DEUTERONOMY 22

Since there are a lot of "miscellaneous" rules chronicled in this chapter, I’ve decided to focus on the very first one, outlaid in vs 1-4: "If you see your fellow Israelite’s ox or sheep straying, do not ignore it but be sure to take it back to its owner. If they do not live near you or if you do not know who owns it, take it home with you and keep it until they come looking for it. Then give it back. Do the same if you find their donkey or cloak or anything else they have lost. Do not ignore it. If you see your fellow Israelite’s donkey or ox fallen on the road, do not ignore it. Help the owner get it to its feet."

Did you know that nearly every religion in the world has some form of the "Golden Rule"? Here are a couple: "Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful" (Buddhism); "This is the sum of duty: do not do to others what would cause pain if done to you" (Hinduism). There is an interesting difference between the majority of these other versions and God’s version. The others tend to focus on not doing something that would harm your neighbor. God’s version focuses on action — doing for someone else what you would want them to do for you.

We normally associate the Golden Rule with Jesus. "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." (Matt 7:12) The Message puts it even more boldly: "Ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them." But where did Jesus learn this principle? Why, I think He got it from Deuteronomy 22!

Here, right here, in the midst of the barbarianism and blood feuds is God’s instruction to the Israelites to help their neighbors, not just refrain from harming them. So, instead of being unconcerned and "minding their own business," they were supposed to notice when their neighbor was in need. They were even supposed to help when they didn’t know who they were trying to help! (vs 2) Instead of sitting back on their haunches, they were encouraged to take the initiative in being kind.

I am continually amazed at this Bible journey — at how much of what we associate only with Jesus and The Gospels is in the Old Testament... and has been there all along! Jesus didn’t make up the Golden Rule. In saying "do unto others," He wasn’t articulating some new rule that was meant to counteract something contradictory in the Old Testament. No, He was simply repeating what had already been given in the Old Testament. So let’s not relegate this great principle of God’s kingdom to the New Testament only. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He has always taught the Golden Rule!