Exodus 23:1-13
“THOU shalt not raise a false report.” Here is a needful word for us all, both young and old, for it includes not only “raising” but also “accepting” a false report. Both are forbidden. Perhaps one would not stoop to raise a false report, but many have fallen into the snare of believing a story that later was proved to be untrue. We should be very careful not to tell things about others unless we are sure they are true. Even then we should avoid being a tale-bearer; often it is best not to let a matter go any further. “A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.” Prov. 11:13. “Love... thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth.”
“Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil.” Sometimes a young Christian has to stand alone, when the rest of the crowd are bent on going somewhere or doing things which he knows are not pleasing to his Lord and Saviour. It is hard to stand alone at such times, but the Lord can give one courage to be steadfast, and one will have joy and peace in seeking to honor Him. “If God be for us, who can be against us?” Rom. 8:31.
“If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burden... thou shalt surely help him.” v. 5. God’s pity and compassion ever go out to His poor dumb creatures, struggling under the bondage that man’s sin has brought in. He wants us to be like Him and show them kindness.
“And six years thou shalt sow thy land, and shalt gather in the fruits thereof; but the seventh year thou shalt let it rest and lie still; that the poor of thy people may eat: and what they leave the beasts of the field shall eat.” v. 11. They were not to be greedy and think that they would gain more by working their land seven years. The land was to enjoy her sabbaths for it was His land, and both man and the land were to enjoy God’s rest. He cares for all His creatures, whether they be the poor or the beasts of the field.
May we who belong to the Lord, not live just for ourselves, but remember what He has done for us, and seek to show His kindness to others in need. The selfishness of many is the cause of so much of this world’s sorrow.
Then in verse 12 They were to work six days and rest the seventh, so that their servants and animals might rest also. This is ever true for this creation, and those who recognize it reap a benefit instead of losing by it.
For us who are Christians, we are not called to keep the Sabbath, or seventh day, for we are not on Jewish ground. Our rest is not here on earth, but is waiting for us in heaven. “There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.” Heb. 4: 9. We have the first day of the week, or resurrection day, the day the Lord rose from the dead, the day the Church was formed, the day the disciples broke bread in remembrance of the Lord’s death; it is called in Scripture the Lord’s day. So we should use it for Him and not for ourselves. If we were farmers, our animals might get their rest, but we might be more tired at the close of the day through serving the Lord, than on any other day; it is marked out as His, and we, therefore, should not use it for pleasure and thus rob the Lord.
ML-03/15/1970