 If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and kills it or sells it, he shall repay five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep. 2 If a thief is found breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there shall be no bloodguilt for him, 3 but if the sun has risen on him, there shall be bloodguilt for him. He shall surely pay. If he has nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft. 4 If the stolen beast is found alive in his possession, whether it is an ox or a donkey or a sheep, he shall pay double.
5 “If a man causes a field or vineyard to be grazed over, or lets his beast loose and it feeds in another man's field, he shall make restitution from the best in his own field and in his own vineyard. 6 “If fire breaks out and catches in thorns so that the stacked grain or the standing grain or the field is consumed, he who started the fire shall make full restitution. 7 “If a man gives to his neighbor money or goods to keep safe, and it is stolen from the man's house, then, if the thief is found, he shall pay double. 8 If the thief is not found, the owner of the house shall come near to God to show whether or not he has put his hand to his neighbor's property. 9 For every breach of trust, whether it is for an ox, for a donkey, for a sheep, for a cloak, or for any kind of lost thing, of which one says, ‘This is it,’ the case of both parties shall come before God. The one whom God condemns shall pay double to his neighbor. 10 “If a man gives to his neighbor a donkey or an ox or a sheep or any beast to keep safe, and it dies or is injured or is driven away, without anyone seeing it, 11 an oath by the Lord shall be between them both to see whether or not he has put his hand to his neighbor's property. The owner shall accept the oath, and he shall not make restitution. 12 But if it is stolen from him, he shall make restitution to its owner. 13 If it is torn by beasts, let him bring it as evidence. He shall not make restitution for what has been torn. 14 “If a man borrows anything of his neighbor, and it is injured or dies, the owner not being with it, he shall make full restitution. 15 If the owner was with it, he shall not make restitution; if it was hired, it came for its hiring fee. Laws About Social Justice 16 “If a man seduces a virgin who is not betrothed and lies with her, he shall give the bride-price for her and make her his wife. 17 If her father utterly refuses to give her to him, he shall pay money equal to the bride-price for virgins. 18 “You shall not permit a sorceress to live. 19 “Whoever lies with an animal shall be put to death. 20 “Whoever sacrifices to any god, other than the Lord alone, shall be devoted to destruction. 21 “You shall not wrong a sojourner or oppress him, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt. 22 You shall not mistreat any widow or fatherless child. 23 If you do mistreat them, and they cry out to me, I will surely hear their cry,24 and my wrath will burn, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall become widows and your children fatherless. 25 “If you lend money to any of my people with you who is poor, you shall not be like a moneylender to him, and you shall not exact interest from him. 26 If ever you take your neighbor's cloak in pledge, you shall return it to him before the sun goes down, 27 for that is his only covering, and it is his cloak for his body; in what else shall he sleep? And if he cries to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate. 28 “You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people. 29 “You shall not delay to offer from the fullness of your harvest and from the outflow of your presses. The firstborn of your sons you shall give to me. 30 You shall do the same with your oxen and with your sheep: seven days it shall be with its mother; on the eighth day you shall give it to me. 31 “You shall be consecrated to me. Therefore you shall not eat any flesh that is torn by beasts in the field; you shall throw it to the dogs. Meditation God provides a path for restitution and justice, steps towards wholeness by moving beyond punitive measures to equitable restoration of property, time, and ultimately relationship. Divine direction towards this destination drives believers towards the cross, the only place where justice is satisfied people have a path from forgiveness toward wholeness. Israel was redeemed from Egypt, no longer slaves. Today’s case laws represent Divine direction for life together in the land. Restitution in word or concept is mentioned fourteen times and includes everything from cattle to cash. Restitution is positive justice that restores what was stolen or broken, including relationship. Societal justice includes Divine direction on money, sex, sojourners, poverty, and capital punishment. Why care about these things? God has shown compassion to His people in their weakness, strengthening them when vulnerable. So too should compassion to the vulnerable and weak compose life together. God offered satisfaction for justice against sin, so His people seek justice where there is sin and its casualties in their community. The cross of Christ is the only place of true restoration, the only fountain of hope for a society seeking restitution and justice. True shalom requires a focus on more than money and material things, though they matter in redeemed community (Acts 6:1-7). Only a foundation of forgiveness empowers true restorative justice, a groundwork of grace more fruitful than seeking purely punitive measures. God’s people know God’s grace and, therefore, we must set the pace in restoring relationship. From restored relationship with God, we move to seek just restoration of money and material possessions. Richly Dwelling -Whim of these case laws stands out to you the most? Does it surprise you to read that God cares about restitution and societal justice? -Biblical justice is centered on relationship with God and one another. How does the restorative justice at the cross compel us to be a restorer in your communities? -Is there a part of your community or city where you or your congregation can seek restoration, taking steps toward wholeness centered on a restored relationship with the Lord? Key Verse 29 “You shall not delay to offer from the fullness of your harvest and from the outflow of your presses. The firstborn of your sons you shall give to me.
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