The Law: Conditions of the Covenant w/ Israel

Six Initial Guidelines
1. The OT Law is a Covenant
between an Overlord & vassal/servant
6 parts:
Preamble- “I am the Lord your God”
Prologue- “I brought you out of the land of Egypt…”
Stipulations- the laws
Witnesses- the Lord, heaven and earth
Sanctions- blessings and curses (Lev. 26)
Document clause- regular review of agreement

2. The OT is not our Testament
Rom. 6:14-15 …you are not under law, but under grace

3. Some stipulations of the OT Covenant have clearly not been renewed in the New Covenant.
Civil laws- apply to citizens of ancient Israel (punishments for stealing, murder...)
Ritual laws- how to worship

4. Part of the OT Covenant is renewed in the New Covenant.
Do not murder ….Jesus… Do not be angry with your brother
Do not commit adultery…Jesus… Do not think lustful thoughts
Divorce w/ certificate …Jesus… Do not divorce (ex. unfaithfulness)
Do not break your oath…Jesus…Do not make an oath.
Matthew 5:21 ff. Jesus has redefined the laws

5. All of the OT law is still the Word of God for us even though it is not still the command of God to us.

6. Only that which is explicitly renewed from the OT law can be considered part of the NT “law of Christ” (Gal. 6:2)
The only laws renewed in the NT:
Ten commandments
Loving God and our neighbor

The Role of the Law in Israel and in the Bible

Apodictic law -do or do not- Lev.19:9-14
Setting a standard by an example
Not detailed, but gives the spirit of the law
“The Law shows us how impossible it is to please God on our own.” There is no way that we can meet his standards.

Lev. 19:9 “ ‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest.

Case by case (Casuistic)
Conditional; more general
Deut. 15:12 If a fellow Hebrew, a man or a woman, sells himself to you and serves you six years, in the seventh year you must let him go free.

What can we learn from these laws?
1. Slavery not brutal
2. God loves slaves
3. Slaves could be better off than if free
4. The slave owner didn’t own the slaves completely

-We learn the background of redemption
-What OT slavery was like
-A perspective on God’s love

The OT Law and Other Ancient Law Codes
Compared to other law codes the OT is superior:
Laws of Eshnunna (Akkadia): (See p. 159)
Law Code of Hammurabi (Babylon)
OT Law-The OT treats all equally, it doesn't matter if you are from the nobility or a slave, your punishment was the same. In addition, you would not be punished for the sin of your father.

The OT Law as Benefit to Israel
Food laws:
Lev. 11:7 Pork prohibited
Reasons:
disease
uneconomical
pagan connections

1. General Health laws
Pagan prescriptions: lizard’s blood, swine’s teeth, putrid meat and dung. The OT advice is much healthier to say the least!
Examples:
Circumcision
Washing
Quarantine

2. Laws about the shedding of blood
Ex 29:10-12 “Bring the bull to the front of the Tent of Meeting… But burn the bull’s flesh and its hide and its offal outside the camp. It is a sin offering.”

Ex 30:10 “Once a year Aaron shall make atonement on its horns. This annual atonement must be made with the blood of the atoning sin offering for the generations to come. It is most holy to the LORD.”

LEV 4:13, 14 “ ‘If the whole Israelite community sins unintentionally and does what is forbidden in any of the LORD'S commands …they are guilty…the assembly must bring a young bull as a sin offering.

These laws show that...
Sin deserves punishment
Substitution allowed
Precedent set for Christ’s sacrifice for us

3. Unusual Prohibitions
Deut. 14:21 Do not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk. These often have to do with forbidding pagan practices.

4. Laws giving blessing to those who keep them
Dt. 14:28-29 At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes of that year’s produce … so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.

Summary of Major Points
1. OT law is God’s word for you but not his command to you.
2. It is the basis for the Old Covenant, but is not binding except where specifically renewed.
3. See God’s justice, and love shown in the law; also see that God is merciful.
4. The law is not comprehensive but gives examples of how we are to behave.
5. Although it will not be quoted in the prophets or the NT, the essence of it will be.
6. It is a gift to Israel and brings blessing when obeyed.