All of the laws and instructions given to us in the Bible are always for our best temporal and eternal good, and there is no exception to this rule. The Sovereign of the universe did not create us to put us in iron bands of laws and statutes that are not designed to perpetuate life, health, happiness, and prosperity. Any conclusions about God’s laws which give the idea that they are not for our best good are simply inaccurate or ill-informed at best. The scriptures teach us in many places that the commandments of God are the key to life and longevity, both to parents and their posterity after them, and thus it rests with us to find out what these laws and statutes are, and how they should be applied to our everyday experiences. Let’s read:
Psalm 1:1 Blessed [is] the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
1:2 But his delight [is] in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
1:3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
1:4 The ungodly [are] not so: but [are] like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
1:5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
1:6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
Deuteronomy 4:39 Know therefore this day, and
consider [it] in thine heart, that the LORD he [is] God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: [there is] none else.
4:40 Thou shalt keep therefore his statutes, and his commandments, which I command thee this day, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, and that thou mayest prolong [thy] days upon the earth, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, for ever.
Exodus 5:16 Honour thy father and thy mother, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
Deuteronomy 12:23 Only be sure that thou eat not the blood: for the blood [is] the life; and thou mayest not eat the life with the flesh.
12:24 Thou shalt not eat it; thou shalt pour it upon the earth as water.
12:25 Thou shalt not eat it; that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, when thou shalt do [that which is] right in the sight of the LORD.
But there are certain vital points pertaining to the laws of God that should be thoroughly understood before we proceed. (1) It is important for us to know that because God is the sovereign Ruler in earth and heaven, He is under no obligation to give us explanations for every law and instruction He gives, because the laws of most sovereign nations do not come with explanations. For instance, right here in the sunshine state, there are laws pertaining to driving under the influence, with the penalties for violations attached, but the explanation for such laws are strangely absent, for it is assumed that the residents will understand that the laws were made with the best interest of the citizenry in mind. Let’s read:
DUI (Driving Under the Influence of Alcoholic Beverages, Chemical Substances or Controlled Substances). s. 316.193, F.S.
Under Florida law, DUI is one offense, proved by impairment of normal faculties or unlawful blood alcohol or breath alcohol level of .08 or above. The penalties upon conviction are the same, regardless of the manner in which the offense is proven.
Fine Schedule s. 316.193(2)(a)-(b), F.S.
- First Conviction: Not less than $500, or more than $1,000. With Blood/Breath Alcohol Level (BAL) of .15 or higher or minor in the vehicle: Not less than $1,000, or more than $2,000.
- Second Conviction: Not less than $1,000, or more than $2,000. With BAL of .15 or higher or minor in the vehicle: Not less than $2,000, or more than $4,000.
- Third Conviction More than 10 years from second: Not less than $2,000, or more than $5,000. With BAL of .15 or higher or minor in the vehicle: Not less than $4,000.
- Fourth or Subsequent Conviction: Not less than $2,000.
There is no explanation given whatsoever, and yet we all agree that the laws pertaining to Dui are indeed good, and are given in our best interest. The same is true with the Laws of God, where explanations are given for some but for others there are none, yet we are to understand that they were given for our best good. Let’s read:
Deuteronomy 22:6 If a bird's nest chance to be before thee in the way in any tree, or on the ground, [whether they be] young ones, or eggs, and the dam sitting upon the young, or upon the eggs, thou shalt not take the dam with the young:
22:7 [But] thou shalt in any wise let the dam go, and take the young to thee; that it may be well with thee, and [that] thou mayest prolong [thy] days.
(2)Just because we may not know of a law pertaining to some issue does not mean that one or several do not exist. Ignorance does not mean that there aren’t any laws governing certain actions or behaviors, for the Bible often speaks of the sin of ignorance, which is described as committing sin without the knowledge of wrong doing. This has occurred a million and one times in the human experience, and is addressed in the scriptures. Let’s read:
Leviticus 4:13 And if the whole congregation of Israel sin through ignorance, and the thing be hid from the eyes of the assembly, and they have done [somewhat against] any of the commandments of the LORD [concerning things] which should not be done, and are guilty;
4:14 When the sin, which they have sinned against it, is known, then the congregation shall offer a young bullock for the sin, and bring him before the tabernacle of the congregation.
(3) We sometimes become aware of an existing law only after it has been broken, and the negative results have been set in motion. The preferable godly method of “Prevention is better than cure” is not always adapted, either because of a genuine lack of knowledge, or because of a callous disregard to the instructions God has given. Wherever the latter is the case, the resulting evils that accrue will have to be dealt with, unless urgent confession and repentance is made, and even then, we are not guaranteed of any reversal of fortunes, for once the dogs have been let out, it is often difficult to rein them in again.
On the issue of religion and freedom of speech, there are laws written in the Bible that are given as always, in the best interest of the human family, and they should be heeded, especially because of the heated and volatile environment in which we find ourselves, so as to avert any unnecessary turmoil and bloodshed that will certainly accrue with continued violations. Let’s read:
Exodus 22:28 Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people.
Exodus 23:13 And in all [things] that I have said unto you be circumspect: and make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth.
We observe that no explanation for these laws are given with them, and there is no mention of the negative results that will come when they are violated. There is no detailed explanation about resulting protests and national uproar, or revenge killings, or the deep hurt and animosities that will result. All it says is “Do not revile the gods”. The word “Revile” means to assail with scornful or abusive language. It also means to denounce, to disparage, to denigrate, to lambaste, and also to indulge in character assignation.
After the human family fell into sin, God instituted the plan of salvation whereby every living person would have opportunity to be reinstated to the favor of God through Jesus Christ, but God already knew that many people would reject His offers of mercy and pardon, and would thereby choose to live in blatant opposition to His revealed will. And starting with Cain, many different religions began to come upon the scene of action, thus prompting God to regulate the relations of His people to those of other beliefs and religious orientation.
God has given to each individual the freedom of choice,
and however that freedom is used will be our personal responsibility, but it remains our God-given privilege, and as such should be respected by everyone. The surgeon general has posted grave warnings about the dangers of smoking, with the dire results that will follow indulgence of the habit, but we are left free to choose to smoke, until fire comes out of our nostrils. Both the choice and the results are ours, and as such should be respected.
The same is true of the issue of the many religious sects that exist in the world. Some of the world’s great religions hold Christ in contempt, while others accept a greatly compromised form of Christianity, yet The Sovereign of the universe has given us all the freedom to choose, even if it means living contrary to His will. It is very important that Christians everywhere understand this important truth, and live accordingly. Let’s read:
Genesis 4:16 And Cain went out from the presence of
the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.
Joshua 24:14 Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.
24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that [were] on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
Hosea 4:17 Ephraim [is] joined to idols: let him alone.
1st Kings 18:21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD [be] God, follow him: but if Baal, [then] follow him. And the people answered him not a word.
Now it is true that in ancient times The Lord instructed the Hebrews to eradicate those pagan nations which had filled to the brim their cup of iniquity, yet this was done by the direct command of God, and therefore was not the responsibility of Israel. And vice versa, when Israel departed from the path of rectitude, God also authorized other nations to afflict them to bring them back into line, and therefore the responsibility was squarely on God’s shoulders, and not on the human agency that carried out His direct will. Let’s read:
Genesis 15:13 And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land [that is] not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;
15:14 And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance.
15:15 And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age.
15:16 But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites [is] not yet full.
Numbers 25:16 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
25:17 Vex the Midianites, and smite them:
25:18 For they vex you with their wiles, wherewith they have beguiled you in the matter of Peor, and in the matter of Cozbi, the daughter of a prince of Midian, their sister, which was slain in the day of the plague for Peor's sake.
Isaiah 46:9 Remember the former things of old: for I [am] God, and [there is] none else; [I am] God, and [there is] none like me,
46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times [the things] that are not [yet] done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:
46:11 Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken [it], I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed [it], I will also do it.
46:12 Hearken unto me, ye stouthearted, that [are] far from righteousness:
Isaiah 45:1 Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut;
45:2 I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:
45:3 And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call [thee] by thy name, [am] the God of Israel.
45:4 For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.
45:5 I [am] the LORD, and [there is] none else, [there is] no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:
45:6 That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that [there is] none beside me. I [am] the LORD, and [there is] none else.
The last execution to take place in Florida was the result of a directive from the legislature, and therefore the man who actually strapped the convict to the gurney and carried out the death penalty cannot be held in any way culpable for that which he received instruction from
the judiciary to do. But if the executioner takes it upon himself to revile and take the life of a convicted felon, then he would be usurping the lawful authority of the judge, and would thereby be found guilty.
Ancient Israel, or any other nation for that matter was never to decide when the cup of iniquity of other pagan nations was full, and until such time that their probation would be closed, they were commanded by God to live peaceably with the surrounding nations who served and worshipped false gods. This is a very important truth for Christians everywhere to understand and adopt, for it has to do with our ability to live peaceably with our neighbors and nations of other faiths, that do not believe and practice as we do.
In our day there is an alarming upsurge of religious intolerance around the world, and the tokens of bigotry are breeding violence, alienation and deep hatred amongst the nations of the world, and one of the main reasons has to do with the violation of that law which
says “Do not revile the gods of the people”. The genius of true Christianity when practiced according to the spirit and letter of the law, is that it allows Muslims, Jews, Christians, Atheists, Buddhists, Hindus and New-agers to live peaceably on the same street, once the basic human rights and freedoms are respected by all.
And even when Christians feel threatened by other religions, the Bible gives us instructions on how to deal with such situations. These instructions may not be in harmony with our natural desire for revenge and justice, yet they are written in infinite wisdom, and if followed in the letter and spirit, will go a long way in alleviating the growing turmoil and violence amongst world religions that threaten to destabilize the entire planet. Let’s read:
Romans 12:17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
12:18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but [rather] give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance [is] mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
12:20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
12:21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
We therefore end with a portion of scripture which shows us in great detail how the principles of God’s kingdom, when applied under His direct supervision can produce amazing results, and as we read, let us be humble and patient enough for God to do His good pleasure in the earth, for we too were once alienated from God, and were it not for His great mercy and kindness towards us, none of us would be saved. Let’s read:
2nd Kings 6:8 Then the king of Syria warred against Israel, and took counsel with his servants, saying, In such and such a place [shall be] my camp.
6:9 And the man of God sent unto the king of Israel, saying, Beware that thou pass not such a place; for thither the Syrians are come down.
6:10 And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of, and saved himself there, not once nor twice.
6:11 Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing; and he called his servants, and said unto them, Will ye not show me which of us [is] for the king of Israel?
6:12 And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet that [is] in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber.
6:13 And he said, Go and spy where he [is], that I may send and fetch him. And it was told him, saying, Behold, [he is] in Dothan.
6:14 Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about.
6:15 And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?
6:16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that [be] with us [are] more than they that [be] with them.
6:17 And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain [was] full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
6:18 And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the LORD, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.
6:19 And Elisha said unto them, This [is] not the way, neither [is] this the city: follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom ye seek. But he led them to Samaria.
6:20 And it came to pass, when they were come into Samaria, that Elisha said, LORD, open the eyes of these [men], that they may see. And the LORD opened their eyes, and they saw; and, behold, [they were] in the midst of Samaria.
6:21 And the king of Israel said unto Elisha, when he saw them, My father, shall I smite [them]? shall I smite [them]?
6:22 And he answered, Thou shalt not smite [them]: wouldest thou smite those whom thou hast taken captive with thy sword and with thy bow? set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go to their master.
6:23 And he prepared great provision for them: and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. So the bands of Syria came no more into the land of Israel.
May The Lord add His blessing to the study and practice of His every word. God bless!