Lawgiver

To Study & Ponder:

Entering Into God’s Presence Knowing God Through His Roles & Titles

• Isa 33:22 is a passage which is often pointed to as foundational for Biblical thought regarding how political structures are to be organized for governance. The three (triune/trinitarian) titles given here to God (as judge, lawgiver, king) describe the three divine governance roles and serve as an inspiration for the modern tripartite separation of governmental powers into the judicial, legislative and executive branches. Some have describes these three roles of God as “the Law-maker, the Law-applier, and the Law-executor.”

• The Hebrew word translated “lawgiver” is chaqaq. It sounds like the action it describes. Imagine an ancient scribe with mallet and chisel in hand carving words into stone or clay tablets. The word literally means “to cut or hew (out/in/on/upon), inscribe, or engrave” and thus came to mean “to decree or enact” as in the ancient mediterranean world law codes were often chiseled into hard material. We read in at least 10 different places in the Bible that God himself inscribed the tablets handed to Moses on Mount Sinai with the Ten Commandments: Exo 24:10; 31:18; 34:1; Deu 4:13; 5:22; 10:2,4; 2Ki 17:37; Hos 8:12.

• Likewise, God says that in the time of the new covenant ““I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write [chaqaq] them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. Jeremiah 31:33. See also Matt 22:37-39,Romans 13:10, Ga 5:14)

• The particular form of chaqaq used in Jeremiah 31 may be used not only signify one who inscribes statutes for his people, but also one who is a chief military commander. It is for this reason that – though many translations translate God’s role here as “lawgiver” (ASV, ESV, KJV, NASB, NIV, NLT) – some use language which describes the action of military leaders, such as “commander” (NET) or “ruler” (NRSV, RSV). These follow the nuance of the first translators into the Greek Septuagint (LXX) who used the Greek word archon (ruler, leader, commander) to translate the Hebrew chaqaq.

• The laws given by God to Moses were specifically for the people of Israel but do teach his will and give principles that are applicable for any people. They also give us glimpses into the eternal nature of God, what he values, how he acts, what he knows to be right and wrong. The Jewish “Torah” is the first five books of our Bible. Scripture makes clear that the OT Law was something to be obeyed, revered and treasured. (Psalms 1:2; 19:7; 119:18, 72, 165; Isaiah 42:21)

  - Paul writes that the law is holy, righteous and good. Romans 7:12 - Jesus was brought up under the customs of the law. (Luke 2:27)

• While the OT law was given by God and to be valued, it was never intended to produce righteousness in us or to provide salvation. The law actually shows that none of us could ever fully keep its requirements, pointing to the need for a Savior.

  • -  For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. John 1:17 (See also Romans 3:19-22a, 6:14 Galatians 2:16, 3:11, Hebrews 10:1, Acts 13:38-39

  • -  The law was our guardian until Christ came; it protected us until we could be made right with God through faith. And now that the way of faith has come, we no longer need the law as our guardian.Galatians 3:24-25

  • -  The OT law and prophets pointed to Jesus:- Lu 24:44, John 1:45,15:25

• Isaiah prophesies a future time when there will be no more war and people from many nations will stream to God’s temple saying, “Come, let us go ... to the house of Jacob’s God.There he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths.” For the Lord’s teaching will go out from Zion; his word will go out from Jerusalem Isaiah 2:3 (also in Rev.21-22:5)

Meditation/Memory:
Lower Grades:
Your instructions are more valuable to me than millions in gold and silver. Psalm 119:72 (NLT)

Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Matthew 22:37-39 (NLT)

Middle Grades: Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. Psalm 1:1-3 (NLT)

But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day,” says the Lord. “I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. Jeremiah 31:33 (NLT)

Upper Grades:

The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living. Psalm 19:7-8 (NLT)

“But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day,” says the Lord. “I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. And they will not need to teach their neighbors, nor will they need to teach their relatives, saying, ‘You should know the Lord.’ For everyone, from the least to the greatest, will know me already,” says the Lord. “And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.” Jeremiah 31:33-34 (NLT)