Sabbath: The Law as Teacher
Image © Pacific Press
Sabbath Afternoon
Read for This Week’s Study: Deuteronomy 6:5; Deuteronomy 31:9-27; Romans 3:19-23; Revelation 12:17; Revelation 14:12; Mark 6:25-27; Hebrews 5:8.
Memory Text: “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength” (Deuteronomy 6:5, NKJV).
In warning the Galatians against legalism, Paul wrote: “For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law” ( Galatians 3.21-22).
However, if the law can’t give life to sinners, what’s the purpose of it, other than to show us our need of grace? Is the law, then, only negative in function, only there to show us our sins?
No; the law is also there to point us to the way of life, which is found only in Jesus. This is also what true education should be about, pointing us to a life of grace, of faith, and of obedience to Christ. That’s why this week we will study the role of God’s law in the whole question of Christian education. As we do, let’s see what the law, though it cannot save us, still can teach us about faith, about grace, and about our God’s love for fallen humanity.
Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, October 17.
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When our kids were little, we had rules; don’t run out on the road; don’t stick your hand in boiling pots, keep away from power sockets and so on. It took a little while for them to realise that breaking the rules were not there just because Dad and Mum said so. By the time they went to school they had learned that there was a reason behind the “don’ts” that we had issued. They had learned to respect roads as places where cars could hit you, and that hot pots could seriously hurt you, much more than a quick smack on the knuckles when you tried to do it. We no longer had to remind them of the rules. And even better, they used the learning process to make up rules of their own. That showed both initiative and understanding.
I wonder: Is there a similar process with God’s rules as we grow spiritually
What is the purpose of the law? The law is there to guide us to Christ. It shows that we are unworthy to gain salvation through our own works. The issue is not the law but it is our sinful nature. The law is good. A Christian walks in obedience. We love living in a society where there is law and order. God loves order and that is why we have to be good citizens where we live.
We are so happy when people follow the rules that we set. It shows that people respect us. How much more it is when we follow God's law? It is His character. He gives us His law for our own good. In John 5:39, "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me." The law cannot save us but it tells us that we are sinners in need of a Savior who is Jesus-Christ. Ellen G. White stated: "It would be well for us to spend a thoughtful hour each day in the contemplation of the life of Christ. We should take it point by point, and let the imagination grasp each scene, especially the closing ones. As we thus dwell upon His great sacrifice for us, our confidence in Him will be more constant, our love will be quickened, and we shall be more quickened, and we shall be more deeply imbued with His spirit. If we would be saved at last, we must learn the lesson of penitence and humiliation at the foot of the cross. Desires of Ages 83.4" Amen and Happy Sabbath my brothers and sisters.
When I was a child I was taught rules but when I became an adult I was given the Principles of Life by the LORD in His Word to enable me to partake of His divine nature and to become one with Him.
1Cor 13:11-13, 2Peter 1:3-4, John 14:20
I personally have a problem with man made laws. Some humans make up their own laws depending on who, what, where, how it can work for them and those who are their kind. With their laws they judge others. The Jews has approximately 600+ laws to guard a few laws. Some were pure insanity. Jesus came to liberate us from those laws and pointed us to his laws. His laws are to Love him with all we have and our neighbors as ourselves. Amen
The purpose of the law is, it show us that we are all a sinner. When we knowed that we are all sinner, it also show us the way that we will be save and that way is from jesus. Happy sabbath brother and sister.
If Paul were still alive today, I would like to ask him the following question: We have been told that the Law is the transcript of God's character. Can I say that God's character cannot save us? Can I argue that the sign on the freeway that reads "Wrong Way. Do not enter" has not saved anybody from harm and death? I wonder what his answer would be. "How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word."
I am truly excited to note the practical(here on earth) purpose of the law God was giving to the children of Israel in the Book of Deuteronomy chapter 6. God promised the children of Israel that if they kept the commands, decrees, and regulations (New Living Translation), “all will go well with them”(Deut.6:3,19). The Lord God explicitly spelled out the benefits which would accrue from being obedient to his commands, decrees, and regulations. They would have:
a)Long life in the land(keeping moral law, natural law, health law)
b)Joyful and happy life in the land
c)Economic prosperity in the land
d)Peace in the land (less or no crime)
e)Victory against their enemies (strong nation – their numbers will increase(strong army). China has got the largest army in the world due to its population size.
f)Internal security (they will take care of one another because they loved God)
The observance of God’s commands, decrees, and regulations would have far reaching positive implications to the nation of Israel. These positive implications would propel the nation of Israel into greater peace, prosperity, and higher quality of life:
i.There will be no thieves in the land (“You shall not steal”) - There will be no police department. The budget for the police department will used in social projects to promote national unity to bring more peace in the land)
ii.There will no murderers in the land (“You shall not murder”) - Many courts will be closed down. Prosecution service department will be reduced. All these will make good savings to be used in welfare projects which would benefit the less fortunate members of society bringing more national cohesion.
iii.There would no liars in the land (“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbour”) – There will no fraudsters and corruption. In there will no misallocation and misapplication of public finance. National budgetary allocations will be use effectively and efficiently. This was to parachute the national economy bringing more prosperity for all. More, peace, better quality of life, more joy and happiness. The nation of Israel was to be the envy of the world.
iv.There will be contentment and satisfaction in the land (“You shall not covet your neighbour’s wife. You shall not set your desire on your neighbour’s house or land, his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbour.” – There would be no divorce incidences due to infidelity. Families would be safeguarded from the pain of divorces and bringing more joy and happiness in the land. All crimes which relate to envy and jealousy will not be in the land.I visualise, the police department, prosecution service department and courts will be closed. The nation of Israel would save a lot of money to be used to improve the quality of life for its citizens.
It is not surprising to note that God promised greater favours to the Children of Israel if they kept his commands, decrees and regulations.
1.Exodus 19:5: “Now if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, you will be My treasured possession out of all the nations--for the whole earth is Mine”
2.Isaiah 43:4 “Because you are precious and honoured in My sight, and because I love you, I will give men in exchange for you and nations in place of your life”
3.Deuteronomy 30:16 “For I am commanding you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, statutes, and ordinances, so that you may live and increase, and the LORD your God may bless you in the land that you are entering to possess”
In the scheme of events, here on earth, here and now, it is very evident that communities, societies and countries which respect the rule of law, respect the natural law, health law, moral law are more peaceful, more prosperous and higher quality lives.
I am convinced that God wanted the children of Israel to learn lessons from the keeping the law for their own benefit here on earth as He was promising them a much and better life in his Kingdom.
Thy word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
Omwenga you said what the law was intended to do for the Nation of Israel. Now we SDA are not a separate nation, we live in all different countries of the world so how can that equate to us in reality?
Are we the first and not the last. Can we as individuals claim Deuteronomy 27-31 blessings and reject the curse. Are we happy people, content with what we have. Are we sowing sparingly or bountifully? The Israelites returned approximately 25% and worked less than us today. How are we different from them? The law remains the same, it never changed.
What motivates, prompts those who are aware of the still applicable law of God to ‘keep it’? If the law by itself could impart righteousness, God would have given us such a law – I agree! So, what is it that motivates us to WANT to keep the law?
God wrote it on the hearts of those who actively seek to love Him; and since it is now(always has) been written on their hearts, what does this imply when we observe the hesitancy among so many to share the Gospel-Truth? On how many hearts has God been able to write His Law of Love?
The memory text for today quotes Deut.6:5 – “You SHALL love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength” - THIS is what makes the difference! *Shall* espresses more than 'would you, please'! We are admonished to be vigilant to maintain the Love for our God!
Omwenga shared an excellent observation what our communal life could look like if all Christians would have the law written on their heart, loving God deeply to so be empowered to keep His commandments. We do not expect the unsaved to keep God’s commandments, it is us, the professed believers, who hold the key to receive blessings from which the whole of society benefits and therewith to increase the Glory of God as a testimony to the world!
God’s Light cannot shine brightly if it does not have enough Oil to burn in the first place; it flickers and might even go out. If we keep it so low that it is hardly enough to shed its light on our Path which we have to walk by Faith, what does this tell us about the strength of our Faith and the Love we have for our God, His Son, and the Holy Spirit?
Maurice wonders: “Is there a similar process with God’s rules as we grow spiritually”(?) How would we answer this in light of the apparently ever increasing turmoil in our country and around the world? In my opinion, the more we grow spiritually, knowing our God personally and knowing who we are and our place in His Kingdom, our new nature will ‘naturally’ live the essence of the Law which is unselfish Love.
Are we still at the same stage of Faith as the Israelites when Moses send out the Spies to canvas the Promised Land? Are we still ‘afraid’, only half-heartedly following our God because we really do not know what He is ‘up to’ and can do? Do we have so little spiritual maturity, (as demonstrated by the people of the sons of Israel as they lived in the Promised Land), that we cannot share the saving Love of God’s Gospel demonstratively and intelligently with our 'neighbors' who still live in spiritual darkness?
2Chron.7:14 – “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
If someone uses this quote they usually end at: “and seek my face”, but it does not end there – it ends with “and turn from their wicked ways”! Can we, in this day and time, benefitting from a Savior who shows us the Way, the Truth and the Light, bare this implied inditement?
John14:15; John14:21; Yes - it is addressed to all who confess to believe God's TRUTH, the saving Grace and Mercy of the Creator, Savior, Holy Spirit. If we trust Him and follow His ‘command’ to love Him with all our being, we will truly become His spiritual Children, having learned that the essence of the Law is Love imparted, trusted in, and followed by applying it to our daily lives.
Two men went to the river to take a swim. On the bank at a certain part of the river there was a sign which reads: DANGER Do not swin in this part of the river. Both men saw the sign and read it aloud. One man decided to test out that section of the river and plunge in. After a short while he began to spin and go down in the waters. He cried out "HELP", to his friend who was still on the river bank looking at the sign. Again the drowning man cried out "HELP." His friend said "my friend the sign is still here, which says danger". With his last breath the friend cry "HELP" His friend shouted, "I can't here is the sign." His helpless friend was taken under but the curren in the river.
This is whst sin does to those who disobey the laws of God. Let us be obedient znd we will live.
What exactly is ‘the law’?
Most fundamentally, ‘law’ is a constant. This means that when a certain set of conditions happen, the same outcome will always follow. 1 + 1 will always result in 2. Constants (laws) provide the necessary order needed for life. Without constants, there would only be chaos and life would not be possible.
And there is one law that underpins all other laws - the law of beneficence, otherwise known as Agape Love. The foundational nature and character of this law is giving in order to advance/promote the best interests of all others. Ellen White proposes that this law of beneficence is the law of life on earth as well as heaven - and even that it has its source in the very heart of God. This is why Jesus was able to say that loving God and loving our neighbour as ourselves was the most important ‘law’ - and that all the law and the prophets hung on this foundational principle/law (Matthew 22:37-40).
The 10 commandments provide specific elaborations of the law of beneficence - descriptions of how the law of beneficence is applied to various aspects of life and living.
Law/s therefore also describe how life works. As such they are instructive of what is in harmony with how life works and what is out of harmony with how life works. This is how ‘law’ is also our teacher. It informs us of how we need to be if we want to truly live and it shows us what we are doing wrong when we are out of harmony with how true/abundant life functions.
Unfortunately we also use the term ‘laws’ to refer to rules that are made up and enforced by governments and people. Failing to distinguish between the law/s of abundant life reality and the ‘laws’ made up and enforced by humans can cause us to draw mistaken conclusions about the nature and character of ‘the law’ as teacher.
One passage of scripture that would be very fitting for this lesson is Psalm 19:7-11.
The "holy, and just, and good"(Rom 7:12) law of God reveals His "good, acceptable and perfect will"(Rom 12:2) to all who would find life in Christ, and perfect conformity to the will of God(Ps 40:8, Eph 5:17). It is this agreement(Amos 3:3) with the Lord that gives us "right to the tree of life", allowing us to enter "through the gates, into the City" of God(Rev 22:14) with "exceeding joy"(Jude 24).
This is "the whole duty of man"(Eccl 12:13,14), and God's Law is the covenant He has made with sinners to save them, which "Christ is the end[telos] of...for righteousness"(Rom 10:4).