Having outlined the 10 core values of Jewish society - values about respect of God, respect of self, and respect of neighbours' life and possession, Moses now enters a discussion of what these values look like in society when they are lived out.
Today's passage continues with a discussion on kindness and generosity - in particular, "don't kick people when they are down."
Moses mentions three groups of vulnerable people: foreigners, orphans and widows, and people who owe money.
Moses expects them to be kind to strangers, as they remember how the Egyptians were not kind to them. Second, they are to take care of widows and orphans - that the punishment for ignoring them is death. Third, they are not to make money unreasonably from people who owe money. In fact, debt holders have a responsibility to their debtees.
Write
Think about your faith story: in what ways you have experienced being vulnerable as a stranger, as a person without means of support, and as a person who owes money.
In your life presently, in what setting you feel most vulnerable as a stranger?
In your life presently, who are the strangers, widows and orphans, and owe-ers God has put into your life?
Pray
What
is God saying to you today? What's Good News to you?
Talk to God about your experience with feeling vulnerable as a stranger, a widow and orphan, or as someone who owes money. Thank God his passion for the vulnerable, and his mssion for you to love those who are strangers, widows and orphans, and those who owe money.
Pray about the places in your life where you feel an outsider. Ask God for he wisdom and support to find the other outsiders and bring them the help and love of God.
Pray for an experience of God's love, grace and mercy in the way he takes care of your vilnerabilities, and the way he uses them to bring good news to the most vulnerable people in the world.