What is the purpose of God's law?

My Step with God
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One of the most consistent concerns I hear about Old Testament law is that it is destructive, terrible, horrible, oppressive, etc.

But in Psalm 19 we read,

The law of the Lord is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the decrees of the Lord are sure,
making wise the simple;
the precepts of the Lord are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is clear,
enlightening the eyes;
the fear of the Lord is pure,
enduring forever;
the ordinances of the Lord are true
and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold,
even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey,
and drippings of the honeycomb.
Moreover by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.

And as Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount, “Don’t think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.”

So how does God’s law revive our souls?

It’s when we understand God’s intent for them: to help us love God and our neighbor (Matthew 22:34-40).

God, please refresh my heart and give me wisdom as I study all your guidance for our lives.

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Thanks for sharing Carson!

This past December I was reading through Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy looking at sacrifices, festivals, and tithing laws - all the sections I am often tempted to skip and frequently have.

But this time, I was blown away by how God’s sacrificial laws made it impossible to worship him without caring for neighbors! The intent you shared from Matthew 22:34-40, was clear in a way I had never seen before!

The tithes, sacrifices, and festivals were all ways of remembering the Lord and his provision, that all of the grain, wine, and oil, the produce of the land, came from God and belonged to him. But in addition helping us recognize and worship God for his provision, through these laws God also provided food for the priests and the Levites, who had no land and no way to provide for themselves, gave legal protections for the poor (Lev 19:22; 23:22; Deut 15:1-11), and provided for the widowed, the orphans, and the sojourners (Deut 14:28).

And so it was impossible to worship God without also taking care of and providing for those who are at a disadvantage in providing for themselves!

It really helped me see the purpose of the law given in Deuteronomy:

And the Lord commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as we are this day.

It’s amazing to see how loving God and loving others has always gone hand-in-hand. And I’m praying that God’s law would continue to bring refreshment and to encourage me to care well for those around me.

I’m excited to hear how others have been refreshed as they have reflected on his law and the purposes they have seen within the law!

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Thanks for this reminder about the Old Testament Law and its relevance today.

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