Sermon Central
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Civil Laws Series
Contributed by Steven Wunderink on Jul 24, 2007 (message contributor)
Summary: In a series on those books we SKIP over: Lev. Num. Deut. this outline is on the Civil Laws and why we need them even today.
The Skipped over Books of the Bible
Laws Laws and More Laws
Absolute Laws – True then, true now Obeyed then, Obeyed NOW
- Based on grammar – commands
- Based on context applicable to today
- Based on New Testament support
Holiness Laws - How you are to be separate, set apart, and special to God
- The law to be Holy because your God is Holy still necessary
- you MUST be different from the world you live in
- you are an ALIEN and a STRANGER in this world
- The WAY you are separate is different today
- Living a holy life no longer includes
- tattoos but does include NOT serving others gods
- sacrifices of animals but does include sacrificing your time, energy
And life for Jesus
- capital punishment for backtalk or not going to church on Sabbath
But DOES include a disciplined life
Civil Laws in the Skipped over Books
HOW do you relate to your brother and sister?
Conflict will inevitably occur between brothers and sisters
Ill:My dad’s punishment for brothers fighting was his belt and hard work
My mom’s punishment when young was the bouncy ball paddle, then it was garden work and after that it was writing lines. “I will not steal my brother’s baseball cards and tear them in half” 1000 times.
But mostly they would work with preventative laws:
Since the corners of the dinner table was the prized position to be in, the oldest were given the corners
Since canned cherries were a prized dessert my mom would split them evenly in each bowl down to a quarter cherry
Since Sunday morning shower time was prized allotment, the youngest took baths or showers on Saturday night and the oldest four on Sunday morning but a timer shall be set for 5 minute showers and 10 minute bathroom time so the hot water is not totally used.
If you were able to drive the feeder and able to reach the top row of eggs in the chicken house you were able to fit into the rotation of staying home from church to do chores.
If a brotherly battle occurred repeatedly over a particular game or subject that game was removed and subject was forbidden
You can stay out as late as you want on Friday night but you WILL be awoken 6 am Saturday no matter when you got home. School days are sleep in days (6:30)
Girls were exempt from shoveling manure and sorting hogs
A journey through the Preventative civil laws of Israel:
Exo. 22
Deut. 23-25
Civil Order in Israel
The Civil Leadership
Tribal Leadership = oldest living male of that tribe
- unless he has excluded himself through sin
Clan Leadership = oldest living male of that clan
Family Leadership = oldest living male of that family
City Gate is where the judging would take place
Elders sat at the city gate to make decisions for the town (clan)
The NEXT elder were second tier observers and advisors
And the stoners if necessary
Jesus said, “Blessed are the Peacemakers” he was referring to families, and keeping order in the family NOT the nation
- If your family is in order your nation is in order
LOVE is the KEY
Frankie used to make the kids either sit at the table and discuss their argument until they came to an agreement of some kind. Or make them stand in a small place and HUG each other. Love is the key to all law.
" ’Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.
Love the LORD your God and keep his requirements, his decrees, his laws and his commands always.
But be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you: to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to obey his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and all your soul."
Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: " ’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ’Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."
