The Character of God's Law

O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever! (Deuteronomy 5:29, see also ch 4:40)

In making this declaration when delivering His law to Moses on Mount Sinai, God plainly stated the two most basic characteristics of His perfect law - it is for our good, and it is eternal.

Let us briefly consider each of these properties of His law. First, it is indeed for our good. While most people who call themselves 'Christian' can quickly cough up references to the blood of rams and bulls with regard to His law (always incorrectly we might add), few have ever actually read His laws and considered their intent. The intent is to assure peace, justice, liberty and prosperity in perpetuity. It is not something enforced on us, it is a mild set of laws that is for our good.

A simple description of the society shortly to come, where Jesus Christ is King and God's perfect law is the law of the land will best illustrate the effect...

And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them.And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear....They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD. (Isaiah 65:21-25)

Also...

And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee. (Isaiah 54:12-13)

And the Psalmist stated...

So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and ever.And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts. (Psalms 119:44-45)

James also refered to God's law as "the perfect law of liberty".

So we may quickly summarize that an essential character of God's law is that it is for our good, and that of our children, and an essential part of that good is that it assures the liberty of the individual who lives by it.

Now, the second characteristic of God's law that we wished to consider was it's eternal nature. The words of Jesus Himself are very clear on this subject...

For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law... (Matthew 5:18)

The Psalmist also stated...

Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever. (Psalms 119:160)

So, if we pause to consider both these characteristics of God's perfect law of liberty, we see that it is indeed for our good - forever. That may seem like a simplistic repetition of the original verse in this article - but let us put it in a slightly different light.

Consider that each day in governmental centers around the world, at great length and enormous expense, innumerable bodies of men wrestle with the task of writing, amending, administering and enforcing volume after volume of "law", most with the object (at least we like to think so...) of establishing a stable, peaceful, prosperous society within the juristictions of the respective governments and the global community. And in spite of this enormous effort all nations move inexorably from crisis to crisis, war to war, economic depression, distress of nations and oppression of peoples, without end! We hear endless talk of "sustainable development", "sustainable social services", ad nauseum... and never a hint of success!

But that is exactly what God's perfect law is! It is the minimal set of laws necessary to provide maximal liberty for the individual and assure a peaceful, prosperous and stable society - sustainable literally forever! That is the very essence of the words "that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever".

And it is all stated in ten commandments with their associated statutes and judgements. Fewer words than a typical copyright clause of a computer software product!

Will you live in that comming endless paradise?

Look into the perfect law of liberty...