The Law as Teacher OR The Reluctant Students

The Law as Teacher

or

The Reluctant Students

 

Larry R Evans

Vancouver Adventist Church

Bible Class

 

October 17, 2020

 

Introduction

 

“Some have called the Ten Commandments the ‘glue’ on which all laws are based.  Rabbi Robert Kahn once, when he was a child while flying a kite, asked his father, 

‘Dad, what holds the kite up? His father replied, ‘The string.’

‘No, Dad, the string holds it down, not up.’

‘If you think so, let go of the string, he said, ‘and see what happens.’

            He let go and the kite began to fall!

 It may seem strange that the very thing which seems to keep the kite down, is actually what keeps it up.  This is true not only of kites but of life. Those strings that are tied to us, those rules and regulations that seem to hold us back and tie us down are actually holding us up.

The Ten Commandments, given by God, addressed conditions which already existed. There was murder, theft, idolatry, adultery, etc. . . .all the time the Hebrews were slaves. They had forgotten o worship God and to honor parents. These Commandments were given as the highest code of moral behavior below which they must not sink. Freedom has requirements for proper living.” –Dr. William H. Goddard in Just Say the Words, pp. 86-87

 What do you like about the illustration?  Are there concerns that it raises? What is right and possibly wrong with the illustration? Are the Ten Commandments the ‘glue’ on which all laws (biblical or otherwise) are based?

 

Of course, it is just an illustration but what points would you want to clarify if you were to use the kite illustration to explain  the purpose of God’s law?

 

Questions for Study, Reflection, and Discussion

 

1.     True or False. The law of God gives life to the righteous.  (See Galatians 3:22)

a.     If the answer is “False” what is the purpose of the law if it doesn’t give life?

b.    What is the difference between “morality” and “moralism”?

 

2.    True or False. “Loving God is a learned ‘behavior’.” (Deut. 6:5; John 14:15, 16) See also Deut. 8:2,3.

3.    True or False. “Fearing God” is something that must be learned. (See Deut., 31:13; 6:5 and Rev. 14:7) Note also Ex. 20:1,2 and Deut. 5:6)

 

4.    Why did God tell Joshua to be “strong and courageous”? (See Deut. 31:23 and then read verses 19-22)

a.     Why would God have told Moses to make song out of this experience? (Deut. 31:19)

b.    How is the law a witness (Deut. 31:19-23)

    True or False. The way to success is by innovation, creativity, and self-reliance.

a.     What are the signs of success if that is true?

b.    What constitutes success for those preparing to meet Jesus? (Rev. 12:17, 14:12)

c.     What significance does Rev. 14:1 have in this context? See also Romans 1:5.

6.    What benefits are there for following God’s law? Is prosperity one of them?  Explain Hezekiah’s prosperity. (See 2 Chron. 31:20,21)

 

7.     True or False. A sign of God’s blessing and our prosperity is the avoidance hardships. (Hebrews 11:32-34; 35-37)  

            What is the motivation for keeping God’s law? (John 14:15)

 

Application

 

Which of the Following Is True:  Faithful God, Good Law, Sinful People, Broken World?

a.     How is God faithful?

b.    What is good about the law of God?

c.     What is sin? (an act, an attitude, a way of living, an element of our DNA, or what?)

d.    If God is faithful, and His law is good, why is the world broken?

 

Concluding Thoughts

 

“The great battle of our spiritual lives is ‘Will you believe?’ It is not ‘Will you try harder? Or ‘Can you make yourself worthy?’  It