Deuteronomy 22 - Against Nature

Once again, this chapter of Deuteronomy is filled to the brim with laws and ordinances.  Much of it has already been mentioned in Exodus and Leviticus.  One verse I found interesting, though, was verse 5: "A woman shall not be clothed with man's apparel, neither shall a man use woman's apparel: for he that doth these things is abominable before God."  There is a lot to be said of assuming one's natural role throughout the Old Testament.  Charges against homosexual activity have already been laid.  But this verse in Deuteronomy seems to be of a more specific nature, though some disagree.  At face value, it condemns men wearing women's clothes and women wearing men's clothes.  This Law would surly be put to the test in today's culture!  But nearly nothing is left at face value in the Good Book.  There is much more to this ordinance.  Some think Moses is here referring to specific pagan rituals that required men and women to change clothes.  Others think this is a veiled reference to the ban on women serving in warfare, in that they are not allowed to don a soldier's attire.  And others still think it alludes to the greater sins of men and women going against their nature in acts of lust.  A couple of verses later in the Bible seem to echo this passage in Deuteronomy:

"And all these things are mingled together...
Forgetfulness of God, defiling of souls, changing of nature, disorder in marriage, and the irregularity of adultery and uncleanness." (Wisdom 14:25-26)

"For this cause God delivered them up to shameful affections.  For their women have changed the natural use into that use which is against nature.
And in like manner the men also, leaving the natural use of the woman, have burned in their lusts one towards another, men with men working that which is filthy..." (Romans 1:26-27)

Deuteronomy 22:5 may very well be a law against that which may lead to greater sins, to which the above passages refer.  There is a common thread throughout Old and New Testament that the natural order of things is a Good to which we ought to conform ourselves.  When we begin to break down that order, the fabric of lawful society begins to disintegrate.  And all manner of behavior begins to occur, to the apathy of the rest of society.  Amazingly, we have turned our backs on the Word, and we are thus living in such a time now.