34. Social Justice & Religious Life (Ex 23:1-19)

They needed to promote justice for the weak. And the foundation of justice was their faith in God. Keeping the Sabbath and the feasts was the skeleton of their confession of faith. 

πŸ‘‰ Read Exodus 23:1-19

Do not make common cause with (              ) to be a malicious witness. Do not follow (           ) in doing evil. Help your (            )’s donkey in trouble. Do not kill the righteous, for (          ) will not justify the wicked.

Why did they need to keep the Sabbath? (12)

 

What are the names of the feasts they need to come to the Lord, i.e., Jerusalem temple, three times a year? (14-16)

 

Answers and Meditation

The wicked, a crowd, enemy, God

To provide justice is to protect the weak: poor people (3,6) and even animals (5). The wicked often ignore the well-being of the weak, which is God’s justice, in favor of their own benefits. We should not do that because God will not approve it (7).

 

To let your servants and animals take rest

Sabbath: make your servants take rest. Go beyond the matter of justice to the matter of grace, even when it demands your little sacrifice.

Here, the Sabbath law is required in relation to social justice. Exodus 20:11, it is required because God took rest after creation.  


The Feast of Unleavened Bread

The Feast of Harvest

The Feast of Ingathering

Ancient Israel didn’t have a Bible, weekly service, image, or a nearby temple. Keeping the Sabbath and the feasts was essential in maintaining their faith in God. The feasts were very crucial to keep them from idolatry. (13)

Here are to address three things of their observance of the feasts. And this insight tells what consists of our religious life.

  • Remember your salvation. They were to remember the deliverance from Egypt (15). Especially the date of the exodus.
  • Bring your confession of faith. This new life belongs to the Lord, and so does the fruit of our hands. They should bring the fruit of their labor (16). 
  • Remember how salvation has come to you: through Jesus’ sacrifice and pouring of the Holy Spirit. They should keep the feast in specific ways (18-19). 

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