Deuteronomy 24

Devotional:
“If you lend anything to your neighbor, do not enter his house to pick up the item he is giving as security. You must wait outside while he goes in and brings it out to you. If your neighbor is poor and gives you his cloak as security for a loan, do not keep the cloak overnight. Return the cloak to its owner by sunset so he can stay warm through the night and bless you, and the Lord your God will count you as righteous. (Deuteronomy 24:10-13)

The laws found in this chapter regulate a variety of areas of life, but the overarching thread is that they were meant to help protect those who were in vulnerable positions of being taken advantage of by others. For example, these laws concerning loans prohibited the lenders from doing certain things as they collected the loans. God shows concern for those who could seem the “least” in the eyes of the world and protects them, calling for His people to act in this way as well. The ground for this concern is remembering God’s grace given to us when we were undeserving of it. Remember God’s care for us in our time of need and show care for our neighbors in need.

Pray it:
Father, I thank you for your kindness and grace shown to me in Christ; I don’t deserve it and praise you for it. May my recognition of your mercy in my life lead me to be merciful and kind to others. Amen.

Share it:
Who is someone you can share a verse or thought from this passage with?