1. THE LAW, MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF BIBLICAL PEOPLE GROUPS
JoLynn Gower
Fall 2018
Lesson 4

2. VERSE FOR THE JOURNEY
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15
We consider the Law given on Mt. Sinai to be the Law spoken of in the Old Testament
However, God clearly gave instructions before that
Use of pillars; purification for sacrifice, tithes, circumcision, sacred feasts, priests, oaths, marriage customs, birthright, elders, murder, etc.
We cannot assume all law was given through Moses
However, the establishment of a nation required specific laws for the governing of a people group

3. EARLIEST INDICATION
Unless we consider God’s instruction to Adam and Eve concerning the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, then the earliest consideration is this:
Genesis 4:2-6 Again, she gave birth to his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of flocks, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the LORD of the fruit of the ground. Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and for his offering; but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell. Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen?
Regard: shaah: to respect, to gaze To

4. ABOUT SIN
Genesis 4:6-7  Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it."
Romans 5:13 …for until the Law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
God does not impute sin if you don’t understand that you are doing wrong
Exodus 17:14-15  Then the LORD said to Moses, "Write this in a book as a memorial and recite it to Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.”  Moses built an altar and named it The LORD is My Banner;

5. APPROACHING SINAI
Exodus 19:1  In the third month after the sons of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that very day they came into the wilderness of Sinai.
1ST day of 3rd month; left at full moon – mid month; about 45 days after leaving Egypt
After setting up camp, Moses gets instruction from God
Exodus 19:10-12  The LORD also said to Moses, "Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments; and let them be ready for the third day, for on the third day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. You shall set bounds for the people all around, saying, 'Beware that you do not go up on the mountain or touch the border of it; whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death.”

6. 50th DAY?
Rabbis teach that this was the 50th day and corresponds to Pentecost
The mountain was going to be holy because God was there; the people weren’t holy and couldn’t touch the mountain
Hebrews 12:18  For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched…
Sinai – Zion; Hagar – Sarah; Jerusalem – New Jerusalem
Galatians 4:24-26  This is allegorically speaking, for these women are two covenants: one proceeding from Mount Sinai bearing children who are to be slaves; she is Hagar. Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem above is free; she is our mother.

7. BEFORE ALL GIVEN
Exodus 24:4-8  Moses wrote down all the words of the LORD. Then he arose early in the morning, and built an altar at the foot of the mountain with twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel. He sent young men of the sons of Israel, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed young bulls as peace offerings to the LORD. Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and the other half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar. Then he took the book of the covenant and read it in the hearing of the people; and they said, "All that the LORD has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient!” So Moses took the blood and sprinkled it on the people, and said, "Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words."

8. THE DISTANCE
Galatians 3:21-27 Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? May it never be! For if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on law. But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

9. THE NATURE OF COVENANT
THE ABRAHAMIC COVENANT: Unconditional
Genesis 15:17-18  It came about when the sun had set, that it was very dark, and behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a flaming torch which passed between these pieces. On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, "To your descendants I have given this land, From the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates.”
THE SINAI COVENANT: Conditional
Exodus 19:5-6 'Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel."

10. THE LAW & TORAH
The “Law” is generally meaning the things spoken to Moses/Israel during the time before Joshua
The “Torah” sometimes means the “Law” plus other things added through Old Testament revelation; also used to refer to the Books of Moses (Genesis through Deuteronomy)
The Law reveals God’s righteous standard (shows us the character of God)
The Law defines God’s expectations creating a standard for judgment
Further instructions were given to Moses regarding the methodology of the Law, especially in the Tabernacle worship and the keeping of feasts and festivals

11. THE TABERNACLE
Hebrews 8:3-6  For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices; so it is necessary that this high priest also have something to offer. Now if He were on earth, He would not be a priest at all, since there are those who offer the gifts according to the Law; who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses was warned by God when he was about to erect the tabernacle; for, "SEE," He says, "THAT YOU MAKE all things ACCORDING TO THE PATTERN WHICH WAS SHOWN YOU ON THE MOUNTAIN. But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises.
THE TABERNACLE FORSHADOWED CHRIST