Deuteronomy 17:18-19 “Also it shall be, when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write for himself a copy of this law in a book, from the one before the priests, the Levites. And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God and be careful to observe all the words of this law and these statutes”
The instructions of God were given to Moses as a reminder of the expectations for all who reigned as king over Israel. Strangely, the instructions for how a king should rule was given before Israel ever had a king. For many years, Israel was ruled by prophets and judges, the Lord God Himself was King over His people and He led them faithfully. It wasn’t until the people rose up and demanded a king did the Lord warn them what to expect and how difficult it would become for them.
The institution of a king had certain requirements, one of which that God would do the choosing. Once the king was set in place, the king still represented the Lord in his rule, therefore the Lord required of the king to write the laws of the Lord and then review them daily so that he would not forget them.
As with any institution ruled by sinful man the practice became obsolete, rulers became increasingly wicked and evil reigned in their hearts. We see a long history of what corruption does to a nation and Israel suffered terribly for their unfaithfulness, but as the Lord has done so many times, He restored His people as they turned back to Him in repentance.
Hebrews 8:7-9 “For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. Because finding fault with them, He says: “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah— not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the Lord.”
The old covenant was difficult if not impossible to keep. The perfection of the Lord is impossible with men and so God made a way for mankind to enter into His presence. God implemented a process of cleansing and purification for the priests who would come before Him. Sacrifice was necessary and ritual symbolism demonstrated the need for holiness to all who would come before Him.
The old system of sacrifice couldn’t completely redeem man from sin, the moral law would point them toward their failure and the sacrifice would only appease God’s wrath. Sanctification was made through the sacrifice but the need for a Savior always remained.
The hearts of men were still darkened by sin and so the Lord chose to address their hearts.
Hebrews 8:10-12 “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”
The encouragement in Hebrews was prophesied in Jeremiah hundreds of years earlier. The hope of all who strove to be made right before God would finally be accomplished by Jesus Himself—-the lawgiver.
Hebrews 10:11-14 “And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.”
The offense toward God remained because the sacrifice being given was not complete. Jesus came as a man because He had to assume mankind’s position of guilt. The law which brings death was appeased by the completed work of Christ.
Hebrews 10:16-18 “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,” then He adds, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.”
The people of God who have been called by His name no longer need to strive for perfection under God’s moral law, the Spirit of God has brought the law into their hearts. What once brought condemnation now leads God’s people into righteousness and love.
All because of Jesus.
Jesus fulfilled the requirement of the law which was death and now He has brought life to all who believe.
Ephesians 2:14-16 “For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.”
How great a Savior—how great a sacrifice He has made. How great will be the condemnation for all who reject His gift of love.
The hour of His return draws near, the hope of a life who trusts in Him will be fulfilled—they will see the law made flesh and will dwell in His righteousness forever.
U.T. 