Deuteronomy 26:19 –
And if you do, he will set you high above all the other nations he has made. Then you will receive praise, honor, and renown. You will be a nation that is holy to the LORD your God, just as he promised.
This chapter is primarily focused on offerings and tithes, which as I have said before is a subject that is talked about a bunch in most churches. Not saying we should not tithe, but the end of this chapter had some interesting things to say about the “Law” and what if people obeyed. The Lord gave Moses these regulations and asked the people to obey them knowing that it was impossible for them to live fully under the Law. This verse shows a nice “carrot on the stick” for abiding by the Law.
I often wonder if the Lord knew they would fail and needed Jesus or if Jesus was in “reserves” for when and if they failed. As we have seen many of the regulations don’t make sense today and would be difficult to follow. The food laws are a perfect example, you would have to dissect every meal that was not labeled “kosher” to determine the quality and ingredients used. Could you obey the Law at all or would Jesus be an “excuse” for not trying?
There is a fine line in the Law which I cannot figure out as far as what applies to us now. I am completely clear on sin offerings or sacrifices, since Jesus died for our sins, but what about the rest. Also, is Israel still “set aside” and still the chosen nation? Have Christians taken this position from them? Or since Christians are from many walks of life it becomes an individual thing?
I guess the big question is how did Jesus fulfill the Law and how are we to respond to it today? If we follow it will we be blessed or should we no longer recognize the law? Jesus actually set the bar much higher when discussing the Law. Was his point to prove we cannot live up to the Law or was it to show God’s standards are much higher? I could go on for days as I am unresolved on how to respond to much of the Law as a Christian today. What are your thoughts? Are we to still live by the Law to have a blessed life or are we free of the Law to live as we desire or as followers of God are we now held to a much higher standard?