Photo by Yeshi Kangrang on Unsplash

Deuteronomy 22:1-2, 5, 8 (KJV) Thou shalt not see thy brother’s ox or his sheep go astray, and hide thyself from them: thou shalt in any case bring them again unto thy brother. 2 And if thy brother be not nigh unto thee, or if thou know him not, then thou shalt bring it unto thine own house, and it shall be with thee until thy brother seek after it, and thou shalt restore it to him again. … 5 The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God. 6 If a bird’s nest chance to be before thee in the way in any tree, or on the ground, whether they be young ones, or eggs, and the {mother} sitting upon the young, or upon the eggs, thou shalt not take the {mother} with the young: 7 But thou shalt in any wise let the {mother} go, and take the young to thee; that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days. 8 When thou buildest a new house, then thou shalt make a battlement for thy roof, that thou bring not blood upon thine house, if any man fall from thence.

The Law of God was given to a holy people, a people that God chose for Himself and saved from Egypt. God chose to adopt these people as His own. Why did God choose Israel among all the nations of the world?

Because of LOVE.

God told Israel: Deuteronomy 7:7-8 (KJV) The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: 8 But because the Lord loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the Lord brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

It is all about LOVE. When God called Abraham and asked him to follow, God was asking Abraham to love God as God loved Abraham. How did Abraham respond? The Bible says “by FAITH”.

Hebrews 11:8-10 (KJV) By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 9 By faith he {traveled} … 10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

God loved Abraham, and Abraham loved God. This is what the Law is all about. LOVE. The Apostle said:

Galatians 5:6 (KJV) For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

“FAITH which worketh by LOVE”. That’s what genuine FAITH is. It is a trust in another because of love.

Faith is a trust in another because of LOVE.
Faith is a trust in Another because of LOVE!

The Law entered because Israel ceased loving God. Yet the Law is all of LOVE. It was not written by a God Who wants to rob us of our joy. No! It was written by the God Who made us all, Who loves us all. It is all about LOVE! Not just sticky sentimental childish puppy love, but robust, powerful, spiritual LOVE.

What did the Apostle say? Galatians 3:19-25 (KJV)  Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.  [20]  Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.  [21]  Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.  [22]  But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.  [23]  But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.  [24]  Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.  [25]  But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

You will not understand this unless you can define the word FAITH. The Law was given BEFORE FAITH CAME. Again, what is FAITH? Faith worketh by LOVE. Faith is trust in Another because of love. The Law was given to teach Israel LOVE.

Then one day God became Man, and showed us love!
The Word of God was made flesh and dwelt among us.
Full of Grace and Truth (John 1:14)

The Word became flesh to teach us that the Law is all of Love. The Word – Jesus Christ our Lord – taught us that we were to love God with all our hearts and love one another. Then the Word showed us love.

He died on a cruel tree because He loved us.
He rose again the third day because He loves us.
He promised to send us His Spirit to guide us in love.

When the Church was first formed on the Day of Pentecost – a Jewish Holiday – the Apostle Peter preached from the Law. As he preached the Holy Spirit began to convict the souls that were listening that they needed the Lord Jesus Christ to be their Savior. The crowd asked Peter:

Men and brethren, what shall we do?

How did Peter respond?

Acts 2:38-39 (KJV) …. Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.  [39]  For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

What was the REQUIREMENT for salvation?

REPENT. Stop loving the world and love God.
Be BAPTIZED. If you love Christ stand up for Him. Do what He said.

What was the RESULT PROMISED?

YOU SHALL RECEIVE THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

God will come to you. God will love you.
God will love any who will come to Him in love.

The Law Is The Written Voice Of God For The Unloving

The Law was a schoolmaster to teach Israel to love. It is a schoolmaster to teach any unloving how to love. See this in our text.

Deuteronomy 22:1 (KJV) Thou shalt not see thy brother’s ox or his sheep go astray, and hide thyself from them: thou shalt in any case bring them again unto thy brother.

If a man loves a woman and the woman loves a man, neither has to make a list of what the other will do out of love. Love in the heart will result with love in the hand. Israel, however, had become much like the Church at Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-22). They were lukewarm in their love. Israel had become much like the Church at Ephesus. They had forgotten their First love. (Revelation 2:4).

When you cease to love God, you cease to love others!

The Bible commands in Leviticus 19:18 (KJV)  Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt LOVE THY NEIGHBOR AS THYSELF: I am the LORD.

and our Jesus told us in Matthew 22:39 (KJV) … Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

The Apostle furthermore directed all in Romans 13:8-10 (KJV)  Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.  [9]  For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.  [10]  Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

If you love God then you don’t have to be told “if your brother has an ox or sheep go astray and you know where it went, take it to them”. You say to me “this has no application in today’s world”. America has lost its love for God. There was a time when even those who had no relationship to God at least respected God. These days are far gone. Atheism has taken hold over vast amounts of our population. As Atheism grows, lovelessness toward others grows. Society becomes corrupt. Our political process is course and vulgar. Regardless as to party, darkness and foulness is the rule of the day. Abortion – the murder of the innocent – is big business and a supposed “right” for all. Why? Because as love for God has decreased, love for those made in God’s image is decreased.

God legislated love – or the output of love – to Israel. But dear friend love cannot be legislated. The Law can only point out the problem. People need the Lord.

How sad it was that God had to tell His Israel:

Deuteronomy 22:2-4 (KJV) And if thy brother be not nigh unto thee, or if thou know him not, then thou shalt bring it unto thine own house, and it shall be with thee until thy brother seek after it, and thou shalt restore it to him again. 3 In like manner shalt thou do with his ass; and so shalt thou do with his raiment; and with all lost thing of thy brother’s, which he hath lost, and thou hast found, shalt thou do likewise: thou mayest not hide thyself. 4 Thou shalt not see thy brother’s ass or his ox fall down by the way, and hide thyself from them: thou shalt surely help him to lift them up again.

If you are born of God – saved by faith in Christ – then you do not need to be told to “lift up your brother”. If you love God you will love your neighbor
– your brother.
You will be a HELP and not a HINDRANCE to others.

Love And Respect How God Has Made You

Deuteronomy 22:5 (KJV) The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.

I’ve heard several bad sermons where poorly prepared and misinformed “preachers” tried to make this text say that a woman “shouldn’t wear britches” or pants.

That’s nonsense!

None of the ancients – male or female – wore pants at all. The earliest types of clothing were wrap skirts or aprons for both genders. Pants were developed first for the Calvary to protect the soldiers legs when riding their horses into battle. If you don’t understand that go try riding a horse with shorts on. You’ll find out!

The Bible specifies that Godly women should dress so as to not lead your brethren into temptation. The Apostle said:

1 Timothy 2:9-10 (KJV)  In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;  [10]  But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.

Our Deuteronomy text has nothing to do with a dress code.
It refers to honoring the role that God made you for.

If you love God you should dress appropriate to your gender, and dress modestly. If you love God then you will not do that which He considers an “abomination” or the act of an unbeliever.

Seek to be what God made you to be. Not how you feel but how you are. If you love God you will celebrate who He made you to be. Feelings come and go. But God is eternal, and His love everlasting.

Love And Respect What God Has Given You

Do you appreciate what God has given you? Everything we have is a gift from God. Your body is a gift from God. Your abilities are gifts from God. The homes you have are gifts from the Lord Who loves you. And, dear ones, this planet earth and all that is in it is a gift that God has placed in our trust. The Law said:

Deuteronomy 22:6-7 (KJV) If a bird’s nest chance to be before thee in the way in any tree, or on the ground, whether they be young ones, or eggs, and the dam sitting upon the young, or upon the eggs, thou shalt not take the dam with the young: 7 But thou shalt in any wise let the dam go, and take the young to thee; that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days.

If you love God you will love and respect not only the people around you, but the world that
He allows you to be on.

Psalm 104:31 (KJV) … the Lord shall rejoice in his works.

God tells us that if you find a nest with a mother sitting with her young you can take the eggs or the young, but are not to take the mother with the young. God wants us to love the world He has given us. He does not want His earth abused! God loves His creation so much that He told His Israel:

Exodus 23:10-11 (KJV)  And six years thou shalt sow thy land, and shalt gather in the fruits thereof:  [11]  But the seventh year thou shalt let it rest and lie still; that the poor of thy people may eat: and what they leave the beasts of the field shall eat. In like manner thou shalt deal with thy vineyard, and with thy olive yard.

Leviticus 25:3-5 (KJV)  Six years thou shalt sow thy field, and six years thou shalt prune thy vineyard, and gather in the fruit thereof;  [4]  But in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest unto the land, a sabbath for the LORD: thou shalt neither sow thy field, nor prune thy vineyard.  [5]  That which groweth of its own accord of thy harvest thou shalt not reap, neither gather the grapes of thy vine undressed: for it is a year of rest unto the land.

I come from North Carolina, which is tobacco country. When I was growing up my grandfather’s land – and most of the land around Wade NC – was like desert sand. The farmers did not practice crop rotation. They planted the land over and over again until it became nearly good for nothing.

God despises this!

If you love God, you will love the world He has given you. You will not toss trash out of your car windows. You will treat the world with respect, for it is a gift of God to us all. You will not let greed drive you, but love. God did not give us this world to waste it, but to treat it with love.

Psalm 24:1 (KJV) The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. (also 1 Corinthians 10:26, 28).

God entrusted this world to us. As such we are to love the world around us. Not to use it greedily, but to use it wisely. To do so is to ensure that later generations can be as blessed.

Let Your Love Govern All You Do

Deuteronomy 22:8 (KJV) When thou buildest a new house, then thou shalt make a battlement for thy roof, that thou bring not blood upon thine house, if any man fall from thence.

How far should love go? It should even
effect the works of your hands.

In the ancient world the roof of the home was usually flat. The better homes would place gardens on the rooftop to not only absorb the heat from the sun, but to also make a comfortable place to rest at the end of the day. The Lord told His people that when they built a new house that:

thou shalt make a battlement for thy roof, that thou bring not blood upon thine house, if any man fall from thence

The word “battlement” is the Hebrew מַעֲקֶה maʻăqeh, (pronounced mah-ak-eh’) which means a low wall at the edge of a balcony or roof or at the sides of a bridge. The purpose of this wall was to protect visitors or even yourself from falling off the edge to their death.

God loves you, and wants you to love others. He does not want life to be wasted, even accidentally. It is said that the Laws of God – if broken – can bring about death. God’s Law of Gravity is always in effect while we walk this earth. A man might build a house selfishly, saying “I need no battlement or parapet or railing. I know the boundaries of my roof. I will not fall.” But what of others. What of the visiting child, the toddler that doesn’t understand the dangers of the fall? It is evil to say as Cain said when questioned of God:

Am I my brother’s keeper? (Genesis 4:9)

That is the question of the murderer, the selfish and unsaved man. Yes, you are your brother’s keeper. God told His Church “You shall be witnesses unto Me” (Acts 1:8). The proof of our salvation is in how we love others. If you have no love for others then it could be, dear one, that you are yet in darkness. The Scripture says:

1 John 1:7 (KJV) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

We are responsible for those who are around us. We are responsible to show love to others if we are indeed loved of God. The Bible tells us that:

1 Corinthians 12:26 (KJV) And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it.

The Church is the Church together. We are responsible for one another. America is America together. We are responsible for one another. If you have been loved of God, then love others. Live your life so as to be a blessing to others. Live your life as Christ did.

May God touch your hearts with His Word.