Deuteronomy 20-22

When I read passages like this I often struggle to find the message for me as well as those who first heard this message. Moses reminds the Israelites of the application of all of the laws that God has laid out as a part of their covenant. But these rules seem to have nothing to do with worshiping God. They dictate civility among the people of covenant. So we run into the danger of separating life into religious and secular domains. But these rules indicate that God does not expect the hearts of his people in matters that deal with their relationship with him. God is making it plain that part of his covenant with us defines how we interact with those in his community. Everything about life is an expression of our relationship with God. Maybe this thought is what John had in mind when he wrote; "If anyone says, 'I love God,' yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen." (1 Jn 4:20)
Stuart