"Brief Devotions For Busy Lives" by Rev. Dr. Mary Johnson: Deuteronomy 20:19

 May 17

"If you besiege a town for a long time, making war against it in order to take it, you must not destroy its trees by wielding an ax against them. Although you may take food from them, you must not cut them down. Are trees in the field human beings that they should come under siege from you?" - Deuteronomy 20:19 (NRSV)

The Bible is filled with many provisions and laws designed to protect the environment and God's creation. This verse from the Levitical Code or laws governing the Hebrew nation, is only one of hundreds of provisions ensuring environmental justice. From these teachings and others, we learn that protecting the environment is a biblical obligation that not only protects God's creation (including us), but also teaches principles of self-restraint, compassion and empathy. God commands that care should be taken in besieging cities, so fruit-trees aren't destroyed. God is often a better friend to us than we are to him. His laws ultimately protect our interests. Many biblical laws keep us from destroying the earth and it creatures, practicing cruelty, and unwise use of the environment. The Bible views all God's creatures as good. Nothing should be abused. Careless waste is considered sinful.

While biblical environmental values don't completely match modern "environmentalism," it is likely the environmentalist movement derived inspiration from these values. Even if we don't consider ourselves "environmentalists," we should still do everything within our means to ensure a bright future for future generations, if we take the teachings of the Bible seriously. Recognizing how fragile our planet is reminds us of the great responsibilities God entrusted to us, not just for our own physical survival, but also for the fulfillment of our Divine mission to care for all of God's creation. God's beautiful world is not something we should ever take for granted, tamper with, or exploit. Try to do one small thing every day to work for a cleaner and more peaceful earth. Our world depends on your success.

Prayer: Lord, Thank you for all your creation! Amen. 

 Meditation For The Day: Trees are God's protected gift to us!

Brief Devotions For Busy Lives: Daily Spring Renewal Paperback – February 21, 2017, by Rev. Dr. Mary Johnson (Author)