when reading through the next portions of the Old Testament, it is really important to have a New testament overlay to what is being commanded.  Think of these commands in light of what we know about Jesus, and following him, as well as all that has been given to us by the apostles in the the New Testament letters.

Here is a helpful guide as you read through various commands:

1. What does this tell me about God’s character, that he would want his people to act this way or NOT this way?
2. What does this tell me about the heart of mankind, that we would need to be given this or that instruction?
3. What current practice is similar to what is talked about in the command that this would apply to?
4. What principle about life and truth is evident in the command that should be followed?
5. What command or instruction in the New Testament reflects the same principle?

Let’s see a few of these in practice:

22:25 “If you lend money to any of my people with you who is poor, you shall not be like a moneylender to him, and you shall not exact interest from him. 26 If ever you take your neighbor’s cloak in pledge, you shall return it to him before the sun goes down, 27 for that is his only covering, and it is his cloak for his body; in what else shall he sleep? And if he cries to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate.

1. This tells us that God doesn’t not take advantage of people. There is a concern and a compassion for the needs of others, that He does not want us to ignore.
2. We seek to profit from other’s misfortune…the cost of umbrellas increases on a rainy day. It is easy for us to forget about the needs of others, and to be unemotionally concerned about business transactions. Again, the way mortgages were handed out without any regard for the consequences is unconscionable.
3. Current Money-lending practices are far from this pattern. usually the poor are in a high risk category, and so they pay MORE interest, even though they make less money. To draw higher percentages of profit from weathier people is consistent with their ability to pay. (This is within reason, and must be paired with verses discouraging laziness.)
4. Ethics are essential in business.
5. James gives the instruction in Acts 15 to remember the poor, as well as not to give preference to the wealthy.

Hope that helps as you read.