What is “The Law”?
Welcome to week one of our new series, The Law, as Pastor Tim Carpenter explores why the Old Testament law is vital to understanding the story of God and His character. Far from a dry list of rules, the biblical law is designed for our flourishing and serves as a direct invitation to trust God's loving design. Discover how these ancient directives — including the Ten Commandments—ultimately point us directly to Jesus and His heart for us. Join us as we shift our perspective and discover the beautiful goodness of God's plan.
Deep Dive Podcast
Chapters:
0:00 - Introduction to The Law Series
0:16 - Why Understand the Law?
2:28 - The Law as Part of God's Story
3:32 - Modern Relevance and Jesus
4:54 - What is 'The Law' (Torah)?
6:03 - The Narrative and Purpose of the Law
8:07 - Examples: 10 Commandments and More
11:06 - Explaining the 10 Commandments
15:14 - God's First Directives & Trust
18:20 - God's Grief and The Law's True Purpose
Study Guide
Understanding the Law: A Comprehensive Study Guide
This study guide is designed to provide a deep exploration of the Old Testament Law as presented in the source text. It examines the purpose, structure, and enduring relevance of the biblical directives given to the nation of Israel and their connection to the broader narrative of scripture.
Part I: Knowledge Review Quiz
Instructions: Answer the following questions using 2–3 complete sentences based on the information provided in the source context.
What specific books of the Bible constitute "The Law," and what is the Hebrew term used to describe them?
Why is it statistically significant for a reader of the Bible to understand the Old Testament?
According to the text, what does the Law reveal about the character of God?
How does the concept of "quarantine" serve as an example of the Law's modern relevance?
What is the "spoiler alert" regarding the relationship between the Law and Jesus?
How does the text define the primary purpose of the directives given to the nation of Israel?
What is the distinction between the first few Ten Commandments and those that follow?
What were the first two directives given by God to humans in the book of Genesis?
How does the text explain the concept of taking the Lord's name "in vain" beyond just using it as a swear word?
When humans break the Law, why does God grieve according to the provided perspective?
Part II: Answer Key
What specific books of the Bible constitute "The Law," and what is the Hebrew term used to describe them? The Law consists of the first five books of the Old Testament: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. In Hebrew, these books are known as the Torah, which translates to "the teaching."
Why is it statistically significant for a reader of the Bible to understand the Old Testament? The Old Testament makes up between 60% and 80% of the entire Bible, depending on whether one measures by books or by chapters. Ignoring this portion of the text means missing the majority of the story, making it impossible to fully understand the narrative's conclusion in the New Testament.
According to the text, what does the Law reveal about the character of God? The Law is not merely a list of "to-dos" but a reflection of God's morals, ethics, and heart. By reading these laws, one can see that behind the requirements is a God who is holy, righteous, merciful, loving, and desirous of justice.
How does the concept of "quarantine" serve as an example of the Law's modern relevance? The Old Testament includes laws regarding skin infections that required individuals to stay outside the camp to prevent the spread of disease. This ancient practice of quarantine mirrors modern public health protocols used during events like the COVID-19 pandemic to protect the community.
What is the "spoiler alert" regarding the relationship between the Law and Jesus? The text states that all of scripture, including the Law, points to Jesus as the centerpiece of the story. By understanding the Law, a person gains a better grasp of who Jesus is, which ultimately leads to a more robust worship of him.
How does the text define the primary purpose of the directives given to the nation of Israel? The Law was designed to set the Israelites apart as a holy nation and to establish their covenant relationship with God. By following these directives, Israel would stand out as righteous and loving, showing the rest of the world what God and his followers are truly like.
What is the distinction between the first few Ten Commandments and those that follow? The initial commandments are "heavenly oriented," focusing on the relationship between humans and God. The later commandments pivot to being "others oriented," reflecting the dual priority of loving God first and then loving one's neighbor.
What were the first two directives given by God to humans in the book of Genesis? The first directive was for humans to be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it by stewarding God's creation. The second directive, found in Genesis chapter two, commanded humans not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
How does the text explain the concept of taking the Lord's name "in vain" beyond just using it as a swear word? Taking God's name in vain includes representing oneself as a follower of God while living in a way that brings him dishonor. It is a matter of misrepresenting God's character to the world through one's actions, not just through disrespectful language.
When humans break the Law, why does God grieve according to the provided perspective? God does not grieve because he is lacking something or because his ego is bruised; rather, he grieves on behalf of the person. He is saddened because, by ignoring his directives, humans rob themselves of the goodness and protection he intended for them.
Part III: Essay Format Questions
Instructions: Use the following prompts to develop in-depth arguments or analyses based on the themes found in the source material.
The Law as Narrative: Analyze the argument that the Old Testament Law should be viewed as an "epic narrative" rather than a stagnant list of rules. How does this perspective change the way a reader approaches books like Leviticus or Numbers?
The Theology of Stewardship: Discuss the significance of the "first directive" given in Genesis 1 regarding the environment. How does the text suggest the modern church can improve its engagement with planetary stewardship based on this biblical mandate?
The Role of Trust: Explore the subtext of "trust" that the text claims is fundamental to all of God's commands. Explain how the choice to follow or reject the Law is presented as a choice to trust God's design for human flourishing.
Israel as a Light: Evaluate the societal purpose of the 613 laws in the Old Testament. How were these laws intended to function as a witness to neighboring nations regarding the nature of the God of the universe?
Modern Application of Ancient Law: Choose one of the "weird" or "common sense" laws mentioned in the text (e.g., parapets on roofs, mixing fabrics, or muzzling oxen) and discuss how it reflects the underlying principles of safety, distinctiveness, or mercy.
Part IV: Glossary of Key Terms
Adultery
Remaining unfaithful to a marriage covenant; prohibited by the Ten Commandments.
Covenant Relationship
The established bond between God and the nation of Israel, governed by the Law.
False Witness
Lying or giving false testimony against a neighbor; prohibited by the Law to maintain justice.
Firstfruits
The best of the initial harvest brought as an offering to God, representing his priority in the lives of the people.
The Law
The first five books of the Bible (Genesis to Deuteronomy) containing God's directives for the nation of Israel.
Sabbath
A designated day of rest and holiness, modeled after God's rest during creation.
Subdue
The divine mandate for humans to cultivate, steward, and bring order to the beauty of the earth.
Ten Commandments
Found in Exodus 20, these ten foundational laws serve as the core of the biblical legal system.
Torah
A Hebrew word meaning "the teaching," used to refer to the books of the Law.
Vain
Using something (particularly God's name) flippantly, disrespectfully, or in a way that brings dishonor to its true meaning.
