Text: Exodus 23:1-9
1 Thou shalt not raise a false report: put not thine hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness. 2 Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment: 3 Neither shalt thou countenance a poor man in his cause. 4 If thou meet thine enemy's ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again. 5 If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burden, and wouldest forbear to help him, thou shalt surely help with him. 6 Thou shalt not wrest the judgment of thy poor in his cause. 7 Keep thee far from a false matter; and the innocent and righteous slay thou not: for I will not justify the wicked. 8 And thou shalt take no gift: for the gift blindeth the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous. 9 Also thou shalt not oppress a stranger: for ye know the heart of a stranger, seeing ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.
"In judicial matters, it was forbidden to circulate a false report, to conspire with the wicked to defend the guilty, to take sides with an evil crowd, or to show partiality to the poor. No spite was to be shown to an animal belonging to an enemy. If it was lost, it should be returned to its owner; and if it had fallen down with a heavy load, it should be assisted to its feet. Justice was to be shown to the poor, and the innocent and righteous were not to be condemned through wicked legal tricks. It was forbidden to take a bribe or to oppress strangers." (Believer's Bible Commentary)
The laws that now govern American society were heavily influenced by Judeo-Christian principles.
"Most American founders regarded the Bible as a great handbook for nurturing morality and ethics; and even many who doubted the Bible’s divine origins appealed to Scripture."
(Daniel L. Dreisbach, https://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/351540-liberty-under-law-was-always-rooted-in-biblical-principles)
Laws of justice and acts of mercy provide us with a basic understanding of God's love for us.
For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth (Proverbs 3:12 NIV).
“The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin (Exodus 34:6,7 NIV).
Prayer: Dear God, you are so compassionate and gracious. You mercy endures, even when I do not deserve it. Thank you for loving me! Amen!