Deuteronomy 24 - God Protects the Vulnerable

When your ability to turn labor into the means to sustain your family is threatened, you need a Champion who will protect you from those who would seek to use your situation for their gain.  The people of God are challenged in this chapter to defend the cause of the needy, not being a party to oppression. 

In this chapter God mentions a few classes of people who should be protected: 

1. The divorced woman (Deut 24:1-4)- specifically charges the man who has divorced her not to remarry if she should be divorced a second time.  Perhaps so that he will not receive the dowry twice. 

2.  Newly weds (Deut 24:5)- Not to send the husband to war so that he may have opportunity to father children with his new wife. 

3.  Debt Collateral (Deut 24:6, 10-13). - if someone comes to you for a loan, you shouldn't remove their means to gain income as collateral or their necessities of life (coat etc). This person is on a vulnerable state and you shouldn't make his situation worse. 

4.  Slavery (Deut 24:7) - I wish I could say this doesn't apply to today, but sadly servitude continues with those in power victimizing their captives. 

5. Withholding Payment (Deut 24:14-15). If someone has worked and provided a service we should be careful to pay infill and promptly. They depend on their wages to provide for their families. God hears the prayers of the poor and will charge you for any mistreatment. 

6.  Accountability. (Deut 24:16) - the criminal is the one accountable for his crime. Friends and family are not held responsible for the unrighteousness acts of the criminal. 

7.  Victimizing the Outcast (Deut 24:17-18) the passage specifically mentions the alien living in Israel because their nationality was so intertwined in their culture. But beyond nationality, there are classes of people you can think of even now who don't get fair treatment. We was to consider their needs and not mistreat these people. We could be in the same state but for the grace of God. 

8.  Providing for the Poor (Deut 25:19-22). When we provide for our own families, we should set aside a portion for the poor and allow them to have some. Note the poor were to harvest their own grain and it was not just a hand out. I believe if we as the church body took this to heart we would see any be helped and transition from the need to stability. 

As you can see there are a net of types of vulnerable peoples in this passage. Each could become a post of its own, but I trust the Holy Spirit can instruct your heart to become a Champion for a vulnerable one in your life. 

May God richly bless you as you seek Him and as you serve Him.