The First Five Books of the Bible
In an article written for Eerdman's Bible Handbook (pp. 122-125), John Taylor describes the characteristics and content of the first five books of the Bible known as the Pentateuch (five scrolls). In our monthly Bible readings we are approaching the conclusion of Genesis, so it is a good time for us to quickly review what we have been reading and see what is in store as we begin our study of the four books of "the Law." This article is a condensed version of Taylor's thoughts concerning the framework and the four major themes of the Five Books.
The Framework
The basic theme of the five books is the story God's people from
the call of Abraham to the death of Moses. This is a span of about
600 years. Before entering into the story of Abraham, Genesis
begins with a prologue (chapters 1-11) that introduces the reader
to the main themes of the Old Testament narrative and relates
those themes to God's purposes for fallen man. After the prologue
a study of the lives of the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob,
and Joseph) begins (chapters 12-50). The second major section
of the five books covers the work of Moses (Exodus - Deuteronomy).
Four Important Themes
1)- Election
The physical children of Abraham through Jacob were God's chosen
people. The idea that God chose (or elected) a special people
carries with it two important features: promise and responsibility.
In Genesis 12-22 the promises by God to Abraham are spelled out.
Blessings will come to the world through via the land (of Canaan)
and seed (the Messiah) promises. For these promises to come true,
the children of Israel were obligated to hold fast to the Law
of Moses. Unfortunately, their failures outweighed their successes.
2)- Covenant
A covenant is a bond that unites two parties in mutual obligations.
God chose covenant language to express His promises to the Hebrews
and their obligations to Him. Note the covenant language used
in the following:
* God's promises to Noah (Gen. 9:9)
* God's promises to Abraham (Gen. 15:18; 17:4)
* The Sinai covenant established with Moses (Ex. 24:7)
God employs the oriental style of covenant making between a ruler
and his vassals when making these covenants with His people. The
covenant consists of these features: a historical introduction,
a list of stipulations, curses, and blessings invoked on the parties,
a solemn oath, and a religious ceremony to ratify the covenant.
However, the form takes a back seat to the theological significance
of the covenant.
Note the following characteristics of God's covenants with
Israel:
* It was based on the initiative of God (Ex. 6:7).
* It implied a new revelation of God (Gen. 15:1; 17:1; Ex. 3:14;
20:2)
* It made moral and ritual demands upon the people (Gen. 17:10;
Ex. 20:8ff.)
3)- Law
In addition to the Ten Commandments (Ex 20; Deut. 5) various other
collection of laws have been classified as:
* the book of the covenant (Ex. 21-23)
* the holiness code (Lev. 17-26)
* the law of Deuteronomy (Deut. 12-26).
Even though there are things in common with the laws of the surrounding
nations, it is the distinctions that point out the true differences
in a covenant made by God and one made by men. Note these distinctions
in the Law of Moses:
* the uncompromising monotheism (One and only one God).
* the remarkable concern for the underprivileged: slaves, strangers,
women, and orphans.
* the community spirit based on the relationship shared by all
Israel with the Lord their God.
With the Ten Commandments God provided a charter for His liberated
people. He gave them specific commands for specific situations.
With the ritual and ceremonial laws, God provided a way for His
people to remain holy in His sight. By commanding a moral and
ritualistic distinctiveness, God's people were set apart from
their neighbors.
4)- Exodus
The final major theme of the Pentateuch is the exodus from Egypt
(Ex. 1-12). This miraculous intervention stands as a great saving
act on the part of Israel's God. It shows the supremacy of the
One True God over the gods of the Egyptians and provides a moment
in Israel's history commemorated by the Feast of the Passover.
The fact that God delivered His people once meant that He could
deliver them again. Note Isa. 51:9-11 and Lk. 9:31.
Conclusion
The only other theme that permeates the five books with any regularity
is the persistent sinfulness of the people of Israel. The were
slow to accept Moses, they grumbled over the hardships of their
journey, they wanted to return to Egypt, they were afraid to try
and conquer Canaan so they wandered for 40 years in the wilderness
because of their sin of indecisiveness. Not even Moses was immune,
as he failed God and for his failure he was kept out of the Promised
Land.
God's response to sin has always been a blend of judgment and
mercy. He has always provided sinful man with a way of salvation.
"It is in total keeping with God's nature that He should
call out one man, Abraham, and through him his descendents the
Jews, to be the channel of grace and revelation to mankind."
Thus the Five Books tell this story.
To The "Pious In Error" by Robert Turner (Reprinted
from Plain Talk, Sept. 1964)
Several years ago a San Antonio preacher wrote an article comparing
the "pious in error" with those who "do nothing."
He favored the former.
And more recently I received a proposition for debate, reading: "Doing the right thing in the wrong way is no greater sin than doing the wrong thing in the right way." In both cases, we are offered nothing more than a choice of sins; and if that isn't disturbing enough, both cases remind us of the low spiritual level to which we have fallen.
What has become of those pious in that which is right; and
anxious to do the right thing in the right way?? Are we so lacking
in convictions, so befuddled by "comparative" religions
and "compromising" positions that the ideal of Christian
perfection is lost to our view? Where is the man who believes
that God's word is truth; (Jn. 17:17) who honestly seeks this
truth; (Acts 17:11) and who stands firmly for every bit of truth
he can comprehend? (Jas. 1:5-8)
We know of one elderly preacher whose convictions were flatly
challenged and who had no choice (as an honest man before God)
but to make a humble reply to his tempters. The elders of the
church, instead of appreciating his courage and devotion to truth,
made his first sermon his last. I then asked what error had been
taught that the preacher should be dismissed, one elder admitted
that no error was taught, but said he was afraid such preaching
would "cause trouble."
No, brother! Preaching truth will not cause trouble; it may, however, bring to light the trouble that already exists where such an attitude prevails. It was in this way that our Lord "caused trouble" where He taught.
Ours is a shaky "peace" that must be bought at the cost of truth. There is no virtue in "unity" if we are but united in error. In fact, when all agree to error, all will be lost. As bad as "division" may seem, Christ came to "divide" (Lu. 12:51-f.) where division would save some. The surgeon does not hesitate to amputate a limb, if by so doing he may save a life. Many are called, but few chosen.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Our weekly services are held at 1318 Griffin Road, Leesburg, Florida
34748.
Phone: (352) 365-9946 for times of services.
Web site: http://www.geocities.com/~cdillinger/cocbs/cocbshp.htm
MONTHLY BIBLE READING: Genesis 37-50
GOSPEL MEETING: Alan Irwin will be presenting a series of sermons each evening July 14-19, Sunday at 6:00 PM, each weeknight at 7:00 PM.
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BIBLE INSIGHT is published for the members of, and
visitors to, the Church of Christ at Beverly Shores, Leesburg,
Florida, USA.
Carey Dillinger is the editor. He can be reached at the church
address or via e-mail: dillinc@yahoo.com