Happy Monday, well if you guessed that the Mayflower first landed on Cape Cod, which is now Provincetown, Mass. you were right. However after they found a safe harbor to anchor the ship, they begin unloading the 102 settlers on the location of Plymouth Rock.
Imagine traveling to what had been dubbed "the end of the earth" on an uninhabited land, and beginning the process of establishing a new government.. They began this mission to bring the Biblical order to a new land. In order to begin this new world order, here they agreed to establish laws agreed upon by the people of this Mayflower Compact. Miles Standish, agreed to faithfully carry out these laws. They created a society which was primarily established on the Hebrew law of the Old Testament.
By the way, Do you know why the barber won the race? Because she knew all the shortcuts. Ho, ho, sorry its Monday & I had to pass on the puny joke.
Monday 3/6
Prov. 28:21 "Showing partiality is never good, yet some will do wrong for a mere piece of bread."
This warning is setting forward the harm brought upon any group of people who show partiality or acceptting bribes to determine the tenets of the law. Just as our justice system is visualized by "Lady Justice" who is blind folded to set forward this principle of being blinded from any form of injustice, partiality, or bribes. Justice is only based on the facts of this matter.
This was the very foundation that God & Solomon laid out as the rule of law. Who would have known that these warnings would become the standard by which fair & just laws would be needed.
Lev. 19:15 was the foundation in God's laws. "Do not twist justice in legal matters by favoring the poor or being partial to the rich and powerful. Always judge people fairly."
Moses emphasized this same guideline in Deut. 1:16 "You must hear cases of your fellow Israelites and foreigners living among you. Be perfectly fair in your decisions and impartial in your judgements."
Either of these wrongs will result in the perversion of justice. Prov. 17:23 confirmed this. "The wicked take secret bribes to pervert the course of justice."
Our present day court system isn't perfect, but when it honors these principles, justice will be upheld.
It is very easy to allow for exceptions of God's guidelines in our own lives, however, Solomon provides these warnings for us, because he knew the harm that is brought to a nation by allowing for these temptations to begin to be allowed.
We see many examples in the Bible where favor was extended beyond Gods laws, and how that deception brought harm to all of the people of the nation. We see that, played out even in Davids household. When he showed favor to one of his sons rather than punish him. This resulted in jealousy, anger, and even resulted in murder, all because of David ignoring his sons wrong doing.
It is so easy for us to overlook wrong doing in someone who is generally generous, or helpful isn't it? But this sort of partial action will result in harm, especially in our own lives. We must judge harshly our sins, repent and turn from them. Then and only then will wholness be experienced.
So Go With God my dear one, recognize wrong in your life, strive for a repentant heart and turn to our Fathers forgiveness. Jesus spoke to those who thought they were sinless because of their traditions, (the Pharisees & Sadducees) . He said to them, in Matt. 3:8 "Produce fruit in keeping with repentance." Oh my dear ones, we must strive for openness, holiness & rightness in our lives, for then comes blessings, and wholeness to our lives.