DAILY HOPE DEVOTIONAL: JULY 8 WRONG APPLICATION OF THE LAW OF TIT FOR TAT (1) SCRIPTURE: EXODUS 21: 23 – 25; LEVITICUS 24: 17 – 21; Deuteronomy 19: 21

The world at large is suffering from wrong use of laws, misinterpreted constitutions as well as injected ideas to doctrinal documents on the parts of the religious bodies. The genesis of overwhelming hate amongst people towards fellow humans, spread of violence for violence, murdering of innocent people through reprisal attacks and wanton destructions of private and public infrastructures are greatly as results of wrong use of laws, misguided application of constitutions as well as injections of human views to religious doctrines. Amongst others, this devotional series will be dedicated to, is generally known as “TIT FOR TAT.” Biblically, we can put the law of “TIT FOR TAT” as “The Law of Retaliation.” The Bible says in Exod. 21: 23 – 25 that “…You shall give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.” This law is discussed intensely in Leviticus 24.

This law has, at several times and by many religious bodies, even outside the Christian religion, been wrongly understood and applied. To many interpreters of this law in such wrong ways, the law can bring respite and solutions to injured actions. The phrase “tit for tat” is described by Cambridge English Dictionary as something “done intentionally to punish other people because they have done something unpleasant to you.” The Lexicon English Dictionary describes it as “The principle or law of retaliation that a punishment inflicted should correspond in degree and kind to the offense of the wrongdoer, as an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth; retributive justice.” These two descriptions tend to put the execution of the law of tit for tat in the hands of the court to procure justices. God gave this law to the Israelites for social justices and fair treatments on one another. It has never been given to individuals for personal vengeance.

Today’s devotional is just to explain this law in its simplest term. God allowed it to be used for checks and balances in controlling the Israelites against unfair treatments against one another. It was meant for community peaceful existence among people living together. It was extended to “Law of Restorations” where a man who kills a fellow man intentionally most be killed or one who forcefully took the neighbour’s goat or oxen has to be forced to replace what is forcefully taken as can be seen in (LEV. 24: 17 – 21). The set of this devotional will bring to fore, how the law can be used properly. Follow us as we journey along. You will be highly blessed at the end.

PRAYERS:

1. FATHER, you warned us not to add nor subtract from your words in the Bible (Rev. 22:18). Therefore, I pray for genuinely understanding of the law of “TIT FOR TAT” in Jesus name.

2. Holy Spirit of God, guide me through this devotional to enable me assimilate the proper meanings of the law of “TIT FOR TAT ” in the name of Jesus Christ.

POSITIVE DECLARATION:

I take upon my heart and mind grace to understand the words of God as they rightly mean in Jesus name.

bishopubaudenyi@hopealivechurch