Today's Reading is Deuteronomy 22-23...
My thoughts on today's reading...
Okay, so today's readings including some pretty random laws, some of which make sense to us, others which we might find a little different. The overall theme of much of these laws is that God's people are called to love their neighbor, act justly and show love to all while being obedient to God's law. For example, we might say losers weepers... you lost it, it's your loss, where the encouragement for Israel is to help out your neighbor in their loss, either by returning it if you are able, or holding on to it, in case your neighbor comes looking for it. Or building a parapet, a protective lower wall around your roof, so no one might accidently fall off.
There are also guidelines for sexual immorality which seeks to protect from falsehood and preserve the life of the innocent, but punishing the sinful immorality to remove the stain of sin from the community.
In chapter 23 we hear about who is able to enter into the Lord's place of worship, excluding for example the Ammonites and Moabites who were relatives to Israel as descendants of Lot, but who refused to help Israel as they traveled to the promised land. On the other hand, Edom who is descended from Esau and even Egypt are not to be rejected and in the 3rd generation are allowed into the assembly.
There is also some guidance about personal hygiene... who ever thought that when you were reading the Scriptures you'd be thinking to yourself... TMI Moses... to much information, but of course it was instruction from the Lord through Moses to make the camp of the Israelites a sacred place. The remaining part of Chapter 23 includes a few other laws for their benefit. Again, remember that overall theme that Israel was to be holy, set apart and different than the surrounding nations.