#66 -- Gospel and Spiritual Growth

Valley – November 10, 2002 a.m.

THE STANDARDS OF THE MOSAIC LAW AND THE GOVERNMENTAL STANDARDS OF THE WORLD SYSTEM -- II

This message continues the presentation of some of the information given in the Old Testament concerning the government of the world system. The focus of this study is on the fact that the world system government has similar legal elements to those of the Mosaic Law. This is the last message dealing with the government of the world system described in the Old Testament. The introduction includes the Hebrew terms related to the subject. When the Mosaic Law was instituted, it carried some of the elements that already existed in some of the laws of the nations. The cosmos needed certain regulations to curb the fallen sin nature of men. There are several ways in which the elements of the world system for government are presented in the Old Testament.

Isaiah seven describes the standards for judgments and righteousness that are a part of the government of the world system. When Israel and Judah practiced these judgments, Jehovah promised the application of penalties. These penalties are seen in the pronouncement of six woes because of their practicing of the judgments of the government of the world system. These acts affected the nation as a whole though they involved the cumulative acts of individuals. The vineyard is identified as the house of Israel and the men of Judah in verse seven. When Jehovah looked for judgment He found violence, a scab or an outbreaking like the nations. He also found righteousness was replaced with a cry from the violated and oppressed. As a result, the woes (vss. 8, 11, 18, 20, 21, 22) are pronounced against the nations because of their willingness to accept and to conform to the standards of the world system. The first woe involves the expansion of landholdings at the expense of the poor and undefended (vss. 8-10). Israelites and Jews evidently made regulations like the world system in order to take their lands. As a result, they suffer desolation, exile and lack of return in their crops. The second woe (vss. 11-17) is pronounced for their ongoing drunkenness and self-indulgence. This involved using the world system to provide for the work of the flesh of drunkenness and to be involved in drunken parties with their music that were normal in the world system. The third woe (vss. 18, 19) is pronounced for mocking the prophets of Jehovah. There is a note of defiance or derision in the text. The fourth woe (vs. 20) is pronounced for changing standards of right and wrong and good and bad. Undoubtedly the governmental standards of the world system influenced and affirmed the validity of their new standards. The fifth woe (vs. 21) is pronounced for their arrogance and conceit in that they have become their own standard in matters of wisdom and prudence. The sixth woe (vss. 22, 23) is pronounced for ongoing drunkenness and for basing righteous decisions on bribes thereby removing the righteousness of the righteous from him. Verse 16 provides a contrast. Since the nations have accepted the standards of the world system for judgments and righteousness, Jehovah will exhibit his true, consistent judgment and righteousness against them. For this reason Jehovah promises to judge the nations of Israel and Judah (vss. 24, 25).

In the Law as given in Leviticus 18 a prohibition is given concerning the replacement of the statutes of Jehovah with the statutes of the world system. Egypt and the Canaanites provided Israel with patterns for the statutes of world system government. Jehovah demands that Israel avoid doing the kinds of things that the statues of Egypt permitted when she was there. On the other hand, when the Israelites entered the land of Canaan, they were not to walk in the statutes of the land either. In fact, the text uses an inceptive idea: "You will not begin to walk in their ordinances. The option is clear in verse three. Jehovah expected Israel to do His judgments and to guard His ordinances. Doing so would provide physical life for Israel in time (vs. 5). Following this is a list of prohibitions in sexual matters, human sacrifice, homosexuality, bestiality all of which defile. Verse 27 says that the men of the land had done all of these things by their own governmental statutes and as a result the land was polluted (vs. 27). Their statutes permitted these practices while the Mosaic Law absolutely prohibited them making them capital crimes (vs. 29). "Therefore you will guard (or keep) my charge, not doing any of these abominable statutes (Heb.) which were done (or practiced) before you, and that you do not pollute in yourselves by them: I am Jehovah your God . . . (Lev. 18:30)."

III. discusses Ezekiel 5 and its pronouncements against Jerusalem and Judah and their relationship to the judgments and statutes of the nations of the world system. Four prophetic acts of Ezekiel are presented in 4:1-5:4. The poor prophet was required to make a city on a tile and play prophetic war assaults against it, to lie on his left side 390 days and on his right side 40 days, to eat polluted food with human feces (God graciously permitted animal) and to shave his hair dividing it into three parts and performing prophetic actions with the parts. Jehovah had placed Jerusalem in the midst of the nations of the world system. Jerusalem had willfully changed Jehovah's judgments more than the nations and His statutes more than the nations. She had refused them and rebelled against them (vs. 7). Jehovah promised to apply judgments before the eyes of the nations greater than He had ever done before to a nation (vss. 8, 9).

Judah openly rebelled against and rejected the regulations of Jehovah and was quick to replace them with other standards that they contrived or that they patterned after the government of the nations of the world system. By this they were able to justify their wickedness by prescribing standards that permitted and supported their evil deeds. IV. deals with the continued replacement of other standards (many taken from the world system governments) for the statutes and judgments of the Mosaic Law. "And you will know that I am Jehovah; for you have not walked in my statutes, neither done my judgments, but have done after the judgments of the nations that are around about you (Ezek. 11:12)." Further negative response to Jehovah's divine regulations is seen in Ezekiel 20:16. "For they despised your judgments, and did not walk in my statutes, but polluted my Sabbaths: for their heart has continually gone after their idols." This is reiterated throughout the immediate context. The preference for evil deeds or wickednesses (pl.) instead of the law and statutes of Jehovah is evident (Jer. 44:9, 10). Their refusal to follow the Law of Jehovah and its various elements and preference to pursue evil brings about their punishment (Jer. 44:22, 23).

There are regulations that resemble statutes, judgments, laws and commandments of the Mosaic Law that are a part of the governmental systems of the world system. Sometimes they openly support what is identified as unrighteousness by God. At other times, they appear to be very much like the regulations of God given to Israel through Moses His steward. No wonder there is so much confusion concerning right and wrong. The world system contradicts itself in its regulations from one of its governments to another of its governments. For this reason, the world system is a very subtle enemy of the Christian with its diverse standards that accept unrighteousness on one hand and opposes the same unrighteousness on the other hand

THE STANDARDS OF THE MOSAIC LAW AND THE GOVERNMENTAL STANDARDS OF THE WORLD SYSTEM -- II

1 John 2:15

Proposition: To show that the world system has similar qualities of law that would compromise the Mosaic Law and how those elements would draw Israel into their influence. Once again there is a close correlation of the laws of government and the practice of the religion of the nations.

Introduction

A. The Components of the Mosaic Law – hr'wOT (torah)

1. The Words or Commandments -- ~yrib'D.h; (hadevereem) and twOc.mi (mitzoth)

2. The Judgments -- ~yjiP'v.mi (mishpahteem)

B. Its Correspondence to Added Concepts

1. Statutes -- qxo (choq) and hQ'xu (chooqaah)

2. Precepts -- ~ydiWQPi (piqoodim)

3. Testimonies – hd'[e (eedah) and tWd[e (eedoth)

C. The Connection of National Government with Religion

1. Under Jehovah

2. Under the World System

D. The Cosmos and Its Substitutes for the Religion and Government of Jehovah

TRANS: Isaiah describes the results of the involvement of the nations of Israel and Judah with the standards of the Satanic world system. We learn some interesting things about the way the world system worked under law in these passages.

I. THE DIVULGED STANDARDS OF JUDGMENT AND RIGHTEOUSNESS FROM THE WORLD SYSTEM PRODUCES SIX WOES – THE CONTINUATION OF ISRAEL'S AND JUDAH'S ACCEPTANCE OF JUDGMENTS OF THE NATIONS – PRACTICAL PROBLEMS WITH PRACTICE FROM THE WORLD SYSTEM FOR DIVERSION FROM DIVINELY PERSCRIBED JUDGMENTS – Isaiah 5:7-23

A. The Absence of Judgment and Righteousness – 5:7

1. The Identification of the Vineyard as the House of Israel and the Men of Judah

2. The Interchange of an Outpouring of Blood in Place of Judgment

3. The Interchange of a Cry in Place of Righteousness

B. The Announcement of the Woes for Rejecting Judgment by Jehovah's Standards for the Standards of the World System – 5:8-23

1. Woe #1: For Adsorption of the Lands of the Poor – vss. 8, 9

2. Woe #2: For Drunkenness and Self Indulgence – vss. 11, 12

3. Woe #3: For Mocking Prophetic Warnings – vss. 18, 19

4. Woe #4: For Changing Standards of Right and Wrong or Good and Bad – vs. 20

5. Woe #5: For Arrogance and Deceit – vs. 21

6. Woe #6: For Drunkenness and Bribes – vss. 22, 23

C. The Assurance Concerning the Exaltation of Jehovah of Hosts – 5:16

D. The Affirmation of Judgment for Avoiding the Standards of the Mosaic Law and Appropriating the Standards of the World System – 5:24, 25

TRANS: The greatest emphasis on the governmental elements of the world system is on the statutes of the world system.

II. THE DEMANDED SELECTION OF JEHOVAH'S STATUTES INSTEAD OF THE STATUTES OF THE WORLD SYSTEM – THE CONFORMITY OF ISRAEL TO THE ORDINANCES OF THE WORLD SYSTEM PROHIBITED AND ALLEGIANCE TO JEHOVAH'S ORDINANCES EXPECTED – PAST PRACTICES OF THE WORLD SYSTEM PROHIBITED – Leviticus 18:1-5

A. The Affirmation of Jehovah as the God of Israel – 18:2

B. The Activities in Egypt Prohibited – 18:3a

1. No Similar Activities to Those Done in Egypt

2. You Will Not Begin to Do

3. No Similar Activities to Those Done in Canaan Where I Will Bring You

4. You Will Not Begin to Do

C. The Avoiding of Walking in the Ordinance in the Land Expected – 18:3

D. The Absolutes for Israelite Practice Presented – 18:4, 5

1. Do My Judgments – vs. 4

2. Guard/Keep My Statutes to Walk in Them – vs. 4

3. Recognize Jehovah as the God of Israel – vss. 4, 5

4. Guard/Keep My Statutes and My Judgments – vs. 5

5. Know That Doing the Judgments and Statutes Provides Life by Them

E. The Activities of the Nations in Palestine Have Done – vs. 27

F. The Abominations Bring the Death Penalty for the Israelite – vs. 29

G. The Atrocity of Doing Abominable Statutes of the Nations – vs. 30

1. Keep the Keeping

2. Do Not Do One of These Abominable Statutes

3. They Were Done Before You

4. You Will Not Make Yourself Unclean in Them

5. "I am Jehovah Your God"

TRANS: Ezekiel identifies the fact that the problems with Judah and Jerusalem are bound in their willingness to practice the statutes of the nations in the world system and worse. As a result or their abusing of Jehovah's laws, divine judgment comes upon the city and her inhabitants as demonstrated by Ezekiel's prophetic actions.

III. THE DESCRIBED SEDITION OF JERUSALEM AGAINST JEHOVAH AND PREFERENCE FOR THE JUDGMENTS AND STATURES OF THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD SYSTEM – THE CONDITION OF THE CITY OF JERUSALEM DEMONSTRATED IN THE FOUR PROPHETIC ACTIONS – PERSISTENT PRACTICES PROVIDE BASIS FOR PUNISHMENT – Ezekiel 5:5-9

A. The Four Prophetic Acts of the Prophet Ezekiel – 4:1-5:4

1. The City on a Tile – 4:1-3

2. The Prophet Lies on His Side – 4:5-8

a. 390 Days on the Left Side

b. 40 Days on the Right Side

3. The Defiled Food – 4:9-17

4. The Shaved Head – 5:1-4

B. The Abuse of Jehovah's Law for the Laws of the Nations – 5:5, 6

1. Jerusalem Placed in the Midst of Nations and Lands – 5:5

2. Jerusalem Rebelled by Changing Judgments Into Wickedness More Than the Nations

– 5:6a

3. Jerusalem Rebelled Against the Statutes

4. Jerusalem Refused Jehovah's Judgments

5. Jerusalem Refused to Walk in Them

C. The Excesses of Jerusalem Beyond the Excesses of the Nations – 5:7

1. Outdone the Nations Around About You

2. Have Not Walked in My Statutes

3. Have Not Done My Judgments

4. Have Not Done the Judgments of the Nations

D. The Application of Divine Judgments Upon Jerusalem – 5:8, 9

1. Judgments for the Eyes of the Nations

2. Judgments Jehovah Hasn't Done Before

TRANS: Jehovah had provided a law composed of various parts for Israel. It was given as a standard better than that of the nations designed to show the character of the God of the Universe. The nation refused it and choose to live by either the standards of the laws of the governments of the nations or surpassed the laws of the nations in their wickedness.

IV. THE DETERMINED SUBSTITUTION OF OTHER STANDARDS FOR THE STATUTES AND JUDGMENTS OF JEHOVAH – THE CONSISTENCY OF ISTAEL'S REJECTION OF THE LAW OF JEHOVAH AND REPLACEMENT OF IT WITH THE STANDARDS OF THE WORLD SYSTEM – PROBLEM PREFERENCES PERSIST FOR THE PRACTICE OF ISRAEL

A. The Refusal to Live by the Elements of the Mosaic Law – Ezekiel 11:12a

B. The Replacement with Practicing Judgments of the Nations – Ezekiel 11:12b

C. The Rebellion of Judah Like That of Their Fathers – Ezekiel 20:15-20 [cf. vss. 8, 13, 21]

1. Their Rebellion in the Wilderness – 20:15, 16

a. Despised Jehovah's Judgments – vs. 16

b. Did Not Walk in Jehovah's Statutes

c. Their Heart Went After Idols

2. Their Responsibility Not to Act as their Fathers Had in Egypt – vss. 18-20

a. Demand That They Do Not Act as Their Fathers

b. The Positive Expected by Jehovah

D. The Repetition of Their Preference for Evil Deeds for Righteous Responsibility to the

Law – Jeremiah 44:9, 10

E. The Reason for the Evil Punishment of Jerusalem and Judah – Jeremiah 44:22, 23

TRANS: Israel and Judah were quick to reject the provisions of the Mosaic Law and to turn to the standards of the nations of the world system. These laws permitted many of the activities clearly prohibited in the Mosaic Law. Even worse was the fact that these nations even violated the standards of the Gentiles. This led to spiritual adultery and resulting divine punishment that continues to this day.

Conclusion

Valley Baptist Church

P. O. Box 99, Gaston, OR 97119