01.01. Peculiarities Of The Law Of Moses
PECULIARITIES OF THE LAW OF MOSES
1.Its National Aspects. The law of Moses was given to, and for, a single nation (Exo 19:1-25; Exo 20:1-17; Deu 5:1-33; Mal 4:4). It developed a national worship. Previous to it, worship was confined to the family (Gen 12:6-7; Gen 46:1-3). Under it God recorded His name at the altar (Exo 20:24-26), and required all Israel to assemble there and worship through the Divinely ordained priesthood (Num 18:1-7; Deu 12:12-16). The law of Moses was given orally (Exo 20:1-23), and perpetuated, 1.by being written on tables of stone (Exo 24:12; Exo 31:18), 2.by being written in a book (Exo 24:4, Exo 24:7-8; Deu 31:24-26; Heb 9:18-19),
3. and it was made a part of the national life by being taught to each new generation, talked of in their homes, bound upon their hands, written upon the posts of their houses, on their gates (Deu 27:1-8) and publicly proclaimed in the ears of the nation (Deu 11:26-32; Deu 31:9-13).
2.Its Simplicity. The law of Moses was given to a nation that had been out of bondage only a short time, and was adapted to their necessities just as it found them. God intended that they should understand and obey it, for 1.the masses were ignorant, and disposed to forsake Him (Exo 20:1-5; Deu 27:1-8);
2. through it they received the knowledge of sin (Exo 20:1-7; Num 25:1-15; Rom 3:19-21);
3. it was their bond of union (Deu 7:12-16);
4. it carried with it a blessing and a curse (Deu 11:26-32);
5. it foreshadowed the gospel of Christ (Col 2:17; Heb 10:1).
3.Greatness of Its Blessings. The blessings of the law were, 1.perpetual possession of the land promised to their fathers (Deu 7:1-13; Deu 30:16), 2.long life and good days (Deu 30:20), 3.the good things of this world (Deu 28:1-14), 4.protection from their enemies (Deu 20:10-18; Deu 23:14), 5.superiority to all other nations (Deu 15:5-6; Deu 26:19; Deu 28:12-13).
4. Greatness of Its Curses. The curses of the law were numerous and terrible (Deu 27:11-26; Deu 28:15-68). In addition to this, many crimes were punishable with death or expulsion from the congregation of Israel:
1.Murder (Exo 21:12-14; Num 35:30), 2.unlawfully smiting a servant (Exo 21:20-21), 3.death by vicious animals uncontrolled (Exo 21:28-30), 4.robbery in the night (Exo 22:2-4), 5.idolatry (Exo 22:20; Lev 20:1-5), 6.witchcraft (Exo 22:18; Lev 20:27), 7.afflicting the widow or fatherless (Exo 22:22-24), 8.disobedience to priests or judges (Exo 22:28; Deu 17:12), 9.the neglect of a priest to wash in the laver before entering the tabernacle (Exo 30:18-21), 10.Sabbath-breaking (Exo 31:15-16; Num 15:32-36), 11.adultery (Lev 20:10), 12.incest (Lev 20:11-12), 13.sodomy (Lev 20:13), 14.bestiality (Lev 20:15-16), 15.disrespect to parents (Lev 20:9), 16.blasphemy (Lev 24:16), 17.unlawfully approaching the tabernacle (Num 1:51), 18.false prophecy (Deu 13:1-5), 19.enticers to idolatry (Deu 13:6-11), 20.gluttony and drunkenness (Deu 21:18-21), 21.rape of a married or betrothed woman (Deu 22:13-27), 22.kidnapping (Deu 24:7), 23.eating leavened bread at the feast of unleavened bread (Exo 12:15-17), 24.making or using the sacred oil for anointing (Exo 30:23-33), 25.making or using the holy perfume (Exo 30:34-38), 26.eating the sacrifices of peace offerings, being unclean (Lev 17:10-14), 27.uncovering the nakedness of near kin (Lev 18:6-18, Lev 18:29), 28.eating the sacrifices of peace offerings on the third day (Lev 19:5-8), 29.uncovering the nakedness of a woman with her sickness upon her (Lev 20:18), 30.refusing to be afflicted and doing work on the day of atonement (Lev 23:27-30), 31.neglecting to keep the passover (Num 9:13).
5. Election. Abraham (Gen 12:1-3), Isaac (Gen 26:1-5; Jacob (Gen 28:10-14) and the nation of Israel were elected in order to the unfolding of the purpose of God (Exo 19:1-8). The law, however, made provisions for aliens (Exo 20:10; Lev 19:33-34). It provided a home for the Edomites (Deu 2:1-5), and made provision for the entrance of the Edomites and the Egyptians into the congregation of the Lord in Their third generation (Deu 23:7-8).