During his November 20thaddress regarding his executive order relative to immigrants, president Obama invoked an interesting Scripture passage to support his position.
His exact words:
“Scripture tells us that we shall not oppress a stranger, for we know the heart of a stranger – we were strangers once, too.”
It appears he was quoting from Exodus 23:9.
“Also you shall not oppress a stranger, for you know the heart of a stranger, because you were strangers in the land of Egypt.” NKJV
Hebrew synonyms for ‘stranger’ include sojourner (KJV) or alien (NIV). And as Webster defines ‘alien’ as a foreign born citizen/resident and ‘immigrant’ as one who comes to a country to take up permanent residence, the president’s quote was relevant.
But equally important when applying Jewish law to America, another Scripture needs to be considered.
“Cursed is the one who does not confirm all the words of this law.” Deuteronomy 27:26
The New Testament confirms that if one wants to apply and live by God’s law the entire law must be obeyed.
Also, there was one law for both the Israelites and the ‘stranger’ in the land.
“You shall have the same law for the stranger and for one from our own country; for I am the LORD your God.” Leviticus 24:22
Several other provisions relative to ‘strangers’ must be observed.
“And whoever blasphemes the name of the LORD shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall certainly stone him, the stranger as well as him who is born in the land…” Leviticus 24:16
When the day that Israel decided they wanted a king to rule them instead of God, they were given specific instructions relative to their king.
“When you come to the land which the LORD your God is giving you…and say, ‘I will set a king over me like all the nations that are around me,’ you shall surely set a king over you whom the LORD your God chooses; one from among your brethren you shall set as king over you; you may not set a foreigner over you, who is not your brother.” Deuteronomy 17:14-15
Furthermore, there would be no separation between Israel’s religion and their government, i.e. no such thing as separation of ‘church and state’. Their king was to study, understand, and apply the same set of instructions given to the ‘priests’.
“Also it shall be, when he (king) sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write for himself a copy of this law in a book, from the one before the priests…and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God and be careful to observe all the words of this law and these statutes, that his heart may not be lifted above his brethren, that he may not turn aside from the commandment to the right hand or to the left…” Deuteronomy 17:18-20a
And it is always popular for any president, or presidential candidate, to proclaim America as the most exceptional nation on the face of the earth.
Such a claim was also addressed in the ‘book’ that the king was to study and apply.
“For you (Israel) are a holy people (nation) to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth.” Deuteronomy 7:6
The bottom line is that President Obama is totally correct in applying Old Testament Jewish law to the current age.
“Now all these things happened to them (Israelites) as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.” 1 Corinthians 10:11
There are many other major issues facing this great nation; however, the Bible has already spelled out the end in detail. Hopefully our president will continue to study, quote, and apply Scripture.
If he will indeed take his Bible seriously, we could expect tremendous changes and focus on foreign policy, especially as it relates to Israel and ISIS.
The alternative is terrifying.
“Because you disdained all my counsel…I also will laugh at your calamity…” Proverbs 1:25-26