Read the Law Regularly

“¹⁰And Moses commanded them, “At the end of every seven years, at the set time in the year of release, at the Feast of Booths, ¹¹when all Israel comes to appear before the Lord your God at the place that he will choose, you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing.’” – Deuteronomy 31:10-11 (ESV)

We are to come back again and again to refresh on what the LORD has commanded us. Notice that in verse 10 above, we are to read the law of the LORD every seven years. Not once and move on, but every seven years we are to reacquaint ourselves with the law.

It is easy to forget things. In our world today, we tend to not even commit things to memory or even practice as we have such ready availability to things that we engage with them when we need them. Where this may see as though it is in accordance with what Moses is saying here, it is really not. Isn’t this more the approach to the law of hearing about what we did, had done, or should have done after the event took place. We use the now to adjudicate the past or tell us about what to do in the now. We tend to lack the knowledge of how to avoid thing in the future.

I am a professionally trained baseball umpire and have called games at a pretty high level and consider myself very astute as to the rules or laws of the game. I studied the rules to know them and was tested on them and demonstrated application of the rules. I have been thinking of getting back on the field and before doing so I have to refresh on the rules of the game. Some things in baseball do not change, and yet others are amended with adjusted for the now as the game has evolved. This refresh is going to take some time and effort on my part as I have been away from the rules of the game for some time. If I had been doing a regular refresh or reading of the rules, my knowledge and understanding of the rules would be deeper and I would be more prepared to jump right onto the field.

Where God’s Law is much more important than the rules of baseball, the concept is much the same. We have to know the law and be familiar with it to apply it correctly as He intended. We maintain our knowledge and familiarity with the law by reading it regularly. We have to study it and commit it to memory. We have to stay in touch with the law to ensure that it does not pass us by. We have to know the law so that we are not tricked or deceived by others as to the application of the law.

Moses indicated to the people to read the law every seven years in the public square for all to hear and refresh. This public reading was also for those who had not heard the law and would be acquainted with it and know it to apply in their lives. Today, we have God’s Law, the bible, available everywhere. Everyone can have their own copy, either in physical form or electronically. There is less dependence on the public reading of the Law due to this availability. But, even as the dependence on the public reading is lessened, the need to read regularly God’s Law is not lacking importance at all.

We are to regularly engage with God’s Law to know and understand it. Where seeking the information in the moment is useful to our application of the Law, we would be able to avoid or achieve so much more with our deeper understanding and the commitment of God’s Law in our lives. We should be in God’s Word studying it daily. Even if only for five minutes a day on average every day would add up to over 30 hours of study a year. That is almost the equivalent of a full work week studying God’s Law. So get out there and read God’s Law regularly to know and understand how we apply all that He has commanded us.

What does your reading of God’s Law look like? Are you in the mode that you have it available to engage when needed? What if you were to regularly read God’s Law to know and understand it so that you can apply it always and not just in the moment?

Do All the Words of this Law

This morning I start a new word study, “law”. As noted, I choose a word in the concordance of my ESV Bible and study verse over verse. The way it is organized takes me through the Bible with those references to the word from Genesis to Revelation in that order. With the word “law” I am taken back to Deuteronomy to begin my study.

“²⁹The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.” – Deuteronomy 29:29 (ESV)

Notice that the title of my post is the last seven words of the above verse. This is the command that we have been given as pertains to our following of the law of God. The law of God leads us to righteousness (although it does not make us righteous). This is a great start to doing the will of the LORD and demonstrating the example of Christ to the world.

Here’s the thing, notice the first part and middle of the verse referencing “secret things” and “things that are revealed”. There is so much that we do not know. God has only revealed that which He “needs” us to know at this time. There are things that He is keeping to Himself until which time we need to know. Look at the time of this writing and the fact that Jesus has not been revealed to the people. Yes, He is referenced, yet not revealed. Without the revelation of Jesus, the secret of all that He is stays with God until that time we need Him.

We are to follow along as the LORD leads us. God’s word and the law therein was written many years ago. It is relevant in our lives today and tomorrow, yet there is still so much that has yet to be revealed. We are to devote ourselves to Him and subsequently the pursuit of learning and knowing more of the law He reveals to us. We are to study His word to seek revelation. We are to “do all the words of this law” as they are revealed to us in the time we need them.

What is your view of the law? Do you believe we know it all and are good to go? What if you were to study and study knowing that we have only knowledge of that which God has revealed to us and that there is so much that will be revealed for us to follow as our needs require them?

The Law is for the Immoral

How often is it that you are breaking the law? Do you even think about the law as you go through your daily life? Are you concerned with your actions and how they align with the law? I can say that for me, I rarely think about whether or not something I am doing is legal or not. I will look to whether or not it is right.

“⁸Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, ⁹understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, ¹⁰the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine,” – 1 Timothy 1:8-10 (ESV)

Looking at the above passage, we see that the law was put in place, not for those who are “just” it is put in place for those who would be unjust or “lawless and disobedient” or immoral. Those who are “just” and right, do not need the law as they follow the LORD and the path that He has laid out for them.

I am not saying that the law is not needed. What I am saying is that it is in place for those who are not followers of Christ and His righteous direction. Those who follow Christ do work for Him and therefore are not working against the law. It is not that they are ignorant of the law or choose to disobey the law, it is that it just does not come up as they are already in standing in morality according the God.

It is certainly difficult to understand for those who are not followers of Christ. They would contend that the law is for everyone and that even followers of Christ are subject to the law. I would not argue with their assertion. I would state that there is no real thought as to what is legal or illegal as the situations rarely arise and when they do, the thought of “What Would Jesus Do” is guiding action as opposed to the law.

Now, the other question, what if a follower of Christ does indeed break the law? Great question. Then they are subject to the consequences. Following Christ is going to put you in positions where choices will be made as to legality or right. There are times when the right thing to do is not in line with what is legal and for that followers of Christ are subject to the consequences of going against the law. Again, it is not that the law is being ignored, it is that following Christ is taking the right actions.

For all there direction. For the Christian, that direction comes from God and His Word. The law is in place for the immoral who have no other guide as to what is right and what is wrong.

Where do you find your guide? Are you in the camp of needing the law to determine what you can and cannot do? What if you followed Christ, knowing that your actions are right?