Contemplative Bible Reading

Deuteronomy 21:18-21 (New Living Translation)

18 “Suppose a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey his father or mother, even though they discipline him. 19 In such a case, the father and mother must take the son to the elders as they hold court at the town gate. 20 The parents must say to the elders, ‘This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious and refuses to obey. He is a glutton and a drunkard.’ 21 Then all the men of his town must stone him to death. In this way, you will purge this evil from among you, and all Israel will hear about it and be afraid.

This post is a bit unusual as I am included several verses above. These verses are from THE LAW the people were to observe. This specific law is about a stubborn and rebellious son. The parents of this son are to take him to the elders at the town gate when the elders hold court. The charges against the son include “glutton and drunkard.”

Ooh. Gluttony seems to be the national pastime in America today as we over eat all the time. Okay, drunkard is pretty serious as it impairs judgement and brings dangerous drunk driving and the like.

So what do they do with a son who indulges too much on a Friday night? Surround the son and have the men throw rocks at the boy until he dies.

Whoa! Wait a minute. That’s a bit harsh, huh? Why? To purge the evil and bring fear into the community.

Whoa! Wait a minute. Sure, this was in ancient times and all that and surely we know better today, right, huh? I mean, capital punishment for too much to eat and too much alcohol? And, by the way, this regulation is not rescinded in the New Testament. Hmm. Well, it must have been negated at the Council of something-or-other in some century long ago, right? Hmm. Well, nope, it wasn’t.

Whoa! Wait a minute. Where are we? When are we? What are we to do? I am not advocating this punishment for these offenses. What should we do with such a stubborn and rebellious son or any person who is a glutton and a drunkard? I will leave suggestions to the readers. I pray for the parents of such a son. I pray for all who know any such person.