Day 71: The Source of the Law

 Today's readings: Numbers 23, Deuteronomy 24-25, and Psalm 106.

I. Numbers 23 continues the story of Balaam, hired by Balak of Moab to curse Israel, but instead, he ends up blessing them twice under God's direction.

The BIY Companion, Vol 1, highlights the unfavorable view of the Church Fathers about the character of Balaam:

Balak continues in his attempt to convince Balaam to curse the people of Israel, but this does not go well. In their commentaries on the passage, the Church Fathers do not consider Balaam to be an honorable man. It appears that Balaam, in the end, seems to do what God wants, but he is a man for hire. He is out for himself. He is not necessarily interested in doing God's will. God initially uses a donkey to speak to Balaam, and then he will use a greater "donkey" - Balaam - to speak his words and bless his people. (p. 152)

Balaam's story basically concludes in the next chapter, so it'll be interesting to see if there is anything further that may explain why these Fathers had such a negative view of the man. 

II. Deuteronomy 24 contains laws about marriage, justice, mercy, family life, and care for the poor. The most interesting point to see is that the chapter's major theme is that Israel was to build a society marked not merely by legality but by compassion and human dignity.

In the next chapter, there are more laws dealing with justice, family responsibility, fairness, and covenant faithfulness. This collection seems to be a disconnected hodge-podge, but the chapter emphasizes maintaining righteousness and dignity within the community.

The BIY Companion, Vol 1, comments on these chapters:

[These chapters] cover various laws, but the connection between them is their source - the Lord. The laws here can seem arbitrary or unnecessary, but they will be needed at some point in the various situations the people of Israel will encounter... As we continue to read Scripture, we will discover that many of its passages may not be what we expect but what we need. (p. 152)

III. Psalm 106 is, as the Ignatius Bible notes: 

A psalm of praise combined with a national confession of sin. It shows how the real history of Israel is marked by repeated "forgetfulness" of the Lord and his works... God's response to this includes painful justice (punishments for sin...) as well as undeserved mercy (leniency and salvation in spite of sin...). Israel's rebellions are grouped together according to location (Egypt...; the wilderness...; Canaan...), but the Psalmist departs at points from the sequence of events given in the Pentateuch. (p. 922)

That's it for today!