Deuteronomy 24-25

“You shall give him his wages on his day before the sun sets, for he is poor and sets his heart on it” (24:15).  Within a very traditional patriarchal system, the Mosaic Law still respected the dignity of each person, whatever their situation or background.  Children couldn’t be punished for their families’ crimes, for example (v16). Widows and orphans received fair treatment (v17).  Rapists were treated as murderers and were executed, while victims went free (22:26).

In a broken world, the powerful will always try to dominate the powerless.  But God calls us to love as He loves and to serve as He serves (Phil 2:5).