8 March 2014 - The Law (part three of three)

Hebrews nine spoke of the tabernacle and worship

The Israelites took the tabernacle and ark on every trip

The first room had a lamp stand, table, and consecrated bread

It was The Holy Place, where priests entered without dread

The ark was in the Most Holy Place, behind another curtain

Only the high priest entered once a year, that’s for certain

There were also Aaron’s staff and an altar of incense

And the stone tablets which did the covenant dispense

When the high priest entered, he did so with a sacrifice

To offer for the people’s sins and various acts of vice

But when Christ came, the tabernacle became perfect

Because He was not man-made and thus had no defect

The Lord spoke to Aaron in Numbers chapter eighteen

The Levites were to become the priesthood, it is seen

They were to care for the care of the sanctuary and altar

God’s wrath would not fall as long as they did not falter

This role was given as a gift to Aaron and his close family

Death awaited anyone else who approached the sanctuary

From the holy offerings, the priests were to take a share

They would have no land, but they were not to despair

For God would be their “share and [their] inheritance”

And they would always have a place of holy residence

Deuteronomy seven spoke of driving out the nations

The Israelites would win because of their foundations

For although the others were larger and stronger

God would ensure that Israel would last longer

But God told them that after victoriously emerging

From His instructions, there should be no diverging

“Make no treaty with them” and mercy do not show

Don’t intermarry or the Lord’s anger would grow

For God loved the Israelites and kept his old oath

He redeemed them from slavery and tyranny both

In Deuteronomy thirty, God gave yet another command

It was not too difficult for those headed for the Holy Land

“The word is very near;…it is in your mouth and in your heart”

“So you may obey it”, take the right path, and do your part

The choice is life and prosperity or death and destruction

The command is to love God and follow His instruction

For then “the Lord your God will bless”

“In the land you are entering to possess”

But “if your heart turns away and you are not obedient”

The path to your destruction God will make expedient

So “choose life, so that you are your children may live”

For then God will keep his covenant and His land give

7 March 2014 - The Law (part two)

Exodus twenty one speaks about capital punishment

It is applied when there is an intentional murderous event

The same is true if someone does their parents attack

As well as if someone goes down the kidnapping track

If one sacrifices to another God, he will be destroyed

Desecrating the Sabbath one should similarly avoid

Leviticus twenty adds to the capital punishment list

Patricide, adultery, and any unnatural sexual tryst

Leviticus eleven speaks of clean and unclean food

Cud chewing animals with split hoof one can include

Anything with fins and scales is acceptable to eat

But not eagle, vulture, owl, hawk, heron, or bat meat

Flying insects without jointed legs should be detested

Likewise, snakes and lizards should not be ingested

God said “do not make yourselves unclean”

“Be holy, because I am holy” is then seen

Deuteronomy sixteen lists three festivals to celebrate

The Passover of the Lord is the most important date

In the Feast of Weeks, an offering should always be made

After threshing, the Feast of Tabernacles should not be delayed

And “no man should appear before the Lord empty-handed”

With gifts proportionate to God’s blessings, it is commanded

Women’s rights are discussed in Exodus twenty one

[One should remember that this is how things were done]

If a woman servant does not please the master

He must let her be redeemed to avoid disaster

Daughters-in-law should be given daughters’ rights

If not treated well, wives are free to go without fights

In the case of when a man dies without a son

His widow must marry his brother to have one

In this way there will not be any concern or doubt

That the dead brother’s name will be blotted out

6 March 2014 - The Law (part one)

Deuteronomy six says “The Lord our God, the Lord is one”

So to love God with all heart, soul, and strength as did His Son

The commandments God gave are to taken upon each heart

To their children and all the time, the people are to impart

“Tie them as symbols…and bind them on your foreheads”

“Write them on…doorframes…and on…gates” and sheds

Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge, per Leviticus nineteen

“But love your neighbor as yourself”, as should be routine

Jesus referred to both commandments in Matthew twenty two

Saying “all the Law…hang[s] on these two”, in His perfect view

“Do not take advantage of a widow”, per Exodus twenty two

For God “will certainly hear their cry” and be angered if you do

When God’s anger is aroused, He “will kill you with the sword”

The resulting impact on your family should not be ignored

In regards widows, orphans, foreigners, and the poor

People are to help them, per Deuteronomy twenty four

If people consistently follow the spirit of God’s commands

So “God may bless [them] in all the work of [their] hands”

Per James one, “religion that God…accepts as…faultless”

Is simply “to look after orphans and widows in their distress”

If a man steals an animal, per Exodus twenty two

Paying back four or five more is what he must do

“If a thief is caught breaking in and is struck so that he dies”

“The defender is not guilty of murder” unless it is after sunrise

“A thief must certainly make restitution” for what he has done

Or sold to pay for the theft, if assets or money he has none

Anyone whose cattle grazes on another’s field or starts a fire

Per the passage, complete restitution is God does require

Exodus twenty one addresses one causing serious injury

“Life for life, eye for eye,…wound for wound” we do see

On the same topic of restitution, per Leviticus twenty four

The concept of “life for life” is discussed some more

But Jesus turned this law around, in Matthew chapter five

Saying to turn the other cheek, as He did when He was alive

Hence, “if someone forces you to go one mile”

“Go with him two miles” and do so with a smile

And “give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away”

“From the one who wants to borrow from you” He did say