Exodus 21-22  Moses recorded "ordinances" ( judicial verdicts)  and laws, detailing how the people of God were to walk.  Verse 31 of chapter 22 sums up His purpose.. " And you shall be holy men to Me.. "

All of these ordinances, commands, statutes, precepts, and laws were given for one purpose.. to establish the standards of conduct/action for God's holy people.  These define righteous living.

God gave Moses extraordinary wisdom and knowledge. Moses sought the Lord for discernment and understanding and wisdom.  These particular laws were given for the Israelites so that they would know how to live in ways that pleased God.

These ordinances dealt with how to treat other people. They detailed how acts against another should be justly punished or repaid.  They were fair and sensible.  But, some are a bit shocking to our modern thinking. For example, a person who cursed or struck their parent was to be put to death. Think how that would change our societies if it were put into the Laws of this world!

The Lord seems to have a special concern for widows and orphans. We find this all through the Scriptures.  Here we see a strong proclamation, " You shall not afflict any widow or orphan. If you afflict him at all, and if he does cry out to Me, I will surely hear his cry; and My anger will be kindled, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall become widows and your children fatherless." ( 22:22-24)

Father in heaven, may we walk according to Your Word, in the ways of righteousness. We know that we have no righteousness of our own, but we have the perfect Righteousness of Christ Jesus the Lord.
Clothe us in Him, that we might walk in wisdom and understanding, with discernment.  Fill us with Your Spirit continually, so that we might walk in the Light as You are in the Light. Keep our steps from evil and keep us from the lies of the enemy.  We ask this in the Name of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the Wisdom of God, who came for us; Amen.