Deuteronomy 19-20 & Romans 4

 Deuteronomy 19 continues in its construction of a just society which protects the community and provides for the concerns of all within the community. We again hear of the cities of refuge, which we first came across in Numbers , but here better illustrations are provided. At minimum, a region must contain three such cities that are fairly easy to get to. If the region is increased through the blessing of God, more cities must be established so that those who accidentally take the life of another can find refuge from a family avenger. Of course if someone flees to a city of refuge but the city leaders determine that that person in fact murdered someone, then that person is handed over for judgment.

The chapter closes with concerns about property boundaries and the need for two witnesses to bring charges against another.

Scripture frequently has a feeling of the other shoe about to drop and Deuteronomy 20 is much like that. We begin with a description of warfare in which Israel should not be afraid for God will go with them. However, the priest after exhorting Israel to this reality than basically tells folks that if they have unfinished business left at home to go take care of it. Talk about mixed signals.

God then describes rules of engagement. Israel is to approach towns with terms of peace but if they are not taken they are to wage total war. If it is in a region that the Lord has not given to Israel, they are to kill all the males but may then take women and children as booty. If it is a town in the region that God has given to Israel then all are to be put to the sword. Of course, it would seem that trees have more rights than humans for if a town is besieged, Israel is not to destroy the trees of the region.

Romans 4

Paul uses as the example of Abraham in a way that unites the circumcised and uncircumcised. Abraham receives his righteousness not through his actions but it is "reckoned" to him by God for his faith in God. Paul points out that this righteousness comes before God's command to Abraham to circumcise his household as a sign of the covenant. In this way, Abraham is the "father" to the uncircumcised and the circumcised under the Law.

However, the essence of Abraham's righteousness has nothing to do with whether he was circumcised or not, it has to do with the fact that he trusted in God, and it is this faith that found righteousness. Paul's work not only establishes a means to open God's work to the Gentiles but also unites the faith of Israel to the world in a way that does not negate Israel's election.