The Book of the Law? If every preacher this week would preach on the 6 day creation, how many would have a job on Monday? Not a good idea?
If every preacher today would do as Moses commanded in Deut. 31, to read the Book of the Law every 7 years, as Joshua did it at least once, or Josiah, or Ezra, (first 5 Books of the Bible - 6 Days to 10 Commandments – 6 days imbedded in #4) to the people, how many would have a job before the Benediction. Not a good idea? How about, at least, a Bible Study on the subject, every 7 years?
(Should we consider the dietary laws and appointed feasts? I suppose dietary considerations were about health which may not apply now. And feast days may be worth understanding, especially if Christ fulfilled their original purpose. Certainly the 6 Day Creation, a slam dunk, and the Big 10, and history lessons are crucial to our performance and understanding.)
After looking at the Book of Judges (God judged the people for carelessness towards the law, the judges were part of the defendants, and then arranged for a pardon after a period of discipline and God’s grace), there seems to be a lack of ‘good priests’. Micah bought a Levite priest and even made carved images for him. It is not until later in the Judges period there is Samuel, a good priest and a prophet, and a judge. May be a lesson to be learned here?
Deuteronomy 31:9. So Moses wrote this law and delivered it to the priests, the sons of Levi, who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and to all the elders of Israel. 10. And Moses commanded them, saying: "At the end of every seven years, at the appointed time in the year of release, at the Feast of Tabernacles, 11. "when all Israel comes to appear before the Lord your God in the place which He chooses, you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing. 12. "Gather the people together, men and women and little ones, and the stranger who is within your gates, that they may hear and that they may learn to fear the Lord your God and carefully observe all the words of this law, 13. "and that their children, who have not known it, may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God as long as you live in the land which you cross the Jordan to possess.''
Joshua 8:33. Then all Israel, with their elders and officers and judges, stood on either side of the ark before the priests, the Levites, who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord, the stranger as well as he who was born among them. Half of them were in front of Mount Gerizim and half of them in front of Mount Ebal, as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded before, that they should bless the people of Israel. 34. And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings and the cursings, according to all that is written in the Book of the Law. 35. There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded which Joshua did not read before all the congregation of Israel, with the women, the little ones, and the strangers who were living among them.
Joshua 23:6. "Therefore be very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, lest you turn aside from it to the right hand or to the left,
7. "and lest you go among these nations, these who remain among you. You shall not make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause anyone to swear by them; you shall not serve them nor bow down to them,
8. "but you shall hold fast to the Lord your God, as you have done to this day.
2 Kings 22:3. Now it came to pass, in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, that the king sent Shaphan the scribe, the son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, to the house of the Lord, saying: 4. "Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, that he may count the money which has been brought into the house of the Lord, which the doorkeepers have gathered from the people. 5. "And let them deliver it into the hand of those doing the work, who are the overseers in the house of the Lord; let them give it to those who are in the house of the Lord doing the work, to repair the damages of the house 6. "to carpenters and builders and masons and to buy timber and hewn stone to repair the house. 7. "However there need be no accounting made with them of the money delivered into their hand, because they deal faithfully.'' 8. Then Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, "I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the Lord.'' And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it. 9. So Shaphan the scribe went to the king, bringing the king word, saying, "Your servants have gathered the money that was found in the house, and have delivered it into the hand of those who do the work, who oversee the house of the Lord.'' 10. Then Shaphan the scribe showed the king, saying, "Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.'' And Shaphan read it before the king. 11. Now it happened, when the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, that he tore his clothes.
Nehemiah 8:1. Now all the people gathered together as one man in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate; and they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded Israel. 2. So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the congregation, of men and women and all who could hear with understanding, on the first day of the seventh month. 3. Then he read from it in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate from morning until midday, before the men and women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law.
Galatians 3:10. For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.'' 11. But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for "The just shall live by faith.'' 12. Yet the law is not of faith, but "The man who does them shall live by them.'' 13. Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree''), 14. that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
