We are so fortunate to live under the rule of law in America. While all of our laws may not be truly good they are a safeguard for peaceful living. When Moses began to deliver the societal laws to the Israelites, he addressed the remedy for physically hurting someone else (called battery or unlawful or harmful or offensive touching). If the person missed work because of the injury, the offender had to pay lost wages and take care of them until completely healed. What a great concept- it includes a degree of punishment and restitution. May we become more and more like Christ, so that we would never desire to hurt someone else.
If men have a quarrel and one strikes the other with a stone or with his fist, and he does not die but remains in bed, if he gets up and walks around outside on his staff, then he who struck him shall go unpunished; he shall only pay for his loss of time, and shall take care of him until he is completely healed. Exodus 21:18-19 NASB
Have I injured anyone intentionally that would require me paying restitution? Have I done it in my heart?
God, as this day begins- what a simple reminder that You uphold justice and righteousness. You desire truth in the inward parts of a man or woman. You have given us the Holy Spirit to produce love as a law within us. But, for everyone else there remains Your Holy Law communicated through Moses. May our society be filled with peace and harmony as more and more put their trust in Christ. In the meantime, thank you for the system of laws that are our protection.
