Am I My Brother's Keeper?

This Sunday, Mr. Horn, preached about Deuteronomy 21:22 through Deuteronomy 22:8.

Am I My Brothers Keeper? Yes! I am my brother’s keeper. The word brother does not only mean your blood brother, it also means any one around you is your brother. The first act of being your brother’s keeper mentioned in this text is in 21:22-23.If a person does something deserving of death, you should hang him from a tree. You are not supposed to leave him hanging on the tree over night. The same day that you hang him is the same day you’re supposed to bury him. This may not seem like an act of kindness, but it will put fear in the people of the city. They will know what will happen if they did the same thing that the person did who is hanging.

In chapter 22, verse 1-3 we are told that if we see someone’s lost property we are to get it, take care of it, and keep it in a place where every one can see it, and wait for the owner to come, and claim it. We are not to keep lost property hidden, or keep it for ourselves.

In chapter 22, verse 4, it says that if we see our brother’s animal struggling under its load, we are to lessen the animals load and help it.

In chapter 22, verse 5, it says that it is an abomination to the Lord for a man to wear a woman’s clothes, or for a woman to wear a men’s clothes (even clothes that are made for a woman but look like mans clothes). Mr. Horn explained that this verse is speaking about roles. If a woman puts on clothes to do something that is a man’s role, then that is wrong. It also goes for men. So is it wrong for a woman to wear pants? This is a very hard question to answer. Mr. Horn also explained the history of women wearing pants. During World War II woman started to wear pants because they wanted to work like men. Before that, a feminist also introduced a type of pants because she wanted to be free from women’s clothes. A feminist is a woman who wants to be equal to a man. It was not too long ago that no woman would ever even consider wearing pants. In my family my mom and sister wear dresses and skirts. I like that.

Some people think that clothes are not important to God, but everything is important to God, even our clothes. God knows the amount of hairs on our head. But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. (Luke 12:7) If God knows and cares about details like our hair, then it is obvious that he even cares about our clothes. We should be careful to please God with our clothing.

Than in chapter 22, verse 6-7, it says that if you happen upon a nest with a mother bird sitting on eggs, or chicks you are not allowed to take the mother you are only allowed to take the eggs, or chicks for your own purposes, but you are not allowed to take the mother. If God cares for the birds, how much more does he care for us? If God cares for animals, then we should care for those around us because people are more valuable than animals.

Lastly, in chapter 22, verse 8, it says that when you build your house (with a flat roof), you have to make a railing around the edge of the roof to keep any one from falling off. How is this being your brother’s keeper? You protect his life. This also means we need to make all dangerous places on our property safe.

I learned many things from this message. Most of all, I learned that I need to be conscious of everyone around me, not just my own family. I need to care for my fellow man and help anyone who has a need.