What We Learn From the Law (Week 9)
Law is such a boring word! It sounds so strict and legalistic. But the apostle Paul said the law was our instructor or tutor. God was conveying key spiritual concepts to the children of Israel when He gave the commandments at Mount Sinai, and it behooves us to learn them as well.
Paul knew the word Torah meant “instruction” and said the purpose of the law it contained was to teach us our need for Christ. We tend to think that is because the law was too hard for man to obey perfectly, therefore we needed atonement in Christ’s death on the cross. And while that is true, the law actually demonstrated our need for atonement by providing temporary atonement. The annual Day of Atonement foreshadowed the day Jesus would die for our sins and the curtain of the Holy of Holies would be torn open.
The system of commandments given to the Israelites also revealed the holiness and righteousness of God and that His people needed to be righteous to approach Him. He cannot have fellowship with sin, so the law taught the Israelites how to purify themselves before they came before God. The purification and atonement requirements in the law revealed God’s grace and mercy. He loves His children and wants to fellowship with them and therefore provided a way to do so.
The ceremonial laws taught the people they should honor God with their firstfruits, offerings, and tithes because everything comes from Him. The Sabbath rest taught them that to be in relationship with God, they were to enter into His restful presence every seventh day. God designed the Feasts of the Lord to remember and commemorate His goodness and mighty acts in history while passing this knowledge onto future generations.
Along with its legal system, the Mosaic covenant reveals a loving and merciful God who wants what is best for His people. Most of all, He wants to dwell among them and fellowship with them from generation to generation. This is the God that has been revealed to us in Christ and that we have access to through the blood of Jesus. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
To better understand what God was teaching the Israelites through His commandments, join me for this Out of Zion podcast episode, “What We Learn From the Law.” Walk Thru the Bible with me each week by downloading our Bible reading plan, and get started reading right away! Invite your friends and family to join us! I can’t wait to Walk Thru the Bible with you!
About this episode:
Torah is often translated “law” but literally means “instruction” and includes the first 5 books of the Bible as well as the Mosaic law. What was God teaching the Israelites with the law? The Apostle Paul said the law instructed us on our need for Christ. Learn about the other important lessons found in the laws of Moses. This episode complements the daily readings from our Walk Thru the Bible reading plan for March 29 to April 4, covering Various Laws.
Listen
Going Deeper in Week 9: Loving the Law
Susan interviews Rabbi Shmuel Bowman about his work as a Torah Scribe and what Torah means to the Jewish people. He describes certain commandments and how they are observed today.