Granting a certificate of divorce was actually merciful. It allowed the woman to leave and granted her legal standing. In fact, many of these laws are merciful. You can stay away from war for a year if you are newly married (perhaps to have a child). You can’t take away something that someone uses to make a living. You shouldn’t oppress the poor legally or economically. You need to make sure that you leave something from your harvest for those who are less fortunate than you are. It’s even a mercy that you can’t be judged for someone else’s sin! And to receive mercy from God, you needed to make sure that you followed His commands.
Thought for the day: Showing mercy is an essential part of our walk and witness.
Matthew 5:7 (WEB) “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.”
Matthew 23:13 (WEB) “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and as a pretense you make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.”
James 1:27 (WEB) “Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this: to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.”
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