Today’s devotion comes from Deuteronomy 25:1-3.
“If there is a dispute between men and they go to court, and the judges decide their case, and they justify the righteous and condemn the wicked, then it shall be if the wicked man deserves to be beaten, the judge shall then make him lie down and be beaten in his presence with the number of stripes according to his guilt. He may beat him forty times but no more, so that he does not beat him with many more stripes than these and your brother is not degraded in your eyes.” Deuteronomy 25:1-3.
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“Judgments are prepared for scoffers,
And blows for the back of fools.” Proverbs 19:29.
“On the lips of the discerning, wisdom is found,
But a rod is for the back of him who lacks understanding.” Proverbs 10:13.
Another pillar of justice is provisions for restoration of the punished person. If the punished person is “degraded”, then it implies that there is permanent injury for which there can be no restoration.
“FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES,
AND HE SCOURGERS EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES.”
It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? … For they (our earthly fathers) disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.
Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed.” Hebrews 12:6-7 and 10-13.
Obviously, there are quite a number of laws where there is the death penalty. We are not talking about those severe guilt cases. We are talking about medium guilt cases where there can be release and restoration.
We also note the pillar of justice of proportionate punishment indicated by the words “with the number of stripes according to his guilt.” Verse 2.
“3 O God, restore us
And cause Your face to shine upon us, and we will be saved.
4 O LORD God of hosts,
How long will You be angry with the prayer of Your people?
5 You have fed them with the bread of tears,
And You have made them to drink tears in large measure.
6 You make us an object of contention to our neighbors,
And our enemies laugh among themselves.
7 O God of hosts, restore us
And cause Your face to shine upon us, and we will be saved.” Psalm 80:3-7.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 