Historically, I’ve written my name in the inside cover of my books as I put them on the shelf. This practice keeps track of which books are mine, but it also serves those who borrow a book to know they are accountable for anything that may happen to that property while they borrow it. In a deeper way, we are imprinted with qualities from God that we must give account for—Deuteronomy 22 covers just such accountability.

God gifts our identity and the possessions which we may utilize to serve Him and find satisfaction in this life. What He gifts He gives in coordination with a right way to exercise the gift for His glory and our good. When we separate or deviate from the natural course and consequences, we will find serious problems and eventual punishment.

The chapter begins with a lost animal and the responsibility of a man to ensure someone else’s property is cared for (vv1–4). This means recognizing who received which gift from God and not giving way to covetousness or deceit. Then the Lord describes the nurture of young birds and the wrong of disturbing the nest of the hatchlings (vv6–7). Disturbing, disrupting, or deceiving so to take possession of what is not gifted by God is recognized here in various forms as a work against the love of neighbor as oneself and love of God through the gifts He has given.

The text moves to describe various situations wherein groups of two find no harmony. Battlements on rooftops, deviant animal husbandry, and even the culture of clothes (vv8–12). These various areas of life are to be regarded for their gifted purpose under God’s structure for ordered living. A home is not meant to be a place of warfare, animals are to be respected for specific duties, and clothing is distinguished among men and women (v5)— even among offices in the fellowship, as those in the priesthood wear special linen to signify their office (v11). Corruption drives a desire to mix the worldly with the holy—this cannot result in anything but pain and sorrow. Truly, this kind of corruption deteriorates God’s grand design and results in the free forfeiture of divine blessing!
 
The chapter culminates in describing the worst kind of mixture, that of infidelity, which serves both as a true warning as well as an illustration for the people of God as a whole (vv13–30). Union between husband and wife directly illustrates Christ’s love for His church (Eph. 5:23–26). The severity of punishment fits the crime when we read with this understanding of the seventh commandment in its application. Those who disrupt the order given by God, and especially those who violate an innocent party, are corrupting the design not only of the Creator but of the Preserver of goodness, blessing, and common grace in this life. God’s care over the family demonstrates His concern for our exercise of His gracious gifts—the intimacy between a husband and wife is proven as indication of the purity and harmony Christ has with His church when order and design are held in high esteem.

Our relationships, with the people around us and the gifted possessions, are to be used according to God’s generous and fatherly design. He desires us to enjoy Him with our whole life and find supreme satisfaction therein. How are you staving off the world’s expectations? More importantly, how are you using God’s good gifts as holy things today?

Pastor Chris