Beautiful Law

NATURE

"1The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork."

- awesome mountains

- retreat at the river aka fishing

- hunting trip without a gun

- family skiing trip on weekends

LIGHT

"6Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them; and nothing is hid from its heat. "

- no mercy

- no secrets

- no hidden earmarks

- every Ponzi scheme is uncovered

- every murder investigation leads to an arrest

TORAH

"7The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul"

- Pentateuch

- Torah does not mean law, but direction, instruction

- Ten Commandments - Legal Tradition

- Jesus says Matthew 5.17: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill."

- Gezeirah: A Fence around the Torah

- Jesus says the overall direction of the Torah is love Matthew 22.37-39: ’You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

SHADOWS

"12But who can detect their errors? Clear me from hidden faults."

- Even the most beautiful tree makes a shadow

- Nature does not know mercy: Survival of the fittest

- Light does not know mercy: Unveils inconvenient truths

- The Torah teaches us find our hidden faults

SUMMARY

- Nature is beautiful but cruel

- The Torah is strict but sweet

- The overall intention is love, that all may life under the beautiful firmament that proclaims the handiwork of our God. Amen.