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THE OLD TESTAMENT
In our last two lessons we dealt with the books of the Old and New Testament,
showing the purpose of each. The very fact that we speak of an “Old” and “New”
Testament indicates that there is a distinction between the two. This distinction
must be kept clearly in mind as one goes about studying his Bible, otherwise all
sorts of wrong conclusions will be arrived at and confusion will reign. Our lesson
this month deals with some matters about the Old Testament.
WHEN GIVEN?
After being in Egyptian for many years, God came to Moses, giving him
the commission of delivering Israel. Upon bring Egypt to her knees and making
Pharaoh powefless to stop them, the people finally left Egypt. In the third month
after leaving Egypt they cam to mount Sinai (Exo. 19:1) where they stayed for
the better part of a year. While encamped at Sinai God called Moses upon the mountain
and gave him the Law, written on two tables of stone. This is what is normally
called the Ten Commandments (Exo. 20:1ff). These were subsequently expanded upon
and the law regulating the lives of the Israelites were given in more detail.
The time of the giving of the law was shortly before 1500 BC.
TO WHOM GIVEN? Unless it is understood to whom a particular law is given, there will be misunderstanding about it. Near the end of their 40 years in the wilderness, we come to the events in the book of Deuteronomy. In chapter five Moses gathered the people together for some final things before his and their entering the land of Canaan. One of the thiings he made clear was precisely to whom the Ten Commandments law was given. After urging them to keep that law he said, "The Lord made not this covenant with our fathers, but with us, even us, who are all of us here alive this day" (Deut. 5:3). Other places could be noted, but there can hardly be any misunderstanding concerning the people to whom gave the Old Testament law. When men attempt to justify their religious practices based upon that law, erroneous conclusions are arrived at. Some have tried to justify "Sabbath keeping," instrumental music and other things based on the old law. But that law was never given for man today as a guide for his religious practices. We will deal more with this question in the next article. HOW LONG WAS IT TO LAST?
Scripture is no less clear on this question than it is on the previous two. One
of the problems existing in the churches of Galatia was that they were attempting
to justify certain things based on the Old Testament law. But like many today,
it seems that they were interested only in keeping a part of that law, mainly circumcision (Gal. 5:1ff). But note that Paul says that
if one insisted on circumcision, he then is debtor to do the whole law. He also points out that when one attempts to be justified by the law, "ye
are fallen from grace" (Gal. 5:4). Back in 3:19 is the question, "wherefore then
the law," or "why was the law given?" It was to regulate the lives of those to
whom it was given, yet it was only to be "until the seed should come." That seed,
says Paul, was Christ (Gal. 3:16). When Christ came and died on the cross the
Old Covenant was removed; men were no longer subject to it (Col. 2:14f).
The Old Testament still has a legitimate usage, however, but not as a guide religiously.
That usage is in the form of examples for us to learn from today (1 Cor. 10:6).
They were "written for our learning" (Rom. 15:4). Principles are taught there
that are timeless. But the Old Law itself wa for a particular people, a particular
purpose and for a particular time. This must be respected to come to proper conclusions
in Bible study. - Bill Moseley |
