Sunday: Keep the Law
Keep the Law
Out of 13 occurrences of the word Torah — law
or teaching
— in the book of Proverbs, four are in Proverbs 28 (Prov. 28:4 [twice], Prov. 28:7, Prov. 28:9). Although this use in Proverbs applies normally to the teaching
of the wise man (Prov. 13:14), in the Israelite tradition the word has a spiritual connotation and refers to divine revelation, as attested in the book of Proverbs itself (Prov. 29:18).
Image © Providence Collection from GoodSalt.com
Read Proverbs 28:4, Prov. 28:7, and Prov. 28:9. What do these verses tell us about the importance of the law in how we live?
What made the people of Israel different from other nations was not so much their way of thinking, or even their spiritual
and abstract theological views. It was their concrete choices in life about, among other things, food, rest, the natural environment, and their relationships with neighbors and family that made them holy,
or set apart
from all the other nations. And ideally, those choices were to center on the law and the principles found in it.
After all, we humans cannot be wise by ourselves; we can’t always even distinguish between good and evil (1 Kings 3:9). So, we need the divine law to help us acquire discernment. In other words, the acquisition of wisdom does not depend on intellectual or spiritual exercises; it is essentially related to obedience to a law that lies outside ourselves, our culture, our personal psychology, and our desires.
This law is, of course, God’s eternal law. And to follow that law is indeed an act of faith. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith
(Rom. 1:16-17).
What troubles and problems have you been spared because you have made a commitment by faith to keep God’s law? How different would your life be were you not keeping it?
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If we look back in our life's of sin and continued too take that road, our life's would be different right know. Meaning we would be in a worse position by now.
I would be the blind wondering in the forest. Though the Law points out the wrong, it is the Blessed Hope that gives salvation.
It would be like a hamster on a wheel spinning around and around and getting no where.
My life would have ended a few years ago. Because of my lifestyle choices, I had three hearts attacks in less than 90 days, my marriage was filled with abuse and hopelessness. But thanks be to God who answers prayer when we act on His word. My husband and I are so thankful to God for working a miracle in our marriage and restoring my health. If it had not been the Lord who was on our side. Thank you Jesus.
While Law in scripture may refer to the ten precepts issued at Sinai, it is sometimes a reference to broader principles which are connected to the Ten, but not readily observed in the written letter. When the Bible exhorts its readers to keep the law it is generally concerned with all that the Lord instructs and counsels. For example intemperance is sin, but there is no obvious statement in the Ten Commandments to declare this (Galatians 5:22).
The faithful commandment keeper does not seek to limit the control of God in their life, but in every aspect inquires of the Lord’s counsel and will. Their day to day choices tells to whom they belong (1 Corinthians 6:20) and how much they regard the law of God and hold love and the law as the governing principles of their life. They need only reference current science to tell if it is okay to consume coffee, alcohol or sugar-laden sweet desserts at potluck (1 Corinthians 10:31).
It may not be apparent to some why the Creator would make law or give counsel or instruction on lifestyle or dress or dwelling place. Some may prefer not to find out lest it interferes with their taste, appetite, preference or particular indulgence. The comforts and pleasures of this life mean a lot to them.
Yet none may expect to inherit life with even one aspect of the life excluded from submission to God. And the character being developed now will not be suddenly changed at the last trump. It is the purpose of sanctification here and now to fit the prospects for life in Heaven and the Earth made New.
The Creator gives counsel to help, not to hurt. He is preparing a people to overcome sin, and this means shunning the allurements of the word and those things which tend to strengthen the human nature and mar the image of God in mankind.
At the same time the faithful partake of the divine nature. They are prepared to shun the appearance of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22). They learn to give up ‘stuff,’ live simple and please their maker and enjoy it. Therefore if surprised by any requirement in Heaven they will only be willing to adjust.
Truly, the best way we can demonstrate the importance of God's law is by living it joyfully ......... then others will learn and follow easily. SEEING IS BELIEVING!
These days so many portray the Law of the LORD in a negative light, however I agree with Moses, David and Jesus' opinion.
Moses in Deut 4:7,8 said having the Law proved that their nation was so great because they had a God who was so near to them and gave them such wonderful laws which showed their wisdom.
David extolled the beauty of the Law in Psalms 19 & 119
Jesus in Matt 22:37-40 showed us what the Law was really all about, namely total commitment to the LORD in love, and compassion for others.
Moses in Ex 34:28 tells us that the ten commandments are the words of the covenant which helps us to understand their place in the Plan of Salvation. From the beginning of the Word to the end the LORD has been offering His Everlasting Covenant to mankind, namely "I will be your God, you will be My people and I will dwell with you"
The Law reveals the character of the LORD, He is just and merciful.
Ex 20:5,6
Just as Paul confirms in Rom 3:26 that the LORD is just and the justifier.
Just as Jesus quoted from the 10 Commandments in John 14:15 "If you love Me keep My commandments.
In relation to todays lesson,can someone demistify Gal 3:10 "For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law."
The operative word here is "Rely." We are not to rely on the works of the law for it is then transferring salvation from grace through faith to "relying" on our works which are useless and, therefore "Cursed" in effect.
Short observation; books have been written and denominations established on the one principle.
I am grateful to know God's law, so I am aware of my wrong doings. Its is the realisation of my wrong doings that point me to my saviour Jesus Christ. For I do not keep the law in its entirety, but pray daily for the Holy Spirit to be baptised of It and be guided into living a just life. For I know Jesus will make up my shortfalls if he can see the whilling and sincere heart within me. I take up my cross daily looking forward to that blessed hope where sin will be no more, Amen!
That is one way of looking at it Stephen. I like to think of God's law as an invitation to accept opportunities, rather than a measure of my wrong doing. If I am brutally honest with myself I already know about that. But the law give me the invitation to be take the opportunity to express my thanks for the salvation so freely given. The Gospel is not so much about where we have come from but about who we are building a relationship with.
The 10 commandments are promises, God said in the verse just before He speaks the commands "I am the Lord your God who brought you out of Egypt, therefore this is what I will do for you, 'you will . . . ". When we stay "abide" in Jesus, He provides (IS) the Way! Especially to form characters like God's as described in His law.
The "law" or Torah, is a primary source for the walk of faith. Its "teaching" is a resource for life.
Nonetheless, we look to Jesus, the Messiah, the Christ, for salvation as was referred to above in the New Covenant language (Jeremiah 31:31-33). This is repeated in Ezekiel 36:21-17 (and other places) and broadened in scope. In the New Testament, Paul writes the same principle (although we frequently get lost in our own preconceptions) in Ephesians 2:1-10. Read the entire passage in context. We will discover the presence of the necessary "works" and the source of them in both of these passages as well.
In addition, we also dance around the text in Philippians 2:12 that says"...work out your own salvation with fear (phobos [Greek]) and trembling." That sounds rather onerous! It sounds like a lot of law/works. But, one need only to read the next thought the Paul wrote in v;13: "For (Because) it is God who worketh in you both to will and to do according to His good pleasure." (See Christ's Object Lessons Pg 161 for her commentary on this text.)
I sincerely do not want to be negative in my approach to the lesson author's approach. He does, however, seem to be inconsistent in his presentation on Sunday's segment, including, but not limited to the final paragraph. That effort to link "the eternal law" to the passage in Romans 1 seems a stretch after his suggestion that the law in Proverbs is the "Torah" or "Teaching" of the old testament. Is the Gospel of Christ present in the Old Testament? Most assuredly. Is there a direct link? I'm not so sure that I see it, at least as it was stated.
This look like a good lesson coming up!! Blessings!
We often say that keeping the law is doing it and in a certain sense I think that is true. The truth of the matter is that in theses verses in Proverbs and throughout the Bible the English word "keep" is translated from the Hebrew word "shamar" which means, "to keep, guard, observe, give heed."* The idea here is to hold on to it rather than let it slip out from our grasp, "Those who forsake the law praise the wicked" (Prov. 28:4 NKJV) where the word "forsake" means, "to leave, loose, forsake" in the Hebrew which is the opposite of keeping and guarding it. So while it has this basic meaning I think doing is part of what it means to hold on to the law. That is, if we are committed to the law then we will do our best to abide by its principles.
* In the Greek the word translated into "keep" in Acts by Luke is "tereo" which means, "to attend to carefully, take care of." Paul, on the other hand, in his discourse on righteous by faith without works uses another word, "prasso" meaning, "to exercise, practise, to be busy with, carry on."
While it's difficult to point to specific problems spared by following God's Law. I feel assured that this is the right thing to do. Recently we were taught that along with the letter of the law, there is the spirit of the law. So the law and the Holy Spirit make me keenly aware of my thoughts and deeds. Praise the Lord for the awareness that leads me to be safe in His Love.
Proverbs 28 verse 4 says that those who forsake the law praise the wicked and those who keep the law contend with the wicked. It is a powerful statement, indeed the great controversy between good and evil descends down to those who obey God and those who Obey him not.As Paul noted that we are carnal sold under sin, unrighteousness and licentiousness is more appealing to the fallen man, it is in our nature and desire to have the rules of the game to be changed to suit our selfish needs.but God demonstrated the immutability of His law by sending his son to die, the death even of the cross.
The law indeed is for our benefit, imagine if everyone kept the law how good it would be. No one could have their good stolen because there are no thieves, none would fear to be murdered because there are no murderers.
However Paul also notes in 1 Timothy 1 verse 9 "We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, 10 for the sexually immoral, for those practicing homosexuality, for slave traders and liars and perjurers--and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine (NIV)
Thank God for His word that leads us into to all truth. Without the law we would not know right from wrong good from evil. God loves us so much that He has given us His word. As we study' His word the Holy Spirit will lead us into all truth. I can honestly say that walking in God's word (law) fills my heart with so much joy and peace. Let go and let God take control of you. He will not let you down.
To keep the law mean to love God, when we love Him we will keep not only the ten but every words spoken by God.
God's Law is JUST. Since the beginning,when He created man,He was so pleased that He even created man in His own image.All are perfect and very good.Then when God completely created Adam and Eve and all the things on earth,He also gave command not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil in the middle of the garden.But our fist parents failed to follow His command. As a punishment , they were driven away from the Garden Of Eden.We also suffer the consequences until now.But God still loved us so much.He even sacrifice His beloved son Jesus Christ to save us from sins.Even in death He loved us completely and made a promise that He will come and take us all to heaven someday.Just believe in Jesus Christ for He is the only way to the Father in heaven.God's Law ,The Ten Commandments is not a burden for us .It is our way of showing our love to God. Since the beginning ,He first loved us.Only by loving God we can do all things.We can easily follow His commands because we also loved Him.God's Law is the pattern that God wants us to be like His own image.If we allow Jesus Christ to live in our hearts all is possible.Following God's Law is not a burden it is our way of showing our love to our Creator.If we honor ,worship and follow God's command, He will surely say in the gates of heaven,Come and enter into the Kingdom of God which I prepared for you. Amen.