Bible Study                                     Notes 1999

9 February 1999

THE DOCTRINE OF THE SCRIPTURES

Deuteronomy 5-6 / Romans / Galatians / Hebrews

CONTEXT OF THE GIVING OF THE LAW      Deut 5:1-5

1.   Other descriptive phrases of “The Law”

a)   Statutes       Deut 5:1

b)   Judgments      Deut 5:1

c)   The Word of the Lord      Deut 5:5

d)      Commandments      Deut 5:31

2.   Regard for “The Law”

a)   To learn them     Deut 5:1

b)   To observe them      Deut 5:1, 32-33

3.   The Context of a “Covenant” Deut 5:2-3

a)   A “treaty”

b)   A suzerain-type treaty

c)      Distinguished from a “parity treaty” -  (Gen 31:43-55)

4.   Preamble

“I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Eqypt, out of the house of bondage”      Deut 5:6

5.   The Ten Commandments / The Decalogue / The Moral Law

a)   No other gods     Deut 5:7

b)   No graven images  Deut 5:8

c)   Name of God not to be taken in vain      Deut 5:9

d)   Sabbath Day to be observed      Deut 5:12

e)   Parents to be honoured      Deut 5:16

f)    Warning against Murder      Deut 5:17

g)   Warning against Adultery      Deut 5:18

h)   Warning against Stealing Deut 5:19

i)    Warning against Bearing False witness Deut 5:20

j)    Warning against Coveting      Deut 5:21

6.   Rationale for the Practice of “The Law:

a)   As an expression of “the fear of the Lord”      Deut 6:2

            (Cf. Deut 5:23-33)

b)   As an expression of love for the Lord     Deut 6:5

c)   As a heartfelt expression of faith and love      Deut 6:6

d)   To prevent the danger of forgetting God      Deut 6:10-12

e)   God to be included and involved in life      Deut 6:13

      (oath-taking)

f)    To prevent the danger of being drawn to idolatry Deut 6:14

g)   To prevent the danger of “testing” God      Deut 6:16

h)   As a way of life, doing that which is “right & good”      Deut 6:18

i)    For their own good - an expression of righteousness       Deut 6:24-25

7.   With reference to Posterity

a)   The law to be taught “diligently to children”      Deut 6:7

b)   To be explained to children Deut 6:20

8.    A Sad Commentary of the history of ancient Israel Psalm 78

a)    Recalling the Covenant Relationship established between God and Israel   (Ps 78:1-7)

      i)   The Covenant between God and Israel meant to be permanent (perpetuated)

      ii)   That the children may “set their hope in God and

           not forget (His) works”

      iii)   That the children may not be like their fathers

b)   Candid statement of indictment of ancient Israel  (Ps 78:8, 10-11)

      i)      A stubborn generation          Ps 78:8

      ii)      A rebellious generation          Ps 78:8

      iii)     A generation that did not set its heart aright        Ps 78:8

      iv)     A generation whose spirit was not faithful to God          Ps 78:8

      v)     A generation that did not keep the covenant of God Ps 78:8

      vi)     A generation that refused to walk in His ways       Ps 78:10

      vii)    A generation that forgot His works and His wonders  Ps 78:11

      viii) A generation that sinned grievously against God      Ps 78:17

      ix)     A generation that rebelled   Ps 78:17

      x)     A generation that tested God in their hearts         Ps 78:18

      xi)     A generation that did not believe God        Ps 78:32

c)   A Prophetic Commentary (Hosea / Isaiah)

      i)    My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge      Hosea 4:6

      ii)      Rampant idolatrous practices of the people            Hosea 4:11-19

      iii)      Religious trappings rejected by God                       Isaiah 1:10-15

9.   A New Covenant   Jer 31, 33 (Matt 26:28)

a)   A New Covenant Promised Jer 31:31-32

b)   Perplacing the Old Covenant      Jer 31:32

c)   A New Context Jer 31:33

REFLECTIONS

1.   The Law of God as an expression of the Covenantal Relationship sustained with Israel.

2.   The Law of God may also be seen as the universal, natural, moral code of life.

3.   The Law of God as a means of understanding two major aspects of life:-

      a)   How to relate to Him as God

      b)   How to relate to people