Monday afternoon arrived quickly and Opie was finally at the church with Pastor Tucker.
"Okay, Opie, I'd like to you to read to me from Exodus, chapter twenty, verse fifteen," Pastor Tucker said.
"Do I have to? It's only one sentence. That's easy," Opie said.
"What does it say?" Pastor Tucker asked.
Opie sighed and read it.
"I meant out loud, Opie," Pastor Tucker said.
"It says no stealing," Opie said.
"You did steal, didn't you?" Pastor Tucker asked.
"I did. I didn't mean to," Opie said.
"You did disobey the Lord, Opie. God doesn't like it when we disobey the Father in Heaven," Pastor Tucker said.
"This is different, Pastor. I had to do it because I wanted to help Pa with his case," Opie said.
"Okay, Opie. I'd like you to continue reading to me out loud what Exodus chapter twenty – two verse one says," Pastor Tucker said.
Opie sighed a second time and saw the Scripture was talking about animals and not about his stealing evidence from a murder case.
"If someone steals an ox or a lamb and slaughters or sells it, the thief must pay five cattle in place of the ox and four sheep in place of the lamb. If the thief is caught while breaking in and is hit hard and dies, there is no bloodguilt. But if it happens after daybreak, there is bloodguilt," Opie read.
"Very good, Opie. How about Exodus chapter twenty – two, verse four," Pastor Tucker said.
"A thief must make full restitution for what is stolen. The thief who is unable to pay is to be sold for his thieving. If caught red – handed with the stolen goods, and the ox or donkey or lamb is still alive, the thief pays double," Opie read out loud.
"Now read to me from Exodus, chapter twenty – two, verse seven," Pastor Tucker said.
"If someone gives a neighbor money or things for safekeeping and they are stolen from the neighbor's home, the thief, if caught, must pay back double. If the thief is not caught, the owner must be brought before God to decide whether the owner was the one who took the neighbor's good," Opie continued.
"Now read from chapter twenty – two, verse eight," Pastor Tucker said.
"I read both," Opie said.
"Right. I forgot those were together," Pastor Tucker said.
"How about chapter twenty – two, verse nine," Pastor Tucker said.
"In all cases of stolen goods, whether the owner was the one who took the neighbor's goods, whether oxen, donkey, sheep, clothing, anything in fact missing of which someone says, 'That's mine,' both parties must come before the judges. The one the judges pronounce guilty must pay double to the other," Opie read.
"Very well, Opie. How about chapter twenty – two, verse ten," Pastor Tucker said.
"If someone gives a donkey or oxen or lamb or any kind of animal to another for safekeeping and it dies or is injured or lost and there is no witness, an oath before GOD must be made between them to decide whether one has laid hands assessed. But if it turns out it was stolen, the owner must be compensated. If it has been torn by wild beasts, the torn animal must be brought in as evidence; no damages have to be paid," Opie read on.
"How about chapter twenty – two, verse fourteen," Pastor Tucker said.
Opie sighed again and continued.
"If someone borrows an animal from a neighbor and it gets injured or dies while the owner is not present, he must pay for it. But if the owner was with it, he doesn't have to pay. If the animal was hired, the payment covers the loss," Opie said and shut the book.
"We're not finished yet, young man," Pastor Tucker said.
"We ain't?" Opie asked.
"No. Not for the day, we're not," Pastor Tucker said.
They were interrupted by a guest in the room.
"You Pastor Tucker?" a man asked.
"I am," Pastor Tucker said.
"I was told to come to you today," the man said.
"You were, huh? What kind of trouble do you have? I am busy with this young man now, but if you don't mind waiting, we will go into my office," Pastor Tucker said.
"I don't mind waiting," the man said.
"Wait here, Opie," Pastor Tucker said.
"Okay," Opie said and watched the minister leave him for a couple of seconds.
"If you don't mind waiting here in my office, sir, I am busy with the young man you saw. He's in trouble, so I have to deal with him," Pastor Tucker said.
"What did he do wrong?" the man asked.
"He stole evidence from a murder case his father is working on," Pastor Tucker said.
"That's not right," the man said.
"No, it's not. I'll see you in a few minutes," Pastor Tucker said and shut his office door behind himself and went back to where he left Opie.
"Sorry, Opie," Pastor Tucker said.
"That's okay," Opie said.
He didn't mind the wait.
"Okay, Opie, chapter twenty – two, verse fifteen," Pastor Tucker said.
"I already read that," Opie said.
"I did it again, didn't I?" Pastor Tucker asked.
"Yes, you did," Opie said.
"Sorry. I guess we are done for the day. I will see you again tomorrow, same time, same place," Pastor Tucker said.
Opie took his backpack and waited outside for me to pick him up. I came a few minutes later in the squad car.
"Hi, Son. How did it go with Pastor Tucker?" I asked as Opie got into the passenger's seat of the squad car.
"Boring, Pa. I don't want to do this anymore," Opie said.
"Well, Op, it's part of your punishment. Maybe you'll learn something. You did disobey the Lord," I said.
I drove Opie home and headed back to the office. It was now Tuesday and Opie was back at the church for that day's Scripture reading.
"Okay, Opie, you're going to be reading from Leviticus, chapter five, verse nineteen," Pastor Tucker said.
"Thus the priest will make atonement for him for his error that he was unaware of and he's forgiven. It is a Compensation-Offering; he was surely guilty before God," Opie read out loud.
"How about chapter six, verses one through six," Pastor Tucker said.
Opie sighed for the first time that day and began, "God spoke to Moses: "When anyone sins by betraying trust with GOD by deceiving his neighbor about something entrusted to him, or by robbing or cheating for threatening him; or if he has found something lost and lies about it and swears falsely about any of these sins that people commonly commit – when he sins and is found guilty, he must return what he found, or anything else about which he swore falsely. He must make full same day he brings his Compensation-Offering. He must present to GOD as his Compensation-Offering a ram without any defect from the flock, assessed at the value of a Compensation-Offering."
"How about chapter six, verse seven," Pastor Tucker said.
"Thus the priest will make the atonement for him before GOD and he's forgiven of any of the things that one does that bring guilt," Opie read.
"How about chapter nineteen, verse eleven," Pastor Tucker said.
"That's easy," Opie said, "plus it's one sentence."
"What does it say?" Pastor Tucker asked Opie.
"Don't steal," Opie read out loud.
"And that's what you did, right?" Pastor Tucker asked.
"I didn't steal. I was helping Pa with his case," Opie said.
"You did steal, Opie. Stealing is against God's Word," Pastor Tucker said.
"Would you continue, Opie? Read chapter nineteen, verse thirty – four," Pastor Tucker said.
Opie sighed again that afternoon and continued, "When a foreigner lives with you in your land, don't take advantage of him. Treat the foreigner the same as a native. Love him like one of your own. Remember that you were once foreigners in Egypt. I am God, your God."
"Very well, Opie. Now read to me from chapter twenty – four, verse twenty – two," Pastor Tucker said.
"Anyone who hits and kills an animal must make it good, but whoever hits and kills a fellow human, will be put to death. And no double standards: the same rule goes for foreigners and natives. I am GOD, your God."
"Good, Opie. You did well today. I will see you again tomorrow," Pastor Tucker said and then Opie left to wait for Andy's squad car outside of the church.
"Hi, Op," Andy said as Opie got into the front seat of the squad car that afternoon.
"Hi, Pa. This Scripture thing is getting boring by the day," Opie said.
"Now, Op, don't you complain. This is part of your punishment. It'll be over before you know it," I said as we reached their house and Opie grabbed his backpack and I went back to the jail.
The next afternoon at the church, Pastor Tucker told Opie,
"Today we're going to read from Deuteronomy."
"This is going fast," Opie said.
Pastor Tucker didn't say anything.
"I want you to read chapter five, verse nineteen," Pastor Tucker said.
"That's another one sentence," Opie pointed out.
"Well, read it," Pastor Tucker said.
"No stealing," Opie read.
"Very good. Now read chapter twenty – two, verses one through three," Pastor Tucker said.
"If you see your kinsman's ox or sheep wandering off loose, don't look the other way as if you didn't see it. Return it promptly. If your fellow Israelite is not close by or you don't know whose it is, take the animal home with you and take care of it until your fellow asks about it. Then return it to him. Do the same if it's his donkey or a piece of clothing or anything else your fellow Israelite loses. Don't look the other way as if you didn't see it," Opie read out loud.
"Very well. Now read chapter twenty – two, verse four," Pastor Tucker said.
"If you see your fellow's donkey or ox injured along the road, don't look the other way. Help him get it up and on its way," Opie read.
"Now read chapter twenty – five, verses thirteen through sixteen," Pastor Tucker told Opie.
"Don't carry around with you two weights, one heavy and the other light, and don't keep two measures at hand, one large and the other small. Use only one weight, a true and honest weight, and one measure, a true and honest measure, so that you will live a long time on the land that GOD, your God, is giving you. Dishonest weights and measures are an abomination to GOD, your God – all this corruption in business deals!," Opie read.
"Our meeting today is over, Opie. I will see you again tomorrow," Pastor Tucker said.
Opie watched Pastor Tucker leave as he grabbed his backpack and waited for Andy and the squad car outside. He sure didn't enjoy this punishment!
At Mayberry High that afternoon, he ate with his girlfriend, Cassie in the lunchroom.
"Hi, Opie. We haven't talked for a long time," Cassie said as she joined him with her lunch.
"I know," he said and sighed.
"What? Did I say something wrong?" Cassie asked.
"No, you didn't, Cassie. I'd love to do something with you too, but my pa grounded me for the rest of the school year. I can't get my car and driving license till then," Opie said.
"That's not fair," Cassie said.
"I know it ain't," Opie said.
"Tell your pa to hurry up with the punishment so we can do something," Cassie said.
"It don't work that way, Cassie. I've been at the church this past week. Pa and the minister thought it was fair it was part of the punishment, so I had to do it," Opie told her.
"What do you have to do at the church?" Cassie asked.
"Read scriptures about stealing to the minister. It ain't fun," Opie told her.
"I'm sure it isn't," Cassie said.
The rest of the school afternoon went by fast. Opie was at the church again with Pastor Tucker.
"Today we're reading from Psalm," Tucker told Opie.
"Wow," Opie said.
He couldn't believe how fast this was going.
"You're going to read to me from Psalm, chapter one hundred nineteen, verse thirty – three through forty," Tucker said.
Opie opened the book and began to read.
"GOD, teach me lessons for living so I can stay the course. Give me insight so I can do what you tell me – my whole life one long, obedient response. Guide me down the road of your commandments. I love traveling this freeway! Give me a bent for your words of wisdom, and not for pilling up loot. Divert my eyes from toys and trinkets, invigorate me on the pilgrim way. Affirm your promises to me – promises made to all who fear you. Deflect the harsh words of my critics – See how hungry I am for your counsel; keep my life through your righteous ways!," Opie read.
"Now read chapter one hundred nineteen, verses eighty – one through eighty – eighty eight," Tucker said.
"I'm homesick – longing for your salvation; I'm waiting for your word of hope. My eyes grow heavy watching for some sign of your promise, how long must I wait for your comfort? There's smoke in my eyes – they burn and water, but I keep a steady gaze on the instructions you post. How long do I have to put up with all this? How long till you haul my tormentors into court? The arrogant godless try to throw me off track, ignorant as they are of God and his ways. Everything you command is a sure thing, but they harass me with lies. Help! They've pushed and pushed – they never let up – In your great love revive me so I can alertly obey your every word," Opie finished.
"Now read chapter one hundred nineteen, verses eighty – nine through ninety – six," Tucker said.
"What you says goes, GOD, and stays, as permanent as the heavens. Your truth never goes out of fashion; it's an up – to – date as the earth when the sun comes up. Your Word and truth are dependable as ever; that's what you ordered – you set the earth going. If your revelation hadn't delighted me so, I would have given up when the hard times came. But I'll never forget the advice you gave me; you saved my life with those wise words. Save me! I'm all yours. I look high and low for your words of wisdom. The wicked lie in ambush to destroy me, but I'm only concerned with your plans for me. I see the limits to everything human, but the horizons can't contain your commands!," Opie read.
"Now read chapter one hundred nineteen, verse forty – one through forty – eight," Pastor Tucker told Opie.
"Let your love, GOD, shape my life with salvation, exactly as you promised; Then I'll be able to stand up to mockery because I trusted your Word. Don't ever deprive me of truth, not ever – your commandments are what I depend on. Oh, I'll guard with my life what you've revealed to me, guard it now, guard it ever; And I'll stride freely through wide open spaces as I look for your truth and your wisdom; Then I'll tell the world what I find, speak out boldly in public, unembarrassed. I cherish your commandments – oh, how I love them! – relishing every fragment of your counsel," Opie read to Pastor Tucker.
"Very well. Now read chapter one hundred one hundred nineteen, verses forty – nine through fifty – six," Pastor Tucker told Opie.
"Remember what you said to me, your servant – I hang on to these words for dear life! These words hold me up in bad times; The insolent ridicule me without mercy, but I don't budge from your revelation. I watch for your ancient landmark words, and know I'm on the right track. But when I see the wicked ignore your directions, I set your instructions to music and sing them as I walk this pilgrim way. I mediate on your name all night, GOD, treasuring your revelation, O GOD. Still, I walk through a rain of derision because I live by your Word and counsel," Opie read.
"Now the last one for the day is chapter one hundred nineteen, verses one hundred forty – five through one hundred fifty – two," Pastor Tucker said.
"I call out at the top of my lungs, "GOD! Answer! I'll do whatever you say."
"Stop right there for a minute, Opie," Pastor Tucker said.
"What? What did I say?" Opie asked.
"What that Scripture said, you didn't do whatever God told you, didn't you? Is that why your father punished you?" Pastor Tucker asked.
"No, sir, I didn't," Opie said.
"This is where you did your wrongdoing, right?" the minister asked.
"Yes, sir," Opie said.
"Now continue," Pastor Tucker said.
"I called to you, "Save me so I can carry out all your instructions." I was up before sunrise, crying for help, hoping for a word from you. I stayed awake all night, prayerfully pondering your promise. In your love, listen to me; in your justice, GOD, keep me alive. As those out to get me come closer and closer, they go farther and farther from the truth you show; But you're the closest of all to me, GOD, and all your judgments true. I've known all along from the evidence of your words that you meant them to last forever," Opie finished.
"Very well, Opie. We will continue the rest of this tomorrow," Pastor Tucker told Opie.
Opie couldn't believe this was going too fast. He saw Andy and the squad car already outside the church waiting for him when he and his backpack were out of the church. There was silence in the squad car as Andy watched his son get into the front seat of the squad car.
The next day, Opie went back to the church and Pastor Tucker said, "Today we're going through Malachi. You'll be reading chapter three, verses six through seven."
"I am GOD – yes, I AM. I haven't changed. And because I haven't changed you, the descendants of Jacob, haven't been destroyed. You have a long history of ignoring my commands. You haven't done a thing I've told you. Return to me so I can return to you," says God – of the – Angel – Armies," Opie read aloud. "Now read verses eight through eleven," Pastor Tucker said. "You ask, 'But how do we return?' "Begin by being honest. Do honest people rob God? But you rob me day after day. "You ask, 'How have we robbed you?' "The tithe and the offering – that's how! And now you're under a curse – the whole lot of you – because you're robbing me. Bring your full tithe to the Temple treasury so there will be ample provisions in my Temple. Test me in this and see if I don't open heaven itself to you and pour out blessings beyond your wildest dreams. For my part, I will defend you against marauders, protect your wheat fields and vegetable gardens against plunderers." The Message of God – of - the – Angel – Armies," Opie read.
"Now read verse twelve," Pastor Tucker told Opie.
"You'll be voted 'Happiest Nation.' You'll experience what it's like to be a country of grace.'' GOD – of – the – Angel – Armies says so," Opie finished.
The next day arrived fast and Opie came back to the church after school was out for the day.
"Today you will be reading from Matthew, chapter five, verses nineteen through twenty," Pastor Tucker told Opie.
He heard Opie sigh again as he opened the book to the Scripture.
"Trivialize even the smallest item in God's Law and you will only have trivialized yourself. But take it seriously, show the way for others, and you will find honor in the kingdom. Unless you do far better than the Pharisees in the matters of right living, you won't know the first thing about entering the kingdom," Opie read.
"Now read chapter eighteen, verses twenty – six through twenty – seven," Pastor Tucker told Opie.
"The poor wretch threw himself at the king's feet and begged, 'Give me a chance and I'll pay it all back.' Touched by his plea, the king let him off, erasing the debt," Opie read.
"Now read verse twenty – eight," Pastor Tucker said to Opie.
"The servant was mp sooner out of the room when he came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him ten dollars. He seized him by the throat and demanded, 'Pay up. Now!'," Opie read.
"Now read verses twenty – nine through thirty – one," Pastor Tucker said.
"The poor wretch threw himself and begged, 'Give me a chance and I'll pay it all back.' But he wouldn't do it. He had him arrested and put in jail until the debt was paid. When the other servants saw this going on, they were outraged and brought a detailed report to the king," Opie finished.
"Now we'll end the day with verses thirty – two through thirty – five," Pastor Tucker said.
"The king summoned the man and said, "You evil servant! I forgave your entire debt when you begged me for mercy. Shouldn't you be compelled to be merciful to your fellow servant who asked for mercy?" The king was furious and put the screws to the man until he paid back his entire debt. And that's exactly what my Father in heaven is going to do to each one of you who doesn't forgive unconditionally anyone who asks for mercy," Opie finished.
The next day, Pastor Tucker told Opie, "Today you'll be reading from Mark, chapter ten, verses eighteen through nineteen."
Opie began to read.
"Jesus said, "Why are you calling me good? No one is good, only God. You know the commandments: Don't murder, don't commit adultery, don't steal, don't lie, don't cheat, honor your father and mother," Opie read out loud.
"That was good, Opie. I will see you again tomorrow for tomorrow's Scripture reading," Pastor Tucker said.
Opie left the church with a smile on his face, glad that he had to read only one passage. He came to the church the next day after school at the same time he had done the past week or so.
"Hello, Opie. Are you ready for today's reading?" Pastor Tucker asked.
Opie didn't reply. All he did was nod his head yes.
"Today you will be reading from Luke, chapter seventeen, verses one through two," Pastor Tucker told him.
"He said to his disciples, "Hard trials and temptations are bound to come, but too bad for whoever brings them on! Better to wear a millstone necklace and take a swim in the deep blue seat than give even one of these dear little ones a hard time!" Opie read.
"Good, Opie," Pastor Tucker said as he dismissed Opie for the day.
The next day arrived and Opie was at the church again.
"Today you're going to be reading from John, chapter fourteen, verse twenty – one," Tucker told Opie.
Opie opened the book and turned to John and began to read aloud.
"The person who knows my commandments and keeps them, that's who loves me. And the person who loves me will be loved my Father, and I will love him and make myself plain to him," Opie finished.
Opie noticed the book of John had one verse of chapter fourteen from what he had just read. Pastor Tucker had dismissed him after he finished reading the passage.
"I will see you again tomorrow, Opie," Tucker told Opie.
Opie left the church and waited outside for the squad car's arrival. Opie came back to the church the next day at the usual time.
"Glad you came back, Opie. Today you will be reading from Acts, chapter twenty – six, verses nineteen through twenty," Pastor Tucker told him.
Opie began to read the passages once he flipped the book open.
"What could I do, King Agrippa? I couldn't just walk away from a vision like that! I became an obedient believer on the spot. I started preaching his life change – this radical turn to God and everything it meant in everyday life – right there in Damascus, went on to Jerusalem and the surrounding countryside, and from there to the world," Opie read.
"Very well, Opie," Pastor Tucker said and dismissed him for the day.
Opie was glad to read only a couple of passages a day instead of a whole bunch like he did in the beginning. He still thought this boring. The next day was Opie's last day to read passages from the Word.
"Glad to see you, Opie. I have news for you," Pastor Tucker said.
"What's that?" Opie asked.
"Today is your last day to read Scriptures to me. This is the last of the passages you'll be reading to me from the Word of God about stealing and punishment. This is the last time you will be coming to me about this, but I'll keep praying for what happened," Pastor Tucker said.
"Does Pa know about this?" Opie asked.
"No, but I'll tell him today after you finish this," Pastor Tucker said.
"All right," Opie said.
"Today's last Scripture reading is Hebrews, chapter ten, verses twenty – six through thirty – one," Pastor Tucker said.
Opie turned the Bible to Hebrews and began his last reading from the Word.
"If we give up and turn our backs on all we've learned, all the truth we now know, we repudiate Christ's sacrifice and are left on our own to face the Judgment – and a mighty fierce judgment it will be! If the penalty for breaking the law of Moses is physical death, what do you think will happen if you turn on God's Son, spit on the sacrifice that made you whole, and insult this most gracious Spirit? This is no light matter. God has warned us that he'll hold us to account and make us pay. He was quite explicit: "Vengeance is mine, and I won't overlook a thing" and God will judge his people." Nobody's getting by with anything, believe me," Opie finished and shut the book.
"That's all the passages, Opie. We can go outside and wait for your father to pick you up. I want to tell him what a good job you did," Pastor Tucker said as Opie picked up his backpack and put it on his shoulder.
The two went outside the church and waited for the squad car. The squad car came to the church a few minutes later.
"Hi, Opie, Pastor Tucker," I said.
"Hi, Pa," Opie said.
"May I have a few words with you, Andy?" Pastor Tucker said.
"Sure," I said.
"I wanted you to know Opie did a good job the past couple weeks. He is finished and doesn't need to come here after school anymore," Pastor Tucker said.
"Well, I'll be darned. That's good to hear," I said to the minister.
That's when I rolled the window up again after the minister and I finished their conversation and he went back inside the church.
"Well, I hope you learned something from the Scriptures, Op. He sure gave a nice report," I said as I dropped Opie off at the house.
I was happy to hear Opie did well. I drove back to the jail after Opie walked into the house.