Under His Wings

Sometime ago I wrote a series of blog posts entitled, "Pondering the Law of God". I will list them here in my pages and then add to them as I have time (and no migraines).

Pondering the Law of God-Part 1

"The Law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul." Psalm 19:7

"Blessed is the man...whom You teach out of Your Law." Psalm 94:12

"The Law of Your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces." Psalm 119:72

"O how I love Your Law!" Psalm 119:97

"Those who love Your Law have great peace; nothing causes them to stumble." Psalm 119:165

We continually turn to the Psalms for comfort and encouragement. We learn from the Psalms that we can pour out our hearts before the King of the Universe. He is a God of His Word and will vindicate His people one day. In the verses quoted above the Psalmists bless God for His Law. I find this fascinating. A book that Christians cherish, a book that is one of the most often quoted in the New Testament sings the praises of the Law. Yet, why do the Christians today have such a different view of the Law than the Psalmists did?

In several venues I hear statements like:
"We are no longer under the Law,"

"The Law was a heavy burden that was too great a load for he people to bear,"

"We are redeemed from the Law."

"The Law has been done away with."

If these statements are true then what are we to make of the following verses?
"For this commandment which I command you today is not too difficult for you, nor it is out of reach." Deut. 30:11

"I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse, So choose life...by loving the LORD your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your LIFE..." Deut. 30:19-20

"Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill." Matt. 5:17

"for it is not the hearers of the Law who are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified." Romans 2:13

"Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses, dies with out mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses." Heb. 10:28

"Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever." Hebrews 13:8

Is God schizophrenic? Did He just decide He had totally made a mistake and it was time to start over? Is the problem, perhaps, that we have too often listened to the traditions of men and not really looked at what the Scripture has to say? Perhaps we don't really know who our God is?

I want to address the issue of the Law in a series of posts. I want to define some terms; look at the Law from a historical, cultural and Biblical vs. a 21st Century worldview. I also want to look at Jesus and the Law, as well as, Paul and the Law. Finally, I will address how this would all apply to us.

"All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Part 2
Today as I ponder what the Law of God is I would like to define a couple of terms. To us in the 21st Century the word "law" means rules that are set down by the person or persons in authority that are absolute and there is a punishment if they are not obeyed. If the speed limit is 25 and we know that we are speeding and we see a police officer, we immediately slow down and panic for fear of getting a ticket. We often fear authority in our society or many have come to rebel against or disrespect authority for various reasons. We also know that there is severe unjustice happening in our world today which makes us have an unfavorable view of law perhaps.

The word, "Law", however, is an unfortunate translation for the word "Torah" in Scripture. This is a Hebrew word meaning "teaching or instruction" and comes from the root word, "yarah" which means, "to shoot an arrow, to hit the mark". The Torah is the first five books of the Bible, the books of Moses.

What is the "mark" that the Torah is to lead us to? We find the answer in Deuteronomy 30:15-20 "See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, and death and adversity; in that I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, that you may live and multiply, and that the LORD your God may bless you in the land where you are entering to possess it. But if your heart turns away and you will not obey, but are drawn away and worship other gods and serve them, I declare to you today that you shall surely perish. You will not prolong your days in the land where you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess it. I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, by loving the LORD your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days, that you may live in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them." The goal of the Torah is to give life and blessing to those who will obey God's commands.

God redeemed the people of Israel out of Egypt, out of slavery, by His mighty hand and His outstretched arm. This is a picture of our salvation by grace. All the Israelites had to do was respond to God in faith by applying the blood of the Passover lamb to their doorposts and they were freed from slavery. Then He took them through the Red Sea, which is a picture of our baptism.

There was next the journey in the wilderness. After 50 days in the wilderness, God led His people to Mt. Sinai. There He made a marriage covenant with them complete with vows, a covenant, and even an outward symbol of the covenant which was the sabbath. The covenant was the Torah.

God's purpose for redeeming His people is found in Ex. 29:46 "They shall know that I am the LORD their God who brought them out of the land of Egypt, that I might dwell among them; I am the LORD their God." God's desire has always been to dwell with His people. Because He is Holy He cannot dwell with sin. God brought His people out of slavery so that they could worship Him. He gave them His instructions on how this was to be done. He did not want to be worshiped in the ways that the Egyptians or the other nations were worshiping their gods. God is One and He is the King of the Universe. His redemption and His Torah are both acts of grace.

Part 3

God's desire has always been to dwell with His people. He dwelt with Adam and Eve--He fellowshiped with them in the Garden. Their disobedience brought death to that relationship and God immediately began the task of showing them that it would take blood to atone for sin.

He chose Abraham, making a covenant with him, which we are still reaping the benefits of today. In Genesis 18:19 God says, "For I have chosen him, so that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice, so that the LORD may bring upon Abraham what He has spoken about him." God wanted someone who would teach his children to walk in the ways of God. He promised that all the nations would be blessed through Abraham's seed. God keeps His promises.

In Exodus God reveals Himself to Moses as YHWH. Moses had doubts about going back to Egypt and said, "Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you.' Now they may say to me, 'What is His name?' What shall I say to them?" God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM"; and He said, "Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'"God, furthermore, said to Moses, "Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, 'The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you ' This is My name forever, and this is My memorial-name to all generations. Exodus 3:13-15

God was revealing Himself in a way that He had never done before. He would be known by what He would do. We need to remember that all He is, He is to each one of us when we enter into covenant relationship with Him. This is His memorial Name to all generations.

God redeemed His people out of Egypt and all their enemies were washed away in the Red sea--all by grace. What was God's purpose in doing this? 'Then I will take you for My people, and I will be your God; and you shall know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians." Ex. 6:7
And again in Ex. 29: 46, "They shall know that I am the LORD their God who brought them out of the land of Egypt, that I might dwell among them; I am the LORD their God." God desires a people set apart for Himself that He may dwell among them for He cannot dwell with sin. His desire over and over again is for a people to know Him. This a covenant term--"to know", as a husband knows his wife, as a parent knows his child. It speaks of relationship.

God desires to make Himself known and He describes Himself in Exodus 34:6-7. Just think, the King of the Universe describing Himself. This is what He says, "The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations."

God describes Himself as compassionate and just, abounding in grace and truth. This description is so different from what we so often hear of the God of the Old Testament being an angry, wrathful God. He is the Ancient of Days. Forever the Same.

Part 4

Covenant. Like many terms today we tend to throw this one around at whim. However, Biblically covenant is crucial, sober, and at the same time that which is to be celebrated. Historically there have been covenants between individuals, families, and nations. There have been covenants between kings and their subjects. There have been covenants between God and His people.

God has made several covenants: with Adam, with Noah, with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, with Moses at Sinai, and with David. But all of these covenants had one Promise--Messiah.

Elements of Covenant
Living in a Western society we don't get a full understanding of the culture and context of the Bible and covenant. When we search the Scripture with eyes to see and a heart to know our God He will give us insight. We must continually lay aside our 21st Century mindset and put on new glasses as we open the pages of Scripture.

In each of the covenants are elements that were common to all covenants. In the covenant with Abraham there was the separation of the animals and the firepot that walked through the blood. This is called "cutting" a covenant. The covenant with Abraham was done while Abraham was asleep and is a picture of our salvation by grace.

When Jonathan made a covenant with David he gave David his robe, his armor, and his weapon. He was saying to David, "I give you my name, my strength, your enemies are now mine. I stand with you."

Names are exchanged in a wedding ceremony. When I go in my husband's name in a sense I have his authority behind me. Names in Scripture held much more meaning than today. God often changed a person's name. He holds His own name in high esteem and if we are in covenant with Him, His name is on us for we are His temple. We must not profane His name by our actions.
In covenant there is also the fellowship over a meal with bread and wine. A covenant was also sealed.

The Covenant at Sinai
Fifty days after the children of Israel were saved out of Egypt God met Moses on Mt. Sinai. He said to Moses, "Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob and tell the sons of Israel:'You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings, and brought you to Myself. Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine;and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel. So Moses came and called the elders of the people, and set before them all these words which the LORD had commanded him. All the people answered together and said, "All that the LORD has spoken we will do!" And Moses brought back the words of the people to the LORD. " (Ex. 19:3-8)

God's desire in saving His people was to have a people for Himself. The covenant did have stipulations, however. "IF you will obey, then you shall be My own possession." The stipulations are stated again in Deuteronomy 30 where God summarizes the Torah for the sons of Israel. (Deut. 30:15-20) God is our Father who tells us there is blessing for obedience and punishment for disobedience.

The giving of the Torah is like a wedding ceremony: the LORD drawing us to Himself, the covenant, the meal, the "I will's, and even the ring. Yes, a ring. In Exodus 31:13 God says that the Sabbath is a sign of the covenant throughout the generations. The covenant made with all who were rescued out of Egypt, the sons of Israel and the mixed multitude who accompanied them. (Ex. 12:38)

The Torah includes how to walk before a holy God and how to dwell among His people. There are commands for the priests, the temple sacrifices, for living in the land, and for the LORD's appointed times. The are commands for the bondslave, the widow, the orphan, for eating, and for caring for animals.

We so often misjudge God in the Old Testament and say that the Law was harsh and now done away with. However, James tells us it is a perfect Law, a Law of Liberty and we are blessed if we do it.

Part 5

Ah, the fall. Time for beginning school, increased activiy, filling appointment calendars. This is the time of year when everything seems to kick off, ministries at church, homeschool groups, etc. The lazy, hazy crazy days of summer come to an end. Structure becomes the order of the day. Our calendars fill quickly and it becomes difficult to juggle everyones appointments at times.

God has an appointment calendar, too. We find in Leviticus 23:1-2 "The LORD spoke again to Moses, saying, 'Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, 'The LORD'S appointed times which you shall proclaim as holy convocations--My appointed times are these:'" These are the LORD'S appointed times--the times in which the LORD wants to meet with His people. They are also known as the Biblical holidays and each has historical, as well as, messianic significance.

There are seven Biblical feasts, three in the spring, three in the fall and one in between. God set them in place as remembrances. He is such a romantic. He wants us to take time to remember what He has done in the lives of His people. He has also set aside one day every week--the Sabbath to rest in Him and remember the work of His creation and redemption. His desire is to dwell with His people.

The spring Feasts begin with Passover. Passover commemorates the Exodus from Egypt, the redemption from slavery. Jesus was crucified on Passover paying the price for our redemption from the slavery from sin. He was the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

The Feast of Unleavened Bread is a seven day feast in which all leaven is to be removed from the home. Leaven is a symbol of sin. Only unleavened bread is eaten for seven days. It is a remembrance of the Israelites fleeing Egypt in haste. Jesus was crucified and buried during the feast of Unleavened Bread taking our sin upon Himself.

The Feast of First Fruits is a celebration of the barley harvest. A sheaf of barley was waved in the Temple in Jerusalem. Jesus was resurrected on the feast of First Fruits being the first fruit of those raised from the dead with the promise of our resurrection to come.

Fifty days after the Feast of First Fruits is the Feast of Shavuot or Pentecost, which is the Greek word meaning fifty. Fifty days after the Israelites went through the Red Sea the Torah was given on Mount Sinai. The Feast of Shavuot celebrates the giving of the Torah. It is also the wheat harvest. How wonderful that at the celebration of the Torah the Spirit wrote the Torah on the heart of the disciples in Acts 2!

After Shavuot there is the waiting for the fall feasts. First is the Feast of Trumpets. The spring feast have already had a messianic fulfillment to be celebrated. We celebrate a future fulfillment in the fall feasts. The Feast of Trumpets is about gathering the people in preparation for the Day of Atonement. When we see in the New Testament references to the Trumpet being blown it is talking about this day.

Next on the calendar is Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. This is the High Holy day in God's calendar. It is a day of fasting and repentance. This is the one and only day each year that the high priest went into the Holy of Holies to atone for the sins of the nation of Israel. In the future Messiah will come and set things right. Israel will again, as a nation repent and look to Messiah.

The last feast is the Feast of Booths or Tabernacles. This is an 8 day feast and commemorates the children of Israel living in booths in the wilderness after the Exodus. This is a wonderful feast of celebration of God dwelling with His people. The Scripture tells us that all people will celebrate this feast one day when Messiah comes again to dwell among us forever.

I have only given a brief sketch of the Biblical holidays. There is so much more to be learned. The study and celebration of God's appointed times greatly enhanced my study of Scripture, my understanding of who He is, and it begane a journey that changed my life. I would encourage you to begin to look into the Biblical holidays for yourself. A good place to begin is www.biblicalholidays.com. Robin Sampson has written an excellent book on the holidays which is wonderful for family friendly celebration and education. But, she also has tons of information on her site.

More pondering the law to come.

For His Name's Sake.

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