Monday: More Laws
Daily Lesson for Monday 25th of August 2025
In God’s mercy, He taught the judges how to deal with people in various situations regarding property rights. Several case studies are enumerated, indicating what to do if a bull attacked a neighbor’s bull, if people stole a domestic animal and sold it, if animals grazed in the field or vineyard of another owner, if an item a person borrowed was stolen from him, or if a hired animal was injured or died (Exodus 21:33-36; Exodus 22:1-15).
Read Exodus 22:16-31; Exodus 23:1-9. What issues were dealt with in these laws and how?
Image © Robert McKain at Goodsalt.com
God’s laws included different issues. There were specific regulations against putting down or humiliating people. He did not want any kind of exploitation. In His mercy, God corrects the sinful tendencies of the human heart and restrains people’s natural inclinations. Society was to be kept safe, evil eliminated, and good interpersonal relationships cultivated. Justice and love must rule all actions.
Read Exodus 23:10-19. What important issues were dealt with here?
The Sabbath and the festivals were about worship and were reminders of crucial events in salvation history. Worship was carefully regulated because this was the theological basis for all other activities. The Sabbath was established at Creation (Genesis 2:2-3; Exodus 20:8-11), was connected to Israel’s deliverance and redemption (Deuteronomy 5:12-15), and, in a powerful way, points to worshiping God as our Creator, Redeemer, and Lord (Mark 2:27-28).
Meanwhile, there were three crucial festivals that Israel was required to celebrate each year: (1) the Passover or the Feast of Unleavened Bread in the spring (usually about mid-March to mid-April); (2) Pentecost or the Feast of Harvest (or the Feast of Weeks) seven weeks after the previous festival, thus beginning 50 days later; and (3) the Feast of Tabernacles (or Booths) or the Feast of Ingathering in the fall (usually about mid-September to mid-October; see also Exodus 34:18-26, Leviticus 23:4-44, Numbers 28:16-31; Numbers 29:1-40, Deuteronomy 16:1-16).
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Today's lesson is one of those "omnibus" lessons - a "Reader's Digest" condensed book version of a quite large part of the Torah. We tend to overlook these and selectively dismiss parts of it as being "done away with at the cross". I think it would be instructive to have a whole series of lessons on Hebrew law, if for no other reason than to eliminate some of the broad generalisations we use to selectively keep some and dismiss others today.
I am going to concentrate on the festivals in my comment today, partly because they are summarised in the lesson in one neat little paragraph with a couple of references with no explanation at all.
The three main festivals were primarily agricultural and reflected similar festivals in the religions of the Mediterranean religions at the time.
There are several key poinots that we should consider:
While we do not need to duplicate these Hebrew festivals today, we can learn from their experience. These festivals should be a reminder to us modern Christians that our religion should not live in a separate compartment to our social and community life. In an age where we are becoming increasingly insular both religiously and socially, we may like to consider the benefits of collective celebrations.
The whole of the Old Testament points forward to Jesus, Creator of the universe, Son of God, the express image of His person and the One through whom we receive the Grace of God...
I'm with you. I wish we would focus on the laws in more detail. I think we would learn some interesting things. I realize we are no longer Israel, but the principles still apply and probably some of the laws that make us uncomfortable are worth dialoguing over. Of course, we can do our own study, but discussing with others is valuable.
Is there a book that collectively outlines these festivals clearly and if ever their meaning. if it be there would greatly appreciate having one even pdf.
A simple search on the Internet will turn up a number of sites that summarise the Jewish festivals. The Jewish sites are particularly interesting because they often discuss the origin amd some of their history together with their importance even for non-observant modern Jews. I cannot recommend a spedific site, but it is worth looking at several to get an overall picture.
“And the Lord commanded us to observe all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that He might preserve us alive, as it is this day.”( Deuteronomy 6:24 (NKJV).
It is worthwhile to note that, as God gave 10 moral laws, He subsequently gave 613 other laws in the Torah (Genesis–Deuteronomy). As we studied in yesterday’s (Sunday) lesson, these laws were written in the Code of the Covenant (the Book of the Covenant) (Exodus 20:22 – 23:33). These other hundreds of laws dealt with every aspect of the daily lives of the people. It is very evident that besides our spiritual well-being (10 moral laws), God is very interested in our physical welfare. God is interested in our health, justice, fairness, economics, community life, rest, peace, and happiness. Paul echoed the same sentiment when he wrote, “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” (3 John 1:2, NKJV). In essence, spirituality is holistic, encompassing body, mind, and spirit.
When Paul wrote, “Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit?” (1 Cor. 6:19–20), he was envisioning the physical well-being impacting our spirituality. Our spiritual relationship with God is inseparable from our physical, social and moral life. From the case study of the Israelites where God provided hundreds of laws to support the successful adherence to the 10 moral laws, one may draw some valuable lessons:
I. God profoundly cares how we practically live our lives here and now.
II.God profoundly cares how we treat people in business, family, and community.
III. Spirituality is profoundly holistic. Spirituality cannot be separated from our physical, emotional and mental well-being.
IV. The fundamental truth impeded in the moral law can only be experienced by what we do in our ordinary human activities.
V. God is calling us to be holy, peculiar and countercultural so that we can reflect His character.
VI. Our physical lives can only be enjoyed if we can follow God’s teaching aids, His commandments.
Naturally human life as inherited from Adam, faces death, sickness, fear, worry, and frustration. We are selfish, rebellious, and disobedient to God law in line with what Paul calls the “law of sin and death” (Romans 8:2). Thus by nature we cannot meet God’s holy standards, just as “there is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 14:12).
Abraham tried to fulfill God’s promise by producing a son through Hagar instead of waiting for God’s way through Sarah. For him, the product (what-the promised son) was more important thanNaturally human life as inherited from Adam, faces death, sickness, fear, worry, and frustration. We are selfish, rebellious, and disobedient to God law in line with what Paul calls the “law of sin and death” (Romans 8:2). Thus by nature we cannot meet God’s holy standards, just as “there is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 14:12).
Abraham trial and effort in fulfilling God’s promise by producing a son through Hagar instead of waiting for God’s way through Sarah shows the futlity of human effort at best. For him and indeed many of us, the product (what-the promised son) was more important than the process (through sarah -how), he ignored how God intended, and the result was Ishmael. Human effort outside God’s plan leads to lasting conflict, as seen even in the strife between Ishmael’s descendants and Israel's in modern day thus explaining why we need other laws as a safety net atleast to "remind" us of God standards. Humanity has continued to produce “Ishmaels” in our trial to accomplish God’s purposes through human wisdom, whether by forcing relationships, chasing success at any cost, or compromising truth to get quick results. But God’s laws, such as “Be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy” (Leviticus 19:2), remind us that His promises must be only received His way. The need for other laws exposes the human weakness and points us to the life of the Spirit, where obedience and blessing are intertwined as a means through which God sought to regulate human tendencies that are more inclined to hurt others as opposed to pleasing God as it were. the process (through sarah -how), he ignored the how God intended, and the result was Ishmael. Human effort outside God’s plan leads to lasting conflict, as witnessed even in the strife between Ishmael’s descendants and Israel's in modern day thus explaining why we need other laws as a safety net atleast to "remind" us of God standards. Humanity has continued to produce “Ishmaels” in our trial to accomplish God’s purposes through human wisdom, whether by forcing relationships, chasing success at any cost, or compromising truth to get quick results. But God’s laws, such as “Be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy” (Leviticus 19:2), remind us that His promises must be only received His way. The need for other laws exposes the human weakness and points us to the life of the Spirit, where obedience and blessing are intertwined as a means through which God sought to regulate human tendencies that are more inclined to hurt others as opposed to pleasing God as it were.
Kenya was under British colonial rule for 68 years (1895-1963). Despite gaining independence, the impact of colonialism still influences Kenyans' thinking, behavior, and culture 60 years later. This legacy affects various aspects of life, including:
- Thought patterns and worldview
- Food choices
- Interpretation of literature and scripture
- Moral judgment
The 68 years of colonial rule introduced new laws and statutes that altered Kenyans' daily lives and thinking, leading to a loss of cultural identity. Although Kenya is now independent, the country remains attached to the infused culture, 60 years on after independence.
That was just 68 years; now imagine what 400 years in captivity would do. Egypt was infused in the minds, culture, and habits of Israel - the entire approximately 600,000 who left Egypt. What Israel knew needed a reboot, not an upgrade. This would not allow for inculturation of any kind but a total revamp in thought, practice, and living.
God's intention with Israel was clear: by slowly working on the change of habit and culture, God was using the wilderness as a classroom to reintroduce Israel to His world of love and lifestyle, which would exalt God's name through worship and character representing who God is. A lot of what dictated Israel's thought process would have to change, from spirituality to daily life.
The laws and statutes would have to change to foster ideal worship and a life committed to God, representing God through justice, unity, community, and peace amongst the brethren. The "chosen generation" would need to represent God in truth and in spirit, with all their heart, spirit, and strength.
The laws and statutes of God were to address this exactly. These laws were not only to edify Israel's relationship with God but also to guide and assist Israel's daily living with themselves, their neighbors, and the world. These would distinguish Israel from the rest of the world as emissaries of God's character of love, justice, mercy, and hope.
Sometimes, I ask myself, as a Seventh-day Adventist, what is my life after Sabbath? Does the Sabbath really represent more than my day of worship and rest? Am I telling the neighborhood how Sabbath is my day of worship? And what happens to my daily life other than Sabbath? Does my daily life show true worship of God through love, justice, and mercy?
God also cares about social organization. The high point in today's Lesson is "Society was to be kept safe, evil eliminated, and good interpersonal relationships cultivated. Justice and love must rule all actions." It's been challenging for all countries nowadays to balance their social policies, especially for modern Israel.
The Sabbath identifies the Creator of all things 'made' - physical and spiritual. It identifies the One who has the ‘right’ to declare to us what life is - that manifestations, expressed and maintained in the material realm, originate and exist in the Spirit of God, our Creator - Rom.1:20.
Mattew 19 and Mark 10 help focus one’s goals in life on that which matters most. It qualifies the mundane cares associated with life of one participating in the worldly pursuits of prosperity, happiness, and status; it exposes this as a 'hindrance', able to limit or derail ones pursuit of that which really matters.
What then is the ultimate purpose of the Law, its ordinances, regulations governing life, the Sabbath and the days of festivals? Is it not learning to hear the voice of our Creator Father and learning to trust Him and to love Him?
The 'rules' associated with the 'law' are our Creator's guidelines benefitting this material world, though, in their essence, testifying to the Spirit of God drawing us to Himself. They are the revealers of His Spirit and Truth – James 4:8; John 16:13; 1 Cor.2:10.