February 4- Choosing the Law

February 4, 2011

Exodus 19:16-21:21; Matthew 23: 13-39;
Psalm 28: 1-9; Proverbs 7:1-5

I love mirrors.  They let one pass through the surface of things.  ~Claude Chabrol

Exodus 19:16-21:21

Early in the morning after I have had my morning coffee and am ready to prepare for the day before I really get going the first thing I do is look in the mirror.  I don't know if this is a habit from my teen years where any day could bring an explosion of zits or just human nature.  The thing is, I always find something wrong that needs to be fixed on my face. I never look into that mirror and see perfection.  You would think that finding things wrong with you everyday would be a deterrent to ever looking in a mirror, but I want to look each day and see what's wrong anyway.


Today the nation of Israel is about to start the time period that will take them all the way to the cross of Christ.  It will be their time to look into the mirror and see what is wrong with them.  They will look each day and see their imperfections and how they have fallen short.  The nation of Israel is about to receive the Law.  This Law is a mirror to their souls.  This mirror will reflect that they are sinners.  The Law was initially given to the Israelites, but all of humanity is obliged to follow the Law of God.  All of humanity fails to be able to follow God's Law.  It is this Law that draws us with gratitude to the grace found only in Christ.

You might have noticed that at this point in the story the people of Israel believe that they will be able to keep the Law (Exodus 19:8).  They say this before they have even heard what the commandments are! Oops.  This was definitely a mistake on their part.

As you read the Ten Commandments you may squirm and balk at the demands.  Who among us has never lied?  Who has never bore false witness against someone?  Who has never put an idol or object above worshiping God?  Who has never coveted what someone else possesses?  We look into the mirror and see marks and blemishes on our souls.  In the Law there is no love.


As we read the next large portion of the Old Testament be prepared to become exhausted by a myriad of rules that you cannot follow.  This is God's intent.  This will drive us to the mercy and sacrifice of a perfect Redeemer.

Remember that Israel must function as an independent nation.  Just as the Second Continental Congress had to formulate our Constitution in the United States, God is developing the set of Laws that will govern the nation of Israel. 

Another purpose of the Law is to give practical regulations for civil and criminal behavior. Many of our laws in the United States today come from the laws that we will be studying in the Old Testament.  You will recognize many of the same consequences for breaking laws.  Other laws and practices have gone by the wayside. 

Regardless, this time period will reflect the harshness of the Law, as opposed to the grace provided through Jesus Christ. The Messiah, when he comes, provides payment for the penalty of our inability to keep this Law.

You may feel uncomfortable as you read these portions of Scripture.  That is a natural reaction.  It is uncomfortable to read about sin.  The punishments are harsh and the situations that require punishment are disturbing.  God wants you to be disturbed.  He is disturbed.  This is an important process.

One other thing I noticed in the reading today is that God did not want the Israelites to carve the stones used for the altars of sacrifice.  This reminds me that God does not want our works to be part of the solution for sin.  The sacrifice for breaking His Laws are to be provided by God alone.  He, alone, is Holy and able to make the proper perfect provision for our transgressions.

Matthew 23:13-39

For those of you who are musicians you know that dynamics in music are a large part of creating the emotion of the piece.  The process of making the music soft or loud is very important in interpreting a song.  Having the music slowly swell to a louder point is called a crescendo.  Today we see a crescendo as Jesus confronts the religious leaders of Israel.  Jesus has been singing a song of judgment against the religious leaders of his day and this is the climax of his masterpiece. This is his final stand against their hypocrisy.  As the music swells, Jesus pronounces judgment on their lives.

Here are Jesus' lists of why it will be terrible for them in the end:

• They will make their religious converts twice the sons of hell that they themselves are.-Vs. 15
• They spread false teaching about swearing oaths on things other than God, but are really concerned with getting rich in the process. - Vs. 16-22
• They worry about tithing, but forget mercy, justice and faith.- Vs. 23
• They are concerned with washing, but are filthy with greed and self-indulgence inside of themselves.- Vs. 25-26
• They look religious on the outside, but inside they are hypocrites and lawless.- Vs. 27-28
• They will participate in killing the prophets like their forefathers, even though they act as if their forefathers are the guilty ones.- Vs. 29-30

Jesus states that the accumulated judgment for all that the Israelites have done against God will break over the heads of this present generation of religious leaders (vs. 36).  Jesus cries out in distress that this is the destiny of this generation.  Although Christ knows God's will in this situation, it does not make the pain of the reality any easier. Jesus is brokenhearted that Israel is rejecting their Messiah.

What sin in your life causes anguish?  What anguish do you feel over other people in your life who are doomed because of their hypocrisy and sin?  Do you follow your religious leaders blindly?

Psalm 28:1-9

Vs. 1- O Lord, you are my rock of safety.  Please help me; don't refuse to answer me.  For if you are silent, I might as well give up and die.

Don't you love that?

Proverbs 7:1-5

"Love wisdom like a sister.  Make insight a beloved family member."  I can't add anything to those words!

What did you see today?  Will you share with us?

Blessings,

Jubilee Gal
Kathy Fullerton