Deuteronomy 25:5-10 (ESV)
“If brothers dwell together, and one of them dies and has no son, the wife of the dead man shall not be married outside the family to a stranger. Her husband’s brother shall go in to her and take her as his wife and perform the duty of a husband’s brother to her. And the first son whom she bears shall succeed to the name of his dead brother, that his name may not be blotted out of Israel. And if the man does not wish to take his brother’s wife, then his brother’s wife shall go up to the gate to the elders and say, ‘My husband’s brother refuses to perpetuate his brother’s name in Israel; he will not perform the duty of a husband’s brother to me.’ Then the elders of his city shall call him and speak to him, and if he persists, saying, ‘I do not wish to take her,’ then his brother’s wife shall go up to him in the presence of the elders and pull his sandal off his foot and spit in his face. And she shall answer and say, ‘So shall it be done to the man who does not build up his brother’s house.’ And the name of his house shall be called in Israel, ‘The house of him who had his sandal pulled off.’
This might seem confusing to the Western world. But the above instructions were from God, but also practiced by many cultures during the days of Moses, but still true from some cultures today. This section of Deuteronomy is all about how people are treated by one another, based upon God’s holiness and moral character. There are several lessons for us in the above instructions:
1. God is always concerned about the welfare of women. It might not seem so to some, but God continues to elevate women. In those days if a woman lost her husband she had no one to care for her. The above law makes sure the widow is cared for.
2. The name of a man in the family was scarred. This allows any child born to the woman as a result of the brother-in-law marrying her to carry on the family name.
3. The land was very important to make sure it was kept in the family with fidelity. Marrying the brother-in-law would assure the family land stays in the family.
4. The law was based upon a moral code. The brother-in-law that rejected this moral code was put to shame in the public square. We are not told what the woman could do after this public shamming. But it would be assumed she could then marry outside the family. The but the land and the name would be put in jeopardy, if that were true.
This all brings to our attention what Paul wrote to Pastor Timothy:
1 Timothy 5:3-8 (ESV)
Honor widows who are truly widows. But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God. She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day, but she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives. Command these things as well, so that they may be without reproach. But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
God is concerned about those who are hurting and wants them cared for by those who are not.
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