Last week, we began our exploration into what the Bible calls the Old Testament Law. We saw that the term refers to broadly, the rules and regulations God gave His people through His servant Moses and recorded them in the books of Exodus, Leviticus and Deuteronomy. We discovered in His Word that God’s purpose in giving the Law was (is) to reveal His holy perfection, enable to us realize our utter imperfection and to ultimately lead us to see our need for salvation through Christ, God’s provision for our need.
So that is how we view the Law through the advantage of this point in history. But how did the people who received the law initially and lived under the burden of trying to keep it? Certainly that was frustrating - beyond that, did they resent the Law? Did they rebel out of that resentment and frustration and ultimately dismiss it?
The Old Testament tells us exactly the opposite. Let’s take a look…
Psalm 119:147,148 -I rise before dawn and cry for help; I wait for Thy words. My eyes anticipate the night watches that I may meditate on Thy word.
Psalm 119:165, 167: Those who love Thy law have great peace, and nothing causes them to stumble. My soul keeps Thy testimonies and I love them exceedingly!
Not only does the Old Testament express great love and value for the Law, it also extols its benefits. In addition to peace and stability mentioned above, this same chapter of Psalms lists other things gained through the Law:
Psalm 119:130 - The unfolding of Thy words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.
Psalm 19 practically gushes about the wonderful things gained through the law: vs. 7-11 - The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether. They are more desirable than gold, yes than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the droppings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by the, Thy servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward.
One final thing I want to note about the view of the Law from the Old Testament lens:
God explains the goal of the Law in Leviticus 19:18. And from that, He shows that He never changes, is the same yesterday, today, and forever because Jesus tells us the same thing in Matthew 22:36-40. The goal of the Law, the greatest commandment, is that we would love God with our whole heart, soul and mind…and that we would love our neighbor as our own selves. THAT is what the Law is trying to shape us into!
And, further illustrating His consistent sameness, both the Old and the New Testament are clear about the only way this can be accomnplished:
Psalm 119:145, 146: I cried with all my heart; answer me, O Lord! I will observe Thy statutes. I cried to Thee; save me and I shall keep Thy testimonies. And in Romans 7:15-8:4, the apostle Paul wrestles with his desire to keep the Law and his utter inability to do so. He concludes Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did, sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh in order that the requirements of the law might be fulfilled in us who do no walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
The Law. Not a burden but rather a blessing. It reveals the perfection of Almighty God and our need for a Savior. It’s the only path for salvation…Jesus. His righteousness. His grace. His love. Compels us to obey.