Lesson 25: Preach On A Hebrew Word Series

Plan

We will examine the Hebrew word translated as law, torah, and see that it is instruction, revelation from God, that it existed before the law of Moses, and that even though Christians do not apply that law in the letter, the spirit and intent of those instructions still reflect the mind of God.

Body

1. Instruction

The word torah is broader than a mere law. It means instruction (Proverbs 1:8; 3:1; 4:2; 7:2), doctrine (Isaiah 1:10; 8:16, 20; 42:4,21), legal instruction (Leviticus 6:7; 7:7), and the first five books of the Bible (Joshua 1:8).

Application: We often view the God of the Old Testament as a different person than Jesus Christ. Yet they are one and the same. Understanding that torah means instruction, helps us to see God as a merciful God, rather than a harsh and legalistic God.

2. Revelation

To many Christians the word law is negative and revelation is positive, but they are the same thing. Proverbs 29:18 says that without a vision or revelation the people are perishing. It is often misquoted as a support for visionary big-mindedness, rather than a revelation or vision from God. In context it is actually is speaking of revelation and torah (instruction) in the same positive tone. God's torah, law, instruction IS revelation.

Application: Understanding the OT law as revelation from God, helps us appreciate how beautiful that instruction is.

3. Torah Existed before the Law was Given

The word torah has a very broad meaning to Jewish believers. It means the 5 books of Moses, the national constitution of Jewish faith, a legal code with 613 commandments, a way of life, an instruction on how to live. It cannot exclusively mean the national law delivered during the Exodus, because it was first used to describe Abraham who lived long before the law was given (Genesis 26:4-5). So Abraham was blessed not just because of his faith but, because of he obeyed God's torah (instructions).

Application: It is important to understand that God's instructions were around long before his specific instructions through Moses in the Ten Commandments.

4. Hebrew Word Pictures

Hebrew was a language which conjured up pictures in the mind of its speakers. The word torah comes from the Hebrew word yarah, which begins with the Hebrew letter y. This letter pictures a hand and the word yarah means to shoot out the hand in a pointing gesture. This contrasts with another Hebrew word for instruction which is lamadh which begins with the letter l, picturing a goad to train animals with. Yarah gives the opposite sense like goading, or forcing. The sense of yarah is one of pointing to the right way, rather than goading someone into doing the right thing. So, torah carries that same sense of instruction, a pointing out of the right direction.

Application: We need to see God as a loving Father, who points out the right direction for us to go. He is not a harsh task master, or bossy overlord, but a gentle shepherd.

5. The Fault with the Old Covenant

The NT clearly shows that the torah was holy, right and good. It further shows that there was no fault with the OT instructions (the law), but that it was inadequate as a means to salvation, because no human being could keep it perfectly. The fault with the Old Covenant was us, all of us, with human beings and not with God or his instructions (Hebrews 8:8).