Today's passages are incredibly encouraging this morning. In the often tumultuous days of establishing the land of Israel, here are some very encouraging while also specific requirements given by God for his people. It is helpful to look at Deuteronomy as the title indicates 'second law' (deutero = 2... you know like 'deuce', and 'nomy' as in law, like 'nominate'), it is basically an expansion of the ten commandments, showing the specific ways in which God desires the Israelites to be obedient. More here on not worshipping foreign gods because, obviously, this would make it as if God was not supreme and alone in his majesty. Some foods are unclean. Why is this? There are some who say this is a practical help to the Israelites, protecting them from foods that would be harmful to health in the age of no refrigerators... but I think the idea that is most compelling is that there were certain foods they wouldn't eat because it's a way to separate from the other nations... food is important. A shared meal in the OT indicates a covenant bond. It's the same now with the Lord's Supper. Finally, God provides some clear indications of how some practical matters of servants, debt relief, sacrifices. These rules and regulations would provide an outline for Hebrew life.
Skipping forward to Luke, there is the amazing story of Jesus giving life back to a girl who had died. In this story there is a family weeping because a young girl has died. Jesus rebukes this weeping and says that she is merely asleep. Now then, the people are said to laugh at Jesus. This seems a little strange. It's hard to imagine that people would laugh at a time like this. Yet, it really shows the power of Christ to do the unthinkable. In the midst of those who are unable to imagine Jesus' power he shows his ability to do what we never thought possible. It seems so much anticipates Jesus' death and resurrection, and here we know from our perspective what will eventually happen. Jesus will face his own death, but we know how that story ends too. The Psalms passage give us a good hint:
24 I will tell about your righteous deeds
all day long,
for everyone who tried to hurt me
has been shamed and humiliated.
all day long,
for everyone who tried to hurt me
has been shamed and humiliated.
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