, not even in God's sanctuary.             21:14

              b) But provision is made for accidents.               21:13

          2) Attacks on parents.                                    21:15

              a) Even verbal attacks!                               21:17

          3) Kidnapping.                                            21:16

          4) Abortion?                                              21:22

              a) There is a question whether the passage describes

                    premature delivery or miscarriage.

              b) Liberals prefer miscarriage and note that the

                    mother's life is valued but the child is not.

              c) Conservatives say the language supports a normal birth.

                  1> If the child, or mother, is killed, the attacker

                        is killed.

                  2> If the child, or mother, is injured, a payment

                        must be made.

          5) Negligence.                                            21:29

              a) Being aware of a dangerous situation, and doing

                    nothing about it, was same as murder.

              b) Not putting a barrier around an open pit, or having

                    an animal prone to violence made you responsible.


      B. Kind-for-kind punishment.  (lex talionis)                  21:23

          1) This is often seen as a very primitive feature.

              a) Taken literally, thieves' hands would be cut off,

                    like the Muslim do.

              b) However, you never find this in the Bible.

          2) For Jews, it was a principle of fair punishment.

              a) Previously, the rich simply paid a fine to escape

                    punishment.

              b) "Eye for an eye" meant that everyone's eyes were

                    equal.

                  1> Weak members of society were protected, too.

                  2> All had equality before the law from acts of

                        physical violence.

          3) It was also a principle of moderate punishment.

              a) Human revenge tends toward extremism.       Gen 4:23


                   In Genesis, a man named Lamech killed a man

                      for wounding him, and bragged about it.

                   He said he would dish out 77-fold retribution.

              b) "Eye for an eye" put a limit on retaliation.


      C. Compensation in place of life.                             21:30

          1) In matters of injury, compensation was normal.

              a) They even paid for medical care and lost time! 21:19

              b) Later Jews widened this principle to cover most

                    punishment.

          2) Even death penalty could be satisfied with a payment.  21:30

              a) This seems to be limited to deaths caused by negligence.

              b) Usually, the Bible states that redemption for life

                    requires blood, not ransom.

                  1> In any case, the animal who kills is slaughtered.


IV. Understandable problems with God's law.

      A. These laws reflect an ancient agrarian society.

          1) They lived hard lives of basic survival.

          2) Their families were large and their villages small.

          3) Many of their experiences don't apply to our situation.

              a) However, the underlying principles are still valid.


      B. Some of the laws reflect odious practices.

          1) Slavery is chief among them.

              a) Slaves were considered property.                   21:21

                  1> If they were killed, lex talionis did not apply.

                  2> Their value was limited to their price.

                      A> 30 pieces of silver.

              b) No punishment for beating, unless permanently injured.

                  1> Harsh discipline was considered acceptable.

                  2> But in the ancient world, most slaves had no rights.

                      A> Owners had no restrictions.

                      B> Nevertheless, is being a little better good enough?

          2) Forced marriage seems cruel.

              a) Notice that a daughter could be sold by her father.

              b) Even with the legal limits placed on the arrangement,

                    this does not seem acceptable to us.

          3) Should so many crimes have the death penalty?

              a) Where is the prospect of redemption?

              b) David murdered and Paul was a violent man, but God

                    used both of them in a mighty way.


  V. There is evidence of progressive revelation.

      A. God reveals his character to us gradually, over time.

          1) There is more grace and less harshness.

          2) The old laws must be reinterpreted.


      B. Many notice this in comparing the Old and New Testaments.

          1) Jesus forgives sinners and prays for his enemies.

          2) The New Testament advances principles against slavery.

              a) It stresses that masters and slaves will all

                    answer to the same God.

              b) All humans are free in Christ.


      C. But the New Testament also maximizes our responsibility.

          1) All of us have sinned and deserve death.

          2) Not just physical death, but eternal spiritual death.


      D. Fortunately, Jesus offers to take our place.



=========================================================================

SOURCES FOR ILLUSTRATIONS USED IN THIS SERMON:


# 2133  "Dear God, What Religion Were the Dinosaurs?" by David Heller

          (from his book), Redbook magazine, January 1, 1990, p. 52.


#36019  "Freshen The Air," by Randy Cassingham, This Is True email

           newsletter, September 20, 2009.  Original source is the

           Northwest Florida Daily News.


These and 30,000 others are part of the Kerux database that can be

downloaded, absolutely free, at http://www.holwick.com/database.html

=========================================================================



Bernard Ramm, EXODUS


  I. These commandments cover the complexities of life.

      A. Ten Commandments, by comparison, are simple.

      B. These laws have precedents in human cultures.

          1) They also reflect a specific period in Israel's history.

II. Principles from God's ordinances.

      A. We are to be holy, and our conduct should reflect it.

      B. Some laws seem odd, but there is a gap between them and us.

          1) They were agricultural, we are not.

          2) Their property was limited, ours is extensive.

III. Their cruel and inhuman laws were not cruel in their context.

IV. The laws show a basic senses of justice and humanitarianism.

      A. Cities of refuge were not sophisticated, but protected

            those involved in accidents.

  V. The laws show sensitivity to the perversion of justice.

      A. False witnesses condemned.

      B. Don't lie in court for your own profit.

      C. Don't be part of a mob.   23:2

      D. Poor should not be favored, or intimidated.

      E. No bribes.   23:8

VI. Conduct yourself so you don't injure others.

      A. Unprotected pits.

      B. Wandering animals.

      C. No man is an island.

      D. Options on sentencing a burglar - moderation in the law.

VII. Backdrop of some laws is love for your neighbor.

      A. God's faithful love is "hesed."

      B. Treat borrowed animals responsibly.

      C. Strangers are not to be wronged.   22:21

      D. Excessive interest forbidden.      22:25-27

      E. Treat animal of enemy well.        23:4-5

          1) Pagan laws focused on pragmatism; Israel factors in mercy.

VIII. Religion and ethics cannot be separated.

      A. Many religious violations carry death sentence.



Copyright © 2024 by Rev. David Holwick

Created with the Freeware Edition of HelpNDoc: Free CHM Help documentation generator