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Home Listen The Life of Moses What is the purpose of the law?
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What is the purpose of the law?
The Life of Moses 6.0
Exodus 19:1-8; 20:1-17
by Eric Stillman
October 12th, 2008

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We’ve been going through the life of Moses as recorded in the book of Exodus.  As of last week, God has brought Moses and the Israelites out of Egypt into the wilderness, and now they have arrived at Mt. Sinai, where they are about to receive the law.  This is certainly one of the most famous sections of Scripture – the giving of the Ten Commandments.  What I’d like to do today is to answer the question of what the purpose of the law is.  Why did God give us the law?  Why is it necessary, and what is its place in the spiritual life?

I think there are two main approaches to the law and how it relates to spirituality.  For some, religion is all about law keeping.  To be a “good Christian” means you don’t smoke, don’t drink, don’t sleep around, and don’t go with girls who do (as the old saying goes).  You tithe, you tell the truth, you follow the law and that is what makes you a good person.  For others, faith and spirituality has no need for law but is just about relating to the spirit world and believing whatever you want, but not having to follow any laws.  For this person, they can commune with God through nature, they can pray and try their best to do what they feel is right, and they feel a spiritual connection without feeling any need for the law.  For the one, the law is what saves you; for the other the law is something we need to get beyond. 

I believe both of these approaches are simplistic understandings of the purpose of the law, and that the Exodus story reveals a deeper understanding of the purpose of the law.  Let’s read Exodus 19:1-8 and 20:1-17

Exodus 19:1-8 -  In the third month after the Israelites left Egypt-- on the very day-- they came to the Desert of Sinai.  2 After they set out from Rephidim, they entered the Desert of Sinai, and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain.  3 Then Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain and said, "This is what you are to say to the house of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel:  4 'You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself.  5 Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine,  6 you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites."  7 So Moses went back and summoned the elders of the people and set before them all the words the LORD had commanded him to speak.  8 The people all responded together, "We will do everything the LORD has said." So Moses brought their answer back to the LORD. 
Exodus 20:1-17 And God spoke all these words:  2 "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.  3 "You shall have no other gods before me.  4 "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.  5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,  6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.  7 "You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.  8 "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.  9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work,  10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates.  11 For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.  12 "Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.  13 "You shall not murder.  14 "You shall not commit adultery.  15 "You shall not steal.  16 "You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.  17 "You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor