“A Holy Society” (Exodus 22:16–31)

“A Holy Society” (Exodus 22:16–31)
Pastor Cameron Jungels
Eastside Baptist Church
Sunday PM, September 9, 2018

Exodus 22:16–31 (NIV)

16 “If a man seduces a virgin who is not pledged to be married and sleeps with her, he must pay the bride-price, and she shall be his wife. 17 If her father absolutely refuses to give her to him, he must still pay the bride-price for virgins.

18 “Do not allow a sorceress to live.

19 “Anyone who has sexual relations with an animal is to be put to death.

20 “Whoever sacrifices to any god other than the Lord must be destroyed. 

21 “Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner, for you were foreigners in Egypt.

22 “Do not take advantage of the widow or the fatherless. 23 If you do and they cry out to me, I will certainly hear their cry. 24 My anger will be aroused, and I will kill you with the sword; your wives will become widows and your children fatherless.

25 “If you lend money to one of my people among you who is needy, do not treat it like a business deal; charge no interest. 26 If you take your neighbor’s cloak as a pledge, return it by sunset, 27 because that cloak is the only covering your neighbor has. What else can they sleep in? When they cry out to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate.

28 “Do not blaspheme God  or curse the ruler of your people.

29 “Do not hold back offerings from your granaries or your vats.

“You must give me the firstborn of your sons. 30 Do the same with your cattle and your sheep. Let them stay with their mothers for seven days, but give them to me on the eighth day.

31 “You are to be my holy people. So do not eat the meat of an animal torn by wild beasts; throw it to the dogs.

 

Main Idea: God’s people should seek to live as members of a holy society, with proper love and respect for one another and full devotion to the Lord.

1. A member of God’s holy society should seek the long-term wellbeing of others, and so there can be no pleasure without responsibility (16–17).

2. A member of God’s holy society must respect God’s sovereignty and authority and not seek to manipulate people and the outcome of events through illegitimate means (18).

3. A member of God’s holy society must respect the created order and not seek self-pleasure through perverted means that result in the dehumanization of God’s image bearers (19).

4. A member of God’s holy society must worship God and God alone and not engage in false worship (20).

5. A member of God’s holy society must show appropriate care and compassion for the most vulnerable in society (21–27).

a. By treating foreigners with respect (21)
b. By upholding true justice for widows and orphans (22–24)
c. By showing compassion to the poor in the lending of money (25–27)

6. A member of God’s holy society must honor God and his appointed human representatives (28).

7. A member of God’s holy society must honor God by offering to him the firstfruits of all that God has graciously given (29–30).

8. A member of God’s holy society must respect the created order and the dignity of human beings by not eating like a wild scavenger (31).