The Law. October 7 A Year of Jubilee [6] October 14 The Shema [7] October 21 Don t Forget! [8] October 28 Caring for the Poor [9]

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1 [ I LLUMINATE ] STUDY GUIDE Exodus, Leviticus, Deuteronomy The Law Unit 1 September 2 God s Introduction [1] September 9 Honoring the Lord [2] September 16 Keeping Relationships Healthy [3] September 23 The Day of Atonement [4] September 30 Loving My Neighbor [5] Unit 2 October 7 A Year of Jubilee [6] October 14 The Shema [7] October 21 Don t Forget! [8] October 28 Caring for the Poor [9] Unit 3 November 4 Cities of Refuge [10] November 11 Firstfruits and the Tithe [11] November 18 Blessings for Obedience [12] November 25 Repentance and Restoration [13] Illuminate Study Guide (USPS ), Editorial and business office, 211 N. Meridian St., # 101, Newberg, Oregon 97132, is published quarterly by Barclay Press (publisher of Christian education curriculum for the Evangelical Friends Church North America Region) at 211 N. Meridian St., # 101, Newberg, Oregon. $8.30 per quarter. Second-class postage paid at Newberg, Oregon. POSTMASTER Send address changes to 211 N. Meridian St., # 101, Newberg, OR Printed in U.S.A. Scripture text New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1989, 1995 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. [ ILLUMINATE] F RIENDS BIBLE STUDY September, October, November 2012 fall quarter Volume 2, Number 1 Editorial Team: Cleta Crisman, Dan McCracken, Aj Schwanz, Ron Woodward, and Judy Woolsey

2 not to abolish but to fulfill. Some likely will ask, Why are we studying the Old Testament law? Wasn t it completely fulfilled by the life, death, and resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ? And doesn t it have in it all kinds of regulations that are not even remotely applicable to us today? (Of course, the answer to the last two questions is yes. ) What Jesus actually said was, Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. (Matthew 5:17) Christ s fulfillment of the law means at least two things: 1. His life, death, and resurrection free us from the law s demands and open the way to our salvation, not by a dogged determination to obey all of the law s demands, but simply by faith in Christ a salvation based entirely upon grace, not on human effort. In the words of Paul, Christ s death resulted in erasing the record that stood against us with its legal demands. He set this aside, nailing it to the cross. (Col. 2:14) 2. His life, death, and resurrection also set aside all of the Old Testament ceremonial laws, as well as the regulations that were purely designed for the Old Testament covenant community (e.g., dietary laws prohibiting the eating of certain foods). Having said all this, there are important reasons for Christians to study Old Testament law. For example, the Old Testament sacrificial system, as explained in the book of Hebrews, provides for us a remarkably detailed type, or prefiguring of Christ s death on the cross for our sins. But beyond that it s helpful to think about an ancient truism: the law was given so that grace might be sought; grace was given so that the law would be fulfilled. In the light of this, the law has two important functions for us: (1) The moral law, expressed supremely in the Ten Commandments, reveals God s expectations for humankind to live lives of holiness. Thus and so important for us the law shows us God s standard for conduct. And, (2) The law serves to reveal sin; it shows us how far we fall short of God s standard. (Paul illustrates this truth beautifully in the seventh chapter of Romans.) In this series of 13 lessons we will not only study the Ten Commandments but will also consider the Day of Atonement, the Shema in Deuteronomy 6, the Old Testament commands to love one s neighbor and look out for the poor, and other important passages that are relevant for us today. Enjoy the journey! Ron Woodward

3 Exodus 19:1-9a, God s Introduction 1 Study Goals To understand that the gracious covenant between God and his chosen people promised great blessing but also involved solemn obligations on the part of the children of Israel. To provide an introduction to the study of the Mosaic Law. To seek to comprehend the extent of God s love in establishing a covenant with an unworthy people-group. To discuss the significance of all of the supernatural phenomena surrounding Mt. Sinai as a means of impressing upon the people the seriousness of the covenant relationship. by Krista Burdine Introduction In this lesson we look at the Israelites preparations to enter into covenant with the God of the universe. Before beginning, let us discuss what we already know about covenants and contracts, both in the Bible and in today s world. Consider in particular different kinds of contracts when the parties are equal versus when one party carries the greater power. Preparation: Bring list of basic information about types of covenants and contracts to be discussed. ILLUMINATE EXODUS, LEVITICUS, DEUTERONOMY STUDY GUIDE God s Introduction /1a

4 Interact Exodus 19:1-4 Considering all that has transpired since God spoke to Moses from a burning bush (Exodus 3:1-12), how might Moses be feeling now as he climbs Mount Sinai with the nation of Israel camped below him? What leadership lessons can you draw from Moses? The fifty days between Passover and Pentecost are mirrored in the establishment of the Old Testament church and the New Testament church. Can you think of any other biblical examples of Old Testament events mirroring New Testament truths? (Jonah; Moses and the snake on the pole) Think of other contemporary expressions of caring for someone in trouble similar to God carrying the Israelites out of Egypt on eagles wings. Illuminate Exodus 19:1-4 Discover: The first day of the third month (v. 1) signifies forty-five days have passed since the people celebrated the first Passover. Add the day that Moses met with God on the mountain (v. 3), a day relaying God s message to the people and the people s response back to God (Exodus 19:7), and three days of purification (Exodus 19:10-11) before the giving of the Law. This makes fifty days between Passover and the institution of the Old Testament church. Future generations observe this fiftieth day after Passover as the Feast of Pentecost; in God s perfect orchestration, the New Testament church is instituted (see Acts 2) on this same holy day mentioned in verse one (R. Jamieson, A. R. Fausset, and D. Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, Logos Research Systems, 1997). Map: Use Internet tools such as Bible Map ( to find and trace the Israelites route from Egypt to Sinai. Allow group members to visualize the movement of two million people. The wilderness of Sinai (v. 2) refers to the rocky desert in the center of the Sinai Peninsula surrounding Mount Sinai. The isolation of the area means the large company has privacy, protection, and provision for the people and their herds as they camp at the base of the mountain. This area is known today as Jebel Musa (Jamieson, Fausset, Brown, Exodus 19:3). Word Picture: God describes his deliverance of Israel as carrying them on eagles wings (v. 4). When young eagles first fly, the mother eagle flies underneath to catch them if they fall (J. F. Walvoord, R. B. Zuck, and Dallas Theological Seminary, The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, Victor Books, 1985, p. 138). 1b\ The Law ILLUMINATE

5 Illuminate Exodus 19:5-9a Discover: Exodus 19:4-6 could be considered the crosshairs showing the point of the first five books of the Bible (J. E. Smith, The Pentateuch, 2nd ed., College Press, l993, p. 2). Allow group members to read carefully for the three-part justification for the challenge in verse 4, the dual conditions of the challenge in verse 5, and the three-part promise in verses 5-6 if the people can accept and fulfill the challenge. Signs: Exodus 3:12 contains a sign given to Moses from God through the burning bush: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall worship God on this mountain. This sign receives fulfillment as the people settle at the base of Sinai and prepare to worship (Exodus 19:2). God uses another sign to convey his authority upon Moses in the presence of the people. The cloud of his presence, already established as the people s guiding authority, settles upon Moses (v. 9). The cloud has been the most tangible sign of God s presence (F. H. Paschall and H. H. Hobbs, The Teacher s Bible Commentary, Broadman & Holman, 1972, p. 66). He never shows his face because he knows his holy presence would destroy the people, so the cloud represents God as it protects the people. Now the figurative presence rests symbolically on the man to demonstrate his choice of Moses. This cloud (and the presence of God descending from heaven in the next section) addresses an important theme in Exodus God physically coming to his people. He came to Egypt to deliver them from their distress (Exodus 3:8); now he comes to them personally to set up the terms of his covenant relationship (I. D. Campbell, Opening Up Exodus, Day One Publications, 2006, p. 79). Exodus 19:5-9a Why was it so significant that God demonstrate Moses authority in the presence of the people who had already followed him for more than two months? Do you think the people understood the significance of the challenge presented to them? Do you think it mattered how much they understood? Explain why or why not. Think of a way God has challenged you to follow him. Did you fully understand it at the beginning? How did God bring you along in your understanding as you obeyed his leading? EXODUS, LEVITICUS, DEUTERONOMY STUDY GUIDE God s Introduction /1c

6 Exodus 19:16-19 What were the five signs God gave to signify his presence on Mount Sinai (vv.16-19)? Try to imagine you were there. What would be going through your mind as these signs were happening? In what ways does God signify his presence today? How can we become more respectful of God s presence similar to the manner of respect he demanded from the Israelites in this passage? Living Out Exodus 19:1-9a, Pray together with the students, asking God to show you ways to express gratitude that would please God s heart. Illuminate Exodus 19:16-19 Discover: The drama of this passage indicates the absolute difference between God and humankind (Paschall, p. 79). In order to enter into this covenant relationship, the people have to respond first with verbal agreement and then with the physical action of multiple days worth of preparation. Word Study: God s appearance from heaven described here is known as theophany a physical manifestation of God s presence on earth. The descent of the cloud indicates God does not live in the mountain but merely comes for a visit. Other gods of the region are said to live in the mountains, so this dramatic movement in the sight of all Israel distinguishes him from other gods (Walvoord, V1, p. 138). The people understand the significance of this, as they beg Moses to protect them in Exodus 20: Symbolism: God comes with fire and in a cloud. The fire represents God s unapproachability and underscores the people s need for Moses as a mediator. It also demonstrates anger against the Israelites for the complaining they have already demonstrated in the weeks since their dramatic rescue from Egypt (K. Son, Zion Symbolism in Hebrews: Hebrews 12:18-24 as a Hermeneutical Key to the Epistle, Paternoster, 2005, p. 34). To mitigate the harshness of fire, the cloud represents protection. The symbolism of the cloud is consistent starting with the departure from Egypt: the cloud hid the people from the approaching Egyptian army, and then it led them into the desert. Now at Sinai, the cloud represents separation between the world of the people at the base of the mountain and the world of God s presence at the top of the mountain (Ibid). With the people unable to see God in his glory concealed within the cloud, they are protected from God s anger lashing out at them (Exodus 19:21). 1d\ The Law ILLUMINATE EXODUS, LEVITICUS, DEUTERONOMY STUDY GUIDE