15 Devotional Gleanings from Reading the Old Testament Law

When reading through the first five books of the Old Testament, many of us find a significant portion of those chapters very hard to profit from devotionally. I refer specifically to that portion of the Law that deals with Israel’s worship practices (the tabernacle, the priests, holy days, sacrifices), Israel’s uniqueness as God’s possession (all things clean and unclean, ceremonial purification), and the numerous ways Israel’s government was to apply God’s moral law in daily life.  

While there is some immediate encouragement in reading the Law, too often that encouragement is sparse. Some reading this, no doubt, find it somewhat of a trial when their Bible reading plan takes them through these many chapters!

I would like to attempt to provide a cheat sheet of sorts to point out some truths to look out for as we read the Law. These are not listed in any particular order. These were compiled for my own benefit but I thought I would share them.

What we want to know as we read is:  What was God teaching Israel through these portions of the Law? What does God teach His Church now through these same chapters?    

The Law taught Israel and now teaches us what God is like, His character, Who He is.

• He is the Only God, our Creator.
• He is holy, both in His uniqueness and perfect moral purity.
• He is just, but also merciful.
• He is judge, but also deliverer.
• He is sovereign over nations and individuals.
• He is patient, slow to anger.
• He is faithful.

The Law taught Israel and now teaches us about true righteousness.

• God and His commands are the standard of righteousness, not man’s ideas.
• There is a great gulf between true righteousness and religiosity (simply keeping external rules).
• Faith in the fear of the Lord leads to obedience.
• Love for God and love for others is the heart of the Law.
• Self-denial, self-control, is necessary to live in a way that shows love to God and love to others.

The Law taught Israel and now teaches us that we cannot keep God’s Law or meet His standard of righteousness.

• The very existence of the sacrificial system and the role of priests assume that God’s people will continually need sacrifice and priestly mediators.

The Law taught Israel and now teaches us our continual need for God’s mercy and forgiveness, our need for a Savior.

• The continual need for the sacrificial system and priesthood emphasizes mankind’s sinfulness and need for deliverance from sin. As we read Israel’s history, we see ourselves in Israel’s continual failings.

The Law taught Israel and now teaches us that obedience to God’s commands is not predicated on our understanding or agreement.

• We obey because God expressed His will. Most of the commands in the Law are not explained. Some of these laws are readily understood or explained later in Scripture. Others we can only guess at their purpose.

The Law taught Israel and now teaches us the need for a perfect sacrifice, perfect priest and mediator, and a perfect king.

• Through the numerous and unending sacrifices, the assumed and recorded failings of the priests, and prophecies (and later records) of the failures of kings, we are reminded of the coming Messiah.

The Law taught Israel and now teaches us that He is our Lord, for He has redeemed us, and we are now His own possession.

• We are bought with a price and must glorify our Savior through obedience to Him. Our entire life is now defined by Him.

The Law taught Israel and now teaches us that we must worship God His way, not according to our own ideas.

• We are God’s worshippers and must worship Him according to His will, not ours. He must be worshiped reverently.

The Law taught Israel and now teaches us that God is the Author of all life, so all life is to be respected.

• Blood is life and the symbol of life. We are taught the value of mankind in God’s image and secondarily the value of animal life.

The Law taught Israel and now teaches us the horrible price to be paid for sin.

• Death is the price to be paid for sin. That life must be taken so that others might live illustrates the evil of sin and rebellion against God.

The Law taught Israel and now teaches us that every facet of our being is His.

• We must honor God in every part of our life, including everything that we have: our bodies, our families, our possessions, and our relationships. We are to please God even in the most private matters.

The Law taught Israel and now teaches us that faith is required to please God.

• Tithing, offerings, Sabbaths, jubilee years, etc., all emphasize the continual need for faith in God’s promised provision for all of our needs. God gave Israel very intense tests of faith through these laws about possessions and earning a living. Honoring God requires that we obey Him even when we don’t see how He will provide.

The Law taught Israel and now teaches us about the importance of God’s presence and blessing.

• Throughout the Law there is emphasis on God’s visible or known presence. To lose God’s favor was national disaster. And so it is for all individuals today.

The Law taught Israel and now teaches us about the dire consequences of unbelief.

• Consider all of the pain and sorrow resulting from Israel’s sin and unbelief! The consequences of sin can be devastating, even if we repent and know forgiveness.  

The Law taught Israel and now teaches us that God keeps His covenants, His promises.

• Mankind, including His chosen people, fail, but God never fails.

There is much to glean from the Law with meditation! Maybe you can add to this list.

Photo: Lawrie Cate