“If a person sins against a fellow member of the community, and he is made to swear under oath, and he comes and swears before your altar in this house, then hear in heaven, act, and judge your servants, condemning the wicked, so that his way of life devolves on his own head, and vindicating the one who is right, giving him what his righteousness deserves.” – 1 Kings 8:31
Alrighty, so let’s start diving into Solomon’s specific petitions towards the Lord in his dedication prayer.
The first one deals with oaths and vows sworn at the Temple connected to money disputes.
When the case is presented in court, the judges, after hearing the claim, impose an oath on the accused party who insists his rear end is innocent.
Why is an oath being imposed upon the homie?
Because there aren’t any witnesses to support his claim of innocence.
So the Lord is being asked to step in as a guarantor.
Remember, any oath or vow is backed by the Lord’s holy name.
Since God knows all things and nothing can be hidden from Him, He is being petitioned to protect His holy name and judge the guilty party in the event the homie is lying.
So how will the Lord level judgment on the transgressor if his claim to innocence was a lie?
Judgment could take form in a variety of ways.
The wrongdoer could suffer a shortened life, infertility, fields that don’t yield crops, illness, or any manner of unfortunate circumstance.
The bottom line here is that justice will be carried out in accordance with Torah.
And who is the author of Torah?
It is the Lord Himself.
That’s why He is being asked to step in as a guarantor.
Here are the Torah references connected to what I just discussed:
“If a person entrusts a neighbor with money or goods,
And they are stolen from the trustee’s house,
Then, if the thief is found, he must pay double.
But if the thief is not found,
Then the trustee must state before God
That he did not take the person’s goods himself.
In every case of dispute over ownership,
Whether of an ox, donkey, sheep, clothing,
Or any missing property, where one person says,
“This is mine,” both parties are to come
Before God; and the one whom God condemns
Must pay the other one double.
If a person trusts a neighbor to look after
A donkey, ox, sheep, or any animal,
And it dies, is injured, or driven away unseen,
Then the neighbor’s oath before ADONAI
That he has not taken the goods
Will settle the matter between them.
The owner is to accept it without
The neighbor’s making restitution.
But if it was stolen from the neighbor,
He must make restitution to the owner.
If it was torn to pieces by an animal,
The neighbor must bring it as evidence,
And then he doesn’t need to make good the loss.”
Exodus 22:6–12 CJB
“If someone sins and acts perversely against ADONAI
By dealing falsely with his neighbor
Regarding a deposit or security entrusted to him,
By stealing from him, or by extorting him,
Or by dealing falsely regarding a lost object
He has found, or by swearing to a lie—
If a person commits any of these sins,
Then, if he sinned and is guilty,
He is to restore whatever it was he stole
Or obtained by extortion,
or whatever was deposited with him,
Or the lost object which he found,
Or anything about which he has sworn falsely.
He is to restore it in full
Plus an additional one-fifth; he must return it
To the person who owns it,
On the day when he presents his guilt offering.”
Leviticus 5:21–24 CJB
Alrighty, so what’s the takeaway here?
It can be found in the first verse from the Leviticus excerpt:
“If someone sins and acts perversely against ADONAI
By dealing falsely with his neighbor…”
Now, isn’t it interesting that a sin against your neighbor is considered to be a sin against the Lord?
That’s right, homies.
According to the ancient Hebrew mindset, all sins committed were first and foremost an offense against the Lord, even though the wrong done was something that harmed a fellow human being.
This makes sense because the Torah states that ADAM, or mankind, was created in God’s image.
So when we hurt our fellow man, we are acting perversely against the Lord.
So think about that the next time you’re considering engaging in some dishonest behavior towards a fellow human being, whether friend or foe.
Ya feel me?
Done.
CONNECTING THIS TEACHING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT
“Love the Lord your God with all
your heart and with all your soul
and with all your mind and
with all your strength.’
The second is this:
‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
There is no commandment
greater than these.”
– Mark 12:30-31
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