1. Atonement for unsolved murder (1-9)

Just because an injustice is not witnessed does not mean society cannot take responsibility for it. The LORD taught his people that if someone was murdered, and no one witnessed it, the sin must be atoned for. The people in the town nearest the murder was to make a sacrifice and pray that the LORD would forgive the sin of the murder.

2. Rights for the helpless (10-23)

While some of these regulations may sound extreme, God gave them to his people to teach his people that they were not to treat each other arbitrarily. So, if a young woman was taken in battle, she was to be given time to mourn her family before she was taken as a wife by her captor. A father was not to give the rights of firstborn based on his own feeling but on God's command. Rebellious sons were to be dealt with by the whole community. A body executed and hung on a pole was not to be left overnight. We are all made in the image of God. We should treat each other with that knowledge.


Application: Lord, help me to see everyone as being made in the image of God.
One Word: Do what is right in the eyes of the LORD