Oct. 17, 2005

Dueteronomy. 22:8 "When thou buildest a new house, then thou shalt make a battlement for thy roof, that thou bring not blood upon thine house, if any man fall from thence."

In my trip through the book of Deuteronomy, I came to the 22nd chapter today. While I've read some real spirit-provoking things, this stood out to me. The ancient Israelites had houses with flat roofs. For the safety of whoever may have needed to go up on the roof, the homeowner would build a low wall, or battlement, around the roof's perimeter. History says that it was probably 3 1/2 feet high. This really protected both the homeowner and whoever was up on the roof. You see, if someone still managed to fall off the roof with a retaining wall in place, it means he was more than likely being negligent, and the homeowner was not responsible for whatever may have happened. If, on the other hand, the owner of the house failed to put the wall up, he was responsible for whatever happened.

How does this relate to us in the body of Christ? The bible tells us to not to look out for our ourselves only, but to look out for others as well. It also tells us to mind our weaker brother. Paul used the example of one who could eat meat without damage to his conscience, but abstained for the sake of his brother who felt it wrong. Don't cause your brother or sister in Christ to stumble. What are the "Romans 14" issues today? This is how we "build the wall". Remember, "but take heed, lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak" (1 Cor. 8:9). With this in mind, let us "build the wall" around the roof our lives, and so do well in protecting those around us.