Care for the Creation – The Rule of Law: Government of the Community (7)

Care for the Creation

The Rule of Law: Government of the Community (7)

The communities of God’s people must care for God’s creation.

“‘You shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain.’” Deuteronomy 25:4

The land and possessions of God’s people were entrusted to them as a matter of stewardship. The earth and everything in it is the Lord’s, and God’s people were expected to care for the creatures and environment in which their communities were situated, so as to ensure maximum flourishing of the creation for the generations.

Lands were to be given a rest from production every seven years. Work animals were not to be mistreated but allowed to browse as they worked. Communities were to maintain latrines beyond the living space of the people, both for hygienic and spiritual purposes (Deut. 23:12-14). Israelites were expected to harvest the wild offerings of the land in a way that would ensure long-term productivity and fruitfulness (cf. Deut. 22:6, 7; Deut. 20:19, 20).

The people of Israel were to consider themselves guests in the Lord’s land and to treat the land and its creatures accordingly (Deut. 6:20-25). The well-being of the community and the glory of God were both involved in a certain care for the creation which the people were to make their constant concern.

For a practical guide to the role of God’s Law in the life of faith, get The Ground for Christian Ethics by going to www.ailbe.org and click on our Bookstore, then Church Issues.

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In the Gates is a devotional series on the Law of God by Rev. T.M. Moore, editor of the Worldview Church. He serves as dean of the Centurions Program of the Wilberforce Forum and principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe, a spiritual fellowship in the Celtic Christian tradition. He is the author or editor of twenty books, and has contributed chapters to four others. His essays, reviews, articles, papers, and poetry have appeared in dozens of national and international journals, and on a wide range of websites. His most recent books are The Ailbe Psalter and The Ground for Christian Ethics (Waxed Tablet).

Scripture quotations in this article are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, (c) copyright 2001, 2007 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.