Restitutio   /     537 Read the Bible for Yourself 6: How to Read the Law

Summary

This is part 6 of the Read the Bible For Yourself. Tragically, many Christians skip over reading the Torah. They focus on the Gospels or Epistles of the New Testament. However, the first five books of the Bible contain many rich insights into God's heart and how he asked Israel to live. In fact, it's impossible to understand the rest of the Bible, or even Jesus, without first becoming familiar with the Law. This episode will provide you an overview of the Torah's instruction about holiness, sacrifice, justice, and sacred time. Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts https://youtu.be/a9wxI1TWBlE —— Links —— See other episodes in Read the Bible For Yourself Check out the class New Covenant Theology to learn more about biblical covenants as well as this podcast episode on the New Covenant and this one responding to typical arguments for Torah observance today Other classes are available here, including How We Got the Bible, which explores the manuscript transmission and translation of the Bible Get the transcript of this episode Support Restitutio by donating here Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library. Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here —— Notes —— Reading the Law takes work Sometimes it’s just weird (Lev 11:20-23) Sometimes it’s tedious (Ex 26:7-9) Important to focus while reading Eliminate distractions Read aloud if you can Keep track of things (underline, highlight, write notes in the margin) The books of the Law (Torah) Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy Four categories of Law Holiness Sacrifice Justice Sacred time Sinai and the giving of the Law God came down on the mountain and spoke audibly (Ex 19:16-21) The people agreed to obey and then “stood at a distance” while Moses went up and received the rest of the Law (Ex 20:18-21) Tabernacle The 2nd half of Exodus contains meticulous instructions on how to build the tabernacle and everything that went outside and inside of it. The tabernacle is where God dwelled and where the people made animal sacrifices. Inside the tabernacle was a lampstand, table, bread, alter of incense, and ark of the covenant. Outside of the tent stood the bronze basin and the bronze altar for sacrifices. Numbers Organization of the camp Tabernacle was in the center, surrounded by Levites the Levites set up, tore down, and transported the tabernacle (Num 18:21-24). Later on, David commissioned the Levites to sing and play instruments to praise God (1 Chron 16) A man named Korah instigated a rebellion that resulted in disastrous judgement with God showing that he wanted only the Levites to serve him through the tabernacle worship system. Leviticus Priests maintained the inside of the tabernacle. They butchered animals and offered them on the altar. They managed cleansing ritual when someone became unclean for touching a dead person, touching the carcass of an unclean animal, nocturnal emissions, monthly menstruation, childbirth, bodily discharges, and skin diseases. Israel => Levites => Priests => High Priest Types of sacrifices (Lev 17:11) Burnt offerings Grain offerings Peace (well-being) offerings Sin offerings Guilt offerings Holy day offerings Covenantal structure of Deuteronomy Preamble (Deut 1:1-5) Historical review (Deut 1:6-4:49) Individual laws/requirements (Deut 5-26) Deposit of the text (Deut 31:9, 24-26) List of witnesses (Deut 4:26; 30:19) Blessings and curses (Deut 27-28) Ratification ceremony (Deut 29) Exhortation (Deut 29-30) Deuteronomy Second telling of the law to the next generation Shows so much of God’s heart Apodictic laws: general commands (ex. 10 Commandm

Subtitle
This is part 6 of the Read the Bible For Yourself. Tragically, many Christians skip over reading the Torah. They focus on the Gospels or Epistles of the New Testament. However, the first five books of the Bible contain many rich insights into Gods heart
Duration
56:31
Publishing date
2024-02-29 20:13
Link
https://restitutio.org/2024/02/29/537-read-the-bible-for-yourself-6-how-to-read-the-law/
Contributors
  Sean P Finnegan
author  
Enclosures
https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/restitutio.org/podcast-download/8253/537-read-the-bible-for-yourself-6-how-to-read-the-law.mp3
audio/mpeg

Shownotes

This is part 6 of the Read the Bible For Yourself.

Tragically, many Christians skip over reading the Torah. They focus on the Gospels or Epistles of the New Testament. However, the first five books of the Bible contain many rich insights into God's heart and how he asked Israel to live. In fact, it's impossible to understand the rest of the Bible, or even Jesus, without first becoming familiar with the Law. This episode will provide you an overview of the Torah's instruction about holiness, sacrifice, justice, and sacred time.

Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

https://youtu.be/a9wxI1TWBlE

—— Links ——

—— Notes ——

Reading the Law takes work

  • Sometimes it’s just weird (Lev 11:20-23)
  • Sometimes it’s tedious (Ex 26:7-9)
  • Important to focus while reading
  • Eliminate distractions
  • Read aloud if you can
  • Keep track of things (underline, highlight, write notes in the margin)

The books of the Law (Torah)

  1. Genesis
  2. Exodus
  3. Leviticus
  4. Numbers
  5. Deuteronomy

Four categories of Law

  1. Holiness
  2. Sacrifice
  3. Justice
  4. Sacred time

Sinai and the giving of the Law

  • God came down on the mountain and spoke audibly (Ex 19:16-21)
  • The people agreed to obey and then “stood at a distance” while Moses went up and received the rest of the Law (Ex 20:18-21)

Tabernacle

  • The 2nd half of Exodus contains meticulous instructions on how to build the tabernacle and everything that went outside and inside of it.
  • The tabernacle is where God dwelled and where the people made animal sacrifices.
  • Inside the tabernacle was a lampstand, table, bread, alter of incense, and ark of the covenant. Outside of the tent stood the bronze basin and the bronze altar for sacrifices.

Numbers

  • Organization of the camp
  • Tabernacle was in the center, surrounded by Levites
  • the Levites set up, tore down, and transported the tabernacle (Num 18:21-24).
  • Later on, David commissioned the Levites to sing and play instruments to praise God (1 Chron 16)
  • A man named Korah instigated a rebellion that resulted in disastrous judgement with God showing that he wanted only the Levites to serve him through the tabernacle worship system.

Leviticus

  • Priests maintained the inside of the tabernacle.
  • They butchered animals and offered them on the altar.
  • They managed cleansing ritual when someone became unclean for touching a dead person, touching the carcass of an unclean animal, nocturnal emissions, monthly menstruation, childbirth, bodily discharges, and skin diseases.
  • Israel => Levites => Priests => High Priest

Types of sacrifices (Lev 17:11)

  • Burnt offerings
  • Grain offerings
  • Peace (well-being) offerings
  • Sin offerings
  • Guilt offerings
  • Holy day offerings

Covenantal structure of Deuteronomy

  1. Preamble (Deut 1:1-5)
  2. Historical review (Deut 1:6-4:49)
  3. Individual laws/requirements (Deut 5-26)
  4. Deposit of the text (Deut 31:9, 24-26)
  5. List of witnesses (Deut 4:26; 30:19)
  6. Blessings and curses (Deut 27-28)
  7. Ratification ceremony (Deut 29)
  8. Exhortation (Deut 29-30)

Deuteronomy

  • Second telling of the law to the next generation
  • Shows so much of God’s heart
  • Apodictic laws: general commands (ex. 10 Commandments)
  • Casuistic laws: specific scenarios (ex. Deut 22:6-7; 23:15-16)

Dealing with embarrassing or sexist laws

  • God gave the Law to move the people of Israel forward.
  • Comparisons to other ancient near eastern (ANE) law codes (like the Code of Hammurabi) show how the Torah curbed abuses and protected the vulnerable.
  • On first reading, a law (ex. Deut 21:10-14) may seem bizarre or barbaric, but when you consider the historical setting and the options available in a patriarchal society, the wisdom of the Torah shines through brilliantly.
  • Two books that can help you make sense of confusing laws include Is God a Moral Monster? by Paul Copan and How (Not) to Read the Bible by Dan Kimball.

Why the Law matters to you

  • The Torah teaches you who God is and what his preferences are.
  • The new covenant includes many of the same prohibitions and commandments as the old covenant.
  • The Law shows how highly God values holiness over syncretism.
  • Understanding the Pentateuch is necessary for understanding the rest of the Bible.
  • You can extract ethical principles from laws even when the particulars don’t line up.

Review:

  • The Torah or Pentateuch includes Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, though much of these books contains narrative.
  • The Law was God's gracious covenant with Israel, detailing how he wanted them to live and be different than the nations around them.
  • The tabernacle was the worship facility God had his people construct. Under King Solomon, the temple in Jerusalem replaced the tabernacle.
  • God set apart the tribe of Levites to manage the tabernacle and the offerings made there. They didn't receive a land inheritance; instead, the people supported them financially.
  • God set apart the priests, a subset of the Levites, to manage the sacrificial system, maintain holiness, and cleanse those who became unclean.
  • The high priest was the only one allowed to enter the holy of holies in the tabernacle on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur).
  • Deuteronomy contains the clearest expression of the covenant God made with Israel, updated for the second generation.
  • Although some of the laws contained in the Torah seem backward or offensive to us, they limited abuse and protected vulnerable people amid a patriarchal and unequal society.
  • Although most of the specifics of the Torah don't apply to Christians today, it's critical to understand to know God better and understand other parts of the Bible.