Christian Counseling Service -- Devotions

I fought the law, and the law won

Monday, February 18, 2002

Leviticus 19:1-2, 11-18
The Lord said to Moses, "Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: "Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.
"Do not steal.
"Do not lie.
"Do not deceive one another.
"Do not swear falsely by my name and so profane the name of your God. I am the Lord.
"Do not defraud your neighbor or rob him.
"Do not hold back the wages of a hired man overnight.
"Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but fear your God. I am the Lord.
"Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly.
"Do not go about spreading slander among your people.
"Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor's life. I am the Lord.
"Do not hate your brother in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in his guilt.
"Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord."

In his Chronological Bible, attorney F. LaGard Smith organizes the laws given by God to the Israelites in the books of Exodus, Numbers, Leviticus and Deuteronomy. His structure, which he calls "purely subjective," fascinated me when Chris and I read through the Bible during his twelfth year. I'm reminded of it again and would like to share it with you:

I. Religious and ceremonial laws

A. Laws against idolatry and paganism
B. Laws against false spiritualists
C. Laws regarding blasphemy
D. Laws requiring dedications
E. Laws requiring tithing
F. Special instructions for conquest
G. Law of the Sabbath
H. The Special Feasts
1. Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread
2. Feast of Weeks (Harvest or Firstfruits)
3. Feast of Trumpets
4. Day of Atonement
5. Feast of Tabernacles (Booths or Ingathering)
I. Sacrifices and offerings
1. Burnt offerings
2. Cereal offerings
3. Peace offerings
4. Sin offerings
5. Guilt offerings
6. Special offerings
7. Rules pertaining to offerings
J. Other rituals
K. Rules for the priests
L. The Sabbatical Year
M. Year of Jubilee
N. Purification
1. After childbirth
2. For leprosy
3. For discharges 4. Concerning death
O. Persons excluded from the congregation
P. The Nazirite vow
Q. Vows of dedication
R. Laws of separation

II. Laws of government

A. Concerning a king
B. Respect for rulers
C. The judicial system
1. Establishment of courts
2. Fairness and justice
3. Witnesses
4. Punishment

III. Laws of special crimes

A. Crimes against the person
1. Homicide
2. Feticide (death of fetus)
3. Kidnapping
4. Mayhem
5. Rape
6. Assault
B. Crimes against property
1. Theft of personal property
2. Theft of real property

IV. Personal rights and remedies

A. Resitution for loss
B. Seduction
C. Injuries and damages
D. Masters and servants
E. Credit, interest and collateral
F. Contracts and agreements
G. Weights and measures
H. Inheritance

V. Marriage, divorce, and sexual relations

A. Marriage
B. Divorce
C. Sexual Violations
1. Introduction
2. Adultery
3. Fornication
4. Prostitution
5. Incest
6. Violation of uncleanness
7. Homosexual practices
8. Bestiality
9. Conclusion
D. Separation of sexes

VI. Health and dietary laws

A. Health regulations
1. Leprosy
2. Discharges
3. Isolation
B. Dietary Regulations
1. Clean and unclean creatures
2. Dead animals
3. Killed animals
4. Blood and fat
5. Meat and milk

VII. General welfare laws

A. Requirements for benevolence
B. Duties of respect and support

1. Parents
2. Elderly
3. Widows and orphans
4. Strangers
5. Deaf and blind
6. Neighbors
C. Treatment of animals

VIII. Rules of warfare

A. Preparation for battles
B. Rules of siege
C. Camp regulations
D. Soldiers and marriage

IX. Responsibilities under the laws

A. Obedience enjoined
B. Duty to promulgate
C. Blessings of obedience
D. Punishments for disobedience
E. Conclusion

Lord, the weight of your law seems heavy on me. Please release me as you released the writer of the 119th Psalm, when he said "I have chosen the way of truth, I have set my heart on your law. I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free."

Devotions Archive

I fought the law, and the law won

Monday, February 18, 2002