Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 23:4-9.

“4 “If you meet your enemy’s ox or his donkey wandering away, you shall surely return it to him. 5 If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying helpless under its load, you shall refrain from leaving it to him, you shall surely release it with him.

6 “You shall not pervert the justice due to your needy brother in his dispute. 7 Keep far from a false charge, and do not kill the innocent or the righteous, for I will not acquit the guilty.

8 “You shall not take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the clear-sighted and subverts the cause of the just.

9 “You shall not oppress a stranger, since you yourselves know the feelings of a stranger, for you also were strangers in the land of Egypt.” Exodus 23:4-9.

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We should not oppress, subvert, or pervert justice (verses 6-9). But, we should do more than just not do evil. We should do good and show mercy (verses 4-5).

We will focus on the mercy meaning of verses 4-5. Although we are not likely to come across an ox or donkey needing our help, the meaning and application for us that we will comes across people who are burdened and need our help to release or lighten their burden.

God heard the groanings of the sons of Israel and had mercy on them and brought them out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.

“Furthermore I have heard the groaning of the sons of Israel, because the Egyptians are holding them in bondage, and I have remembered My covenant. Say, therefore, to the sons of Israel, ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from their bondage. I will also redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. Then I will take you for My people, and I will be your God; and you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.” Exodus 6:5-7.

God has mercy on us today and bears our burdens.

“Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.” Psalm 55:22.

“Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden, The God who is our salvation. Selah.” Psalm 68:19.

We should likewise show mercy and bear one another’s burdens.

“Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2.