RTW 2023

“When you go to war against your enemies, be sure to stay away from anything that is impure.

“Any man who becomes ceremonially defiled because of a nocturnal emission must leave the camp and stay away all day. Toward evening he must bathe himself, and at sunset he may return to the camp.

“You must have a designated area outside the camp where you can go to relieve yourself. Each of you must have a spade as part of your equipment. Whenever you relieve yourself, dig a hole with the spade and cover the excrement. The camp must be holy, for the Lord your God moves around in your camp to protect you and to defeat your enemies. He must not see any shameful thing among you, or he will turn away from you.“
Deuteronomy 23:9-14

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“When you are harvesting your crops and forget to bring in a bundle of grain from your field, don’t go back to get it. Leave it for the foreigners, orphans, and widows. Then the Lord your God will bless you in all you do. When you beat the olives from your olive trees, don’t go over the boughs twice. Leave the remaining olives for the foreigners, orphans, and widows. When you gather the grapes in your vineyard, don’t glean the vines after they are picked. Leave the remaining grapes for the foreigners, orphans, and widows. Remember that you were slaves in the land of Egypt. That is why I am giving you this command.”

Deuteronomy 24:19-22

• The people are to constantly remember their position and purpose.
• Their position is in covenant with God.
• Their purpose is to make Him known.
• Even in war.
• Remember our discussion about the Amorites.
• A people used as instruments of holy judgment cannot be filled with sin.
• Ceremonial cleanliness was mandatory for waging a holy war.
• Israel did not fight “typical” wars.
• Israel’s army fighting against the enemy was a religious gathering with God present, so the cleanliness laws applied.
• The army is engaged in a holy war which they cannot win without God.
• The purpose of ritual purity and personal hygiene was to keep person and place clean.
• These are to keep ritual purity; ritual impurity would cause God to abandon them.
• Don’t roll around in mud puddles.

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Watch! Stay Alert! Do not dabble with unholy things…we have a purpose! Stay out of the mud puddles.