The Spirit of The Law
There are times where the letter of the law overtakes the “spirit of the law” or the intent. I’ve watched as lawmakers pass a new law intended to provide protection of people when the new law, unintentionally causes harm to others. There are laws that are hard and strict. There are other laws that are intended to be strict but are not as big a deal if broken. Speed laws, for example, are not suggestions. They are meant to slow drivers down in certain zones because there could be congestion or pedestrians in the area. The police officers could really write a lot of tickets for people going only 1 mile over the limit, but the “spirit of the law” is that they are driving close to the limit and therefore safer than those who are going 8-10 miles per hour OVER the limit.
King Hezekiah wanted to have a special Passover and worship celebration. He realized that it was going to be a month later than prescribed in the law. He felt he should go for it anyway. He invites hundreds and thousands to the special Passover/Worship celebration. Things didn’t go exactly as planned as many of the attendees had not been careful to purify themselves. Check this out….
17 Since many of the people had not purified themselves, the Levites had to slaughter their Passover lamb for them, to set them apart for the Lord. 18 Most of those who came from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun had not purified themselves. But King Hezekiah prayed for them, and they were allowed to eat the Passover meal anyway, even though this was contrary to the requirements of the Law. For Hezekiah said, “May the Lord, who is good, pardon those 19 who decide to follow the Lord, the God of their ancestors, even though they are not properly cleansed for the ceremony.” 20 And the Lord listened to Hezekiah’s prayer and healed the people.
25 The entire assembly of Judah rejoiced, including the priests, the Levites, all who came from the land of Israel, the foreigners who came to the festival, and all those who lived in Judah.26 There was great joy in the city, for Jerusalem had not seen a celebration like this one since the days of Solomon, King David’s son. 27 Then the priests and Levites stood and blessed the people, and God heard their prayer from his holy dwelling in heaven. (2 Chronicles 30:17-20, 25-27 NLT)
The Lord has laws that are intended to shape our lives and point us to Him. When I was younger, I have to admit that I didn’t appreciate these “laws”. I didn’t like the laws of sexual behavior because I thought God was simply be a killjoy. As I’m older and maybe somewhat wiser, I see the damage that sexual relationships outside of marriage causes on all parties. The Lord wired us for living within His own boundaries and within His law. I’m really grateful that Jesus came and brought grace onto the scene. The old law is not destroyed by grace, but it is different because of grace. I believe Grace reveals the Lord’s heart for His people. He wants a relationship with me MORE than He wants me to “check all the boxes” in the “letter of the law”. I’ve been sideways with the self-appointed rule-keepers and people who want to “check all the boxes”. They are often so distracted with rule keeping that they miss the relationship piece. The rules/boundaries are intended to point us to the Father’s heart. He longs for relationship with each of us. The boundaries/rules are there for our protection, direction and provision. The Lord so wants my heart MORE than He wants my behavior. The behavior He’s after is designed to turn my heart to Him.
Pressing On!
Dwayne