Sabbath 9/6/28/120
Brethren:
When we first were preparing to read the Law of God in 1998 several people declared that it was Deuteronomy that was to be read and then discussed.
Deuteronomy is a useful summary but is totally inadequate for the task. Christ said that everything written about him in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled (Luke 44:24). To understand the Plan of God for His creation and how He wishes for you to live, you will need to know all of the Law, the Prophets, the Psalms, and the Old Testament. The New Testament will provide the correct understanding and practical application (Isa.8:20), which we will use to seal the Law (verse 16) that is widely dispersed throughout Scripture (Isa. 28:9-14).
It is dispersed and needs to be compiled in a way that the doctrinal issues can be better understood and applied. If it is not done this way important pieces of the legislation are not addressed and seldom understood correctly. Once again we are now getting people telling us to only read Deuteronomy and open it for a discussion. We have open Bible studies all year to review the various doctrinal positions, and everyone is free and has had an opportunity to comment on our presentations. Many times we will use additional Scriptures that people may recommend and perhaps reword certain areas to make us more readily understood. Thank you all for this assistance.
However, the Law of God will be read with all of the doctrine tied together from the Law, the Prophets, the Psalms and the New Testimonial. Do not accept anyone’s declaration that only one book is to be read. After 1998 several groups have begun ‘reading the law’, meaning Deuteronomy, in various years. The Jews often read Deuteronomy or other sections quite inappropriately on the Last Great Day every year instead of during the Feast as commanded.
Deuteronomy 31:10-12
And Moses commanded them, "At the end of every seven years, at the set time of the year of release, at the feast of booths, 11 when all Israel comes to appear before the LORD your God at the place which he will choose, you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing. 12 Assemble the people, men, women, and little ones, and the sojourner within your towns, that they may hear and learn to fear the LORD your God, and be careful to do all the words of this law,
The Oxford Dictionary describes Law as:
Deuteronomy 17:19 and it shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, by keeping all the words of this law and these statutes, and doing them;
God’s Laws are written not so much as to grant rights but more
so as to frame our responsibilities. If everyone understood and fulfilled his
or her responsibilities, no one would need a Bill of Rights in any event.
There are four interrelated bodies of laws that will be set forth:
Generally, the Commandments apply to individual conduct, the statutes apply to national administration, and the judgments to decisions rendered under both. The sacrifice of Messiah has released us from the obligations of various added ordinances (Gal. 3:19). Why then the law? Galatians says that it was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was ordained by angels through an intermediary (Acts 7:53). The basis of the Law existed before the ordinances were added to it when God made the promise to Abraham who kept the Law. Jeremiah says that scribes corrupted the texts also. However, the corruptions are well known and they do not negate the Law despite the claims of Islamic apologists (cf. Jer. 8:8).
We have not been released from the observation of the remainder of the Law. The administrative laws will not enforce themselves however. The Plan of God is being revealed and is not yet accomplished and we should all learn God’s Law and become able to teach it.
This has been our task in preparation for this Feast, regardless of our circumstances. So, let us all work hard and prepare with diligence so that none of us will be spoken of as below.
Matthew 5:19 Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
The elect must become conversant with the application of all of these laws.
This upcoming reading of the law will deal with the complete organisation and scope of the law of liberty.
Matthew 5:17-18
"Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfil them. 18 For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished.
Deuteronomy 17:29
"The secret things belong to the LORD our God; but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.
There are things revealed so that we may do them and benefit from them. In the Sabbatical Year of the Jubilee system we are required to learn about these laws.
Micah 4:2
and many nations shall come, and say: "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and we may walk in his paths " For out of Zion (the Churches of God) shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
Malachi 4:4
"Remember the law of my servant Moses, the statutes and ordinances that I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel.
Matthew 5:17-18
"Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfil them. For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished.
Hosea 4:6
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.
This legal system is not too difficult for us and if we kept it, we would be blessed.
Deuteronomy 30:11,16:
11 "For this commandment which I command you this day is not too hard for you, neither is it far off. 16 If you obey the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you this day, by loving the LORD your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his ordinances, then you shall live and multiply, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land which you are entering to take possession of it.
Our health and our wealth are all governed by law. If we kept and observed these laws we would all benefit, but when we violate them, there will follow inevitable suffering.
Life at its best results from doing the positive commands of God, and by refraining from violating the negative commands.
The Bible speaks about the Kingdom of God. In the West, the purpose of Government is generally seen to have the purpose of: unifying, establishing justice, and ensuring peace.
Government should provide for the common defence, promote the general welfare and ensure that the fruits of individual labour are secure. If it had functioned as God has legislated, then all life on the planet would have benefited.
Let us all study and prepare so that we are all able to correct false worship and promote the common good by observing all of God’s Laws.
See you at the Feast,
James Dailley
Deputy Coordinator-General
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