THE CONTEXT OF RESPONSIBILITY, REHABILITATION AND

RESTORATION IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

INTRODUCTION
According to a scholar from Campbell, the law (Torah) represents the
stipulations of the covenant. These laws should not be divorced from their
narrative context, which is the establishing of the covenant between God and
Israel at Sinai. That is, these laws were not given in a vacuum. To divorce
them from their context is to distort them. Three of the Legislative Codes will
be discussed in this paper, i.e., the Covenant Code (of Abraham), the
Holiness Code (of Moses) and the Deuteronomic Code.

This paper attempts to discuss the concepts of Responsibility,

Rehabilitation and Restoration as expressions of biblical justice in the 3
legislative codes of the Old Testament. The main distinction between Justice
in the Old Testament and Justice as related in the New Testament.
Conceivably, the most common difference between the Old and New
Testaments relates to the balance between justice and mercy. Under the Old
Testament law, a strong emphasis was stressed on justice and the
punishments to be leveled at those who committed crimes. Oft quoted is the
phrase an eye for an eye, which comes from the Law of Moses which had
punishments equivalent to the crime. While in the New Testament, it
emphasized the importance of love your neighbor, and forgiving those who
transgress against us, to a greater extent than in the Old Testament.

RESPONSIBILITY
The Covenant Codes economic norms focus heavily on the
responsibilities that come with property and wealth, and the duty to assist
the vulnerable and the distressed. An example of this is stressed by Exodus
21:1-2 which narrates that the male salves are freed after six years of
service. In Exodus 21:7-11 a daughter sold into slavery by her father and
who subsequently marries the master of the masters son must be treated
properly, even if the marriage fails. Though exodus teaches us about the
productive opportunities for the poor. We must not forget that God also
teaches the wealthy to be responsible in their resources so as not to injure
our brethrens rights. The values underlying the law under the Covenants
Code may offer a significant contribution to the design and execution of
systems of public welfare, personal charity, and corporate social
responsibility. For example, a wealthy person may extend assistance to
vulnerable brethren by providing him employment for the latters source of
living.

Leviticus 19 in the Holiness Code states our responsibility to observe

Sabbath. In this day and age, as we become busy in our everyday dealings,
we might forget spending time doing nothing but praising God. I think one of
the many responsibilities that we have as pointed out by the Holiness Code is
the proper observance of the Sabbath day and as pointed out in Exodus 31:7
The Sabbath obligation is the "sign" of the covenant treaty.

Deuteronomic Code contains urgent calls to faithfulness and social

responsibility.

REHABILITATION

Deuteronomic Code provides The Year for Canceling Debts in

Deuteronomy 15:1-11 wherein in every end of Seventh Year, debts are
cancelled as against who owes them. This is how it is to be done: Every
creditor shall cancel any loan they have made to a fellow Israelite. They shall
not require payment from anyone among their own people, because
the Lords time for canceling debts has been proclaimed.

The Lord proclaimed that if there are poor in our brethrens, we should
not be tightfisted towards them; instead, we should learn to give what we
have so that they also grow. The Lord further proclaimed, Give generously
to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this
the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put
your hand to. There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I
command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor
and needy in your land.

RESTORATION

Under The Covenant Code, Exodus speaks of the liability in case of

loss or injury. Literally, the law says to pay with a life for a life that is taken,
as well as an eye for an eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,
burn for burn, wound for wound, and stripe for stripe (Exod. 21:23-25).

As pointed out by J.K. Bruckner in his book "Ethics," Dictionary of the

Old Testament: Pentateuch , The whole of Leviticus is dedicated to the
restoration of purity (cleanness) from the state of uncleanness. Cleanness
denotes an ordered relationship with God, creating capacity for holy
character. As pointed out by Leviticus 19, the law demands the control of
sexual instinct in order to restore purity. The physical life by which life is
generated must be treated responsibly. Among ethical duties, that of sexual
decency is singled out for particular emphasis. The Torah demands the
controlnot the suppression ofthe sexual instinct. Life is sacred. The physical
process by which life is generated is to be treated responsibly.

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Deuteronomy 22:1-4 If you see your fellow Israelites ox or sheep
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straying, do not ignore it but be sure to take it back to its owner. If they do
not live near you or if you do not know who owns it, take it home with you
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and keep it until they come looking for it. Then give it back. Do the same if
you find their donkey or cloak or anything else they have lost. Do not ignore
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it. If you see your fellow Israelites donkey or ox fallen on the road, do not
ignore it. Help the owner get it to its feet. Basically, the verses talks about
the ordering of the restoration of lost property once found. It literally talks
about giving back whatever material things found to the true owner of such.
COCLUSION

Though the Old testaments teachings of Justice focused mainly on

what is written on the scriptures and the New Testament lies on the
teachings of Christ, we can see the similarities of the laws indicated therein.
The laws that the scriptures prohibits us from doing and as well as those
commandments we must be following must be seen in our faithful
observation and should not be limited to just knowing. How the Old
Testament discussed Responsibility, Rehabilitation and Restoration gives us
the entire overview of what Justice is in the context of Gods teachings which
must be observed also in the Laws of Man.