Observations

• God provided practical instructions through civil laws for ethical obedience to the Ten Commandments.
• A culture can only function with some authority guiding how to handle one another.
• Elevated above the civil standards of this nomadic tribe is the unchanging heart of God toward just interactions.
• Worship should be free from idols (buildings, altars, locations) and distractions (20:22-26).
• Slavery in the Old Testament was more contract employment than the sinful examples we have seen in our history (21:1-11).
• Intentional harm to another must be lawfully punished in a way that fits the crime (21:12-32).

Applications

• God’s holiness bears weight upon the everydayness of our lives.
• Marvel at the fact that the Almighty God wants you to interact with Him – not a symbol of Him.
• Consider how your wardrobe might distract others from focusing on God.
• Don’t be shocked that this world is still reeling from the effects of religious people defending immoral slavery.
• We cannot be enablers to allow violent behavior to avoid reasonable punishment.