"The Book of the Covenant is more like a guide to cases than a strict legal code. ... [It was] never intended to cover every conceivable case but rather to establish legal precedents that wise leaders could use to adjudicate other situations as they arose. Although these laws were given to Israel as a nation under God and thus are no longer binding in all their detail, they are based on moral principles that teach us the character of God and can still help to guide society today."
Some thoughts as I was reading:
1. One section of the Book of the Covenant that can be troubling for modern readers is the guidelines for slaves and their masters. But "here it is important to know that because servitude was usually voluntary and intended to be temporary (people often worked as slaves to pay off their debts or to make restitution), the institution of slavery in Israel was different in some important ways from the degrading and dehumanizing practice of permanent, involuntary slavery that was later practiced in Africa and the West. ... The laws in this section are intended to protect the rights of slaves and their families."
In other words, this section actually promotes love for one's neighbor. It demonstrates that human beings are creatures with inherent dignity and respect. It's notable that Exod. 21:16 prescribes the death penalty for anyone who kidnaps a slave or anyone who owns a kidnapped slave.
The Bible assumes the inherent dignity of every human being.
2. I was also struck by this section's emphasis on respect for the land. The Bible shows that the land itself is important and ought to be respected and not overworked. Every seventh year, the land itself was to be given rest. How different from the way Americans treat land. The subculture I have grown up with sees environmentalism as a dirty word, but they have no problem with industrial farming. From what I read here in Exodus, I believe that industrial farming is a great evil, and that God despises it.
3. Although the regulations here are not permanent, this section does assume a real, permanent Moral Order that we must follow if we desire to have a good life. Everything has its place--respect for the land, respect for other people, sexuality, marriage and family life, the worship of God, the rhythm of work and celebration (interestingly, feasts are required). To have a good life, everything must be in harmony--human beings must be in harmony with themselves, with God, with each other, with the land, with strangers, with all things. This passage also shows that our affections must be in tune with this Moral Order, that we might follow it not only externally, but internally. The Moral Order must guide our affections.
