Question: What do you mean by “Law”?

“Pay attention to all that I have said to you, and make no mention of the names of other gods, nor let it be heard on your lips.” Exodus 23.13

Following the giving of the first round of civil laws to Moses, God begins to explain the religious or ceremonial rules that must govern His people in their relationship with Him.

First, He restates the demand for exclusive devotion, in the text cited above then outlines a program of worship, offerings, sacrifices, rests, and feasts that express His will for His people. It is safe to say this facet of the Law of God – the religious laws – reflects an aspect of the will of God that is at once beautiful, mysterious, practical, terrifying, satisfying, sensate, and deeply spiritual.

The religious laws of Israel include instructions about sacrifices and offerings – whether to atone for sin or express gratitude or worship – and the rules defining the work of priests and Levites in administering the service of the Tabernacle. Special garments and furnishing, as well as detailed guidelines for offerings, cleansings, and festivals, are included in these laws. The religious laws were to be followed by the people in worshiping the Lord. They were not to be added to or amended in any way (cf. Lev. 10).

The writer of Hebrews explains that these laws foreshadowed God’s work of redemption in Jesus Christ and that, since He has fulfilled the work of which these were but a shadow, the religious laws – sacrifices, priesthood, feast days, and the like – had now been set aside. However, as Paul shows in 1 Corinthians 9, there are principles of propriety in serving the Lord encoded in these laws that should guide us in our practice even today.

We look to the religious laws of Israel, therefore, to aid us in discerning principles and practices that can guide us in personal and corporate worship, and in thus maintaining continuity with our forebears and contemporaries in the covenant community of the Lord.

T. M. Moore

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