4 Minute Read
Prepare Your Heart
To the best of your ability, get rid of all distractions. Take a few minutes to breathe deeply and quiet yourself in the Lord’s presence. Then, ask the Lord to speak to you in this time. Let Him know that you will listen and make whatever adjustments He will reveal to you.
Read God’s Word
A Verse for Today
Slowly and reflectively read the following verse(s) and listen to what God will say to you through His written Word. Consider writing down any insights He reveals to you.
Deuteronomy 25:4 (CSB): “Do not muzzle an ox while it treads out grain.”
Reflecting on God’s Word
When reading the Old Testament, realize that we shouldn’t merely read the words. We need to look for the meaning behind the words.
The verse I have chosen for today is a case in point. Is Deuteronomy 25:4 only concerned with caring for oxen when they are working? Or should we look for the meaning behind the primary meaning?
Fortunately, we are not limited to a worthless personal opinion. The Bible actually gives us an answer to those questions. Listen to what the Apostle Paul wrote to the Christians in the city of Corinth regarding the command in Deuteronomy 25:4.
1 Corinthians 9:9-10 (CSB): “For it is written in the law of Moses, ‘Do not muzzle an ox while it treads out grain.’ Is God really concerned about oxen? Isn’t he really saying it for our sake? Yes, this is written for our sake, because he who plows ought to plow in hope, and he who threshes should thresh in hope of sharing the crop.”
Did you get that? Paul said that God didn’t merely write Deuteronomy 25:4 to benefit the Old Testament oxen. He also wrote it for the Christians in Corinth (and us!). Paul said that the command has an even more important underlying principle: when someone is performing a task, let them enjoy the rewards of their work.
This principle shows up with specificity when Paul wrote to a young pastor named Timothy.
1 Timothy 5:17-18 (CSB): “The elders who are good leaders are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says: ‘Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,’ and, ‘The worker is worthy of his wages.'”
In these words, Paul used the meaning of the command in Deuteronomy to say that pastors who work hard at leading, preaching, and teaching should be able to enjoy the fruit of their labor, namely, to be paid for their work. The phrase “are to be considered worthy of double honor” means double honorarium or double pay. Most certainly, this isn’t to be taken literally, but Paul’s point is that industrious ministers should be generously compensated.
So, as I conclude my reflections, I want you to never become glassy-eyed as you read the commands and instructions in the Old Testament. There may be a tendency to believe that those commands are irrelevant to your life. Yet, if you look at the meaning of the commands, it’s quite possible that the meaning is totally relevant to you.
But you will have to study and meditate on Scripture to fully appreciate its contents. Believe me, it’s worth it!
Spend Time in Prayer
- Ask God to help you cultivate a hunger, even a fascination for His Word.
- Ask God to help you never be content with merely reading His Word but to cultivate a desire to study and meditate on it.
Going Deeper
If you want to dig a little deeper into how to mediate on the Bible, consider reading the following GotQuestions article:
“How can I meditate on God’s Word?”
Sharing
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Matt Ellis is the pastor of First Baptist Church in Polk City, Florida (fbcpolkcity.com)
Matt’s Musings 