The Book Of The Law Series

The Book of the Law

Deuteronomy 4:8, “And what great nation is there that has such statutes and righteous judgments as are in all this law which I set before you this day?”

(NKJ)

As we traveled down Route 66 on Sunday nights we got broke down on Ezekiel. Route 66 is designed to take us through all the books of the Bible and how God’s word is tied together. With so many new people and the time that has elapsed, we are going to review Route 66 by going back and explaining from Genesis to Ezekiel how the Bible is laid out.

The first 5 books of the Bible Genesis-Deuteronomy, are called the Book of the Law or Pentateuch. [PIN tuh tuke]-- a Greek term meaning "five-volumed" which refers to the first five books of the Old Testament. The Jews traditionally refer to this collection as "the Book of the Law," or simply "the Law." Another word for this collection, Torah, apparently means "instruction, teaching, or doctrine."

From the time it was written, the Pentateuch was consistently accepted as the work of Moses. This is spelled out in Exodus and supported throughout the Old and New Testament to be his work.

Now when we think of law we think of relevant law. A murderer for example should be punished but someone who drives 5 miles over the speed limit should be congratulated.

Heard a story about a middle-aged woman was driving through a school zone when a policeman pulled her over for speeding. As he was giving her the ticket, she said, "How come I always get a ticket and everyone else gets a warning? Is it my face?" "No, ma'am," explained the officer, "it's your foot."

But as we understand what the Law of God is to us then we can understand our need for Him. In the New Testament in James 2:10, “For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.” (NKJ) The point we need to see as Christians is the necessity of the law of God and that if we have lied once, cursed, stolen, lusted, we are just as guilty of breaking God’s law as a murderer. That’s what makes the Cross so necessary.

A mom bought her kids a pet hamster, after they PROMISED they would take care of it, Mom, as usual, ended up with the responsibility. One evening, exasperated, she asked them, "How many times do you think that hamster would have died if I hadn't looked after it?" After a moment, her youngest son replied quizzically, "Once?"

Just one sin and lost people need to know they need his grace. And for us Christians we need to remember that all of us are equal law breakers. That’s what makes grace so amazing. Let’s examine together the three explanations of the necessity of the law.

I. The Definition of the Law

God was building a nation and it was a nation of unruly children much like America today. Same desires and leanings of the flesh were evident in the pagan lands around them. Other nations worshipped other gods and therefore the law of God was needed to set His people on the right path.

God gave his law to Adam, Noah and Abraham by establishing covenants with them. We find these in the book of Genesis. But, as we move from Adam to Abraham God’s law focuses on the Hebrew Race.

Today when Christians think about God’s law we think of The Ten Commandments or (Decalogue) (Ex. 20:1–17; Dt. 5:6–21) are rightly regarded as the epitome of

Moses was given The Ten commandments after God supernaturally brought his people out of the bondage of Egypt. The Ten Commandments are still God’s Law to live by, still, carry punishment for disobedience because to break God’s law is sin. That is why the law was written so that his people can know what sin is, a breaking of God’s Law.

God then got specific in the book of Leviticus about laws and what would happen if they were broke, He gave laws for the Sabbath, laws in marriage, sex, the land and a host of others all designed to give His people a better plan to live by. The Bible defines God’s Law as Pure: Psalm 19:8, “The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes;” as Perfect Psalm 19:7, “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;” and as Truth, “Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, And Your law is truth.” Psalm 119:142

What does this mean to us? Many years ago, Chinese farmers theorized that they could eat their big potatoes and use the small ones for seed. Consequently, they ate the big potatoes and planted the small potatoes. As a result of this practice over the years, nature eventually reduced the size of all the potatoes they harvested to marbles. A new understanding of the law of life came to them. They learned through this bitter experience that they could not have the best things of life for themselves and use their leftovers for seed. The law of life decreed that the harvest would reflect the planting!