Paradigm Exemplars (1)
But you shall keep my statutes and my rules and do none of these abominations, either the native or the stranger who sojourns among you. Leviticus 18:26 ESV
Rules/ abominations – The Hebrew word for “rules” in this verse is mishpat. If we think of this word the way that we understand “rules,” we will make a grave error. Our idea of rule is a principle or regulation that governs conduct. In other words, a rule is an enforceable stipulation about behavior. Whether it is about the curfew for adolescent children or the requirement to pay taxes to the government, rules are determined by those in power, duly authorized to demand compliance, or else.
But mishpatim aren’t rules. That’s why John Walton’s insight that the ancient Near East did not operate according to enforceable, legislated behavioral requirements is so important. Mishpatim are exemplars within the culture. They are the ways that people who live inside this culture act. They are the values of the culture, not its legislated morality. If I belong to the community whose Lord and Master is YHWH, then I embrace certain values that express His character and I behave accordingly. Mishpatim do not regulate my behavior. They demonstrate my values.
With this in mind, we can turn to the word to’evot (abominations). What is an abomination? Do you think that it is something so hideous, so immoral, that it ranks among axe murder, rape and incest? Remember the cultural background of the ancient Near East. Something is to’evah’ when it is loathsome and detestable. It may be physical, ritual or moral. It is something offensive to values of the culture. That means to’evah is determined within the culture and community, just like mishpat. And that means God defines what He finds offensive within the community of Israel. The world may not find some of these actions offensive. That doesn’t matter. They are not regulations for the world. They are offenses to the Hebraic biblical way of life. If we want to demonstrate with our behavior the values that God expresses with His words to His chosen community, then these to’evot will not be part of our actions.
We must understand this perspective in order to understand why homosexuality, slander and human sacrifice are in the same category as dishonest business practices and the eating of unclean animals. When it comes to offenses to God’s values, eating pork is the same as child sacrifice; ritual prostitution is the same as cheating a man with false weights and measures; and homosexual behavior is just as repugnant as lying. Forget the arguments about morality. Put aside the nurture/nature nonsense. None of these matter when it comes to embracing the culture of the Kingdom. If you want to be in God’s community, then you behave in ways that honor Him. End of story.
Topical Index: abomination, to’evah, rule, mishpat, Proverbs 6:16-19, Leviticus 18:26
Skip,
“They are not regulations for the world.” Then I wonder what Jonah preached at Nineveh that cause them to “repent”. What would they have repented “from” and changed “to”? And if there are no regulations for them to change “to”, why would they find it necessary to repent “from” whatever they were doing? 🙂
I suppose that if you are told that you will be exterminated from the earth unless you “repent,” you would find out what you need to do to change the outcome. And I suppose that since Nineveh shared the same Middle Eastern cultural understanding of the gods that we find in Israel, you would realize that if the God of Israel is going to eliminate you, then you better appeal to the God of Israel.
And, finally, of course, some of the things that the God of Israel expects are the general moral principles of virtually all cultures (cf. C. S. Lewis, The Abolition of Man)
Jonah preached coming death at the hands of God. That would be enough to wake up anyone who lived in that time since they all believed that life depended on the gods.
And would the “general moral principles of virtually all cultures” that the God of Israel expects be the summary of the Torah contained in the Decalogue?
And does not Jonah’s message apply to any culture that has turned from the Torah in order for the people to make up their own rules – be their own God?
I could almost say “Yes,” except for the tenth commandment which is utterly unenforceable in any culture without God. Of course, there is the issue of the 4th as well. So, some of them are obvious since no culture can survive if it encourages rape, murder, lying, stealing, etc. But the Shabbat? Coveting? Those depend on something more than human assessment of what keeps society together. By the way, in a day or two you will see something posted from a South African newspaper that clearly shows what happens when Nineveh dominates.
Hello Skip,
Great point on behavior management versus core values.
As I read your note, I notice how vs 26 was directed to all people with the Israelites. In the context of the general debate on the application of the Mosaic Law for Jew versus Gentile, this seems to support the broader application of God’s instructions.
I also wonder how your point in the last paragraph applies to Romans ch 14? ‘It seems’ Paul is attempting to teach about what is Kavod…. What are the weighty matters? Isn’t Paul saying what we eat or drink is not weighty matters? ‘It seems’ most of Lev ch 18 is about sexual sin – incest, homosexuality, bestiality, etc…. something God views as an abomination. Tying dietary laws to homosexuality seems to not align with Romans ch 14? What am I missing?
As Mark Nanos demonstrates, the real exegetical issue of Romans is “Who is Paul’s audience?” I commend Nanos’ work to you on this subject. If Paul is writing to Gentile believers who are not acting in ways that produce jealousy among Jews who have not yet accepted Yeshua as the Messiah, and who, because of their mistaken belief about “freedom” are causing Yeshua’s name to be dishonored, then his instructions concerning days and food, etc. are exhortations for these Gentiles to keep Torah in order that other Jews will see reason to come closer to Yeshua. In other words, those who are “weak in faith” are NOT Christian. They are the ones who have not yet accepted Yeshua as Messiah but are nevertheless aligned with YHWH. Read the passage again with this perspective in mind and see what changes.
I agree with Skip. I’m currently reading Nanos’ The Mystery of Romans. It really is a good book and worth a read. It think it not only helps your understanding of Romans, but your understanding of Paul’s letters and mission in general.
If you can’t buy or get a copy of the book at the moment, on Nanos’ personal blog there are many essays he has written and transcripts of lectures he has given that one can download. It probably won’t give you as a comprehensive argument as you would find in his books, but is still worth reading. (Especially his essays and lectures on Paul’s use of the Shema.)
I just can’t buy into the “original audience” idea as I wasn’t there- other than the idea (logos) of The coming Messiah was “even then” a great mystery.
“I am here or in a more Biblical parlance- (the Hebrew is “heneni!” )- “Here am I”.. and the “rest of the story” is it mine (and yours and his and hers) as well? “Send me” or (more Hebraicly as we now live in community)- “send us”. We (as we are now instructed in God’s word) are “ambassadors for Christ”- And are we also now “witnesses of these things?” And oh yes, let I forget, “Halleljuah!”- Praise to the God who now and “forever” reigns,- Yes, “in all these things” WE (that’s us folks!) are (now) more than conquerors through Him who loved us (and when exactly did He stop loving us?) NO. NO. and NO. “God so loved”-then and He still loves now, – ours is only the delight of discovery.
And until we do the Bible will remain to some (sadly) “only” a book of historical facts. It is a book of history, and more my friends, – for this “Divine Romance,” (I may say and know and share) is *His-Story.* If any man – any where can read this Book of books and come away from it not knowing Jesus (who is the) Christ is THE MESSIAH, is the Redeemer of ALL mankind, Jew AND Gentile, male AND female, Savior, my dear friends, of ALL nations, Israel included)- for He did come unto His own and Yes, Yeshua HaMashiach is (according to the flesh) is a Jew and born into a Jewish carpenter’s family and raised in the Jewish culture, and was crucified upon a Roman cross and walked out of a borrowed tomb and now lives to intercede for those who are called by His Name. ~ And (?) He who spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up FOR US ALL- (that is to say- “for us all”) how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? (Romans 8.32)
We are to live (according to God’s own instructions..) How? By faith. And where is this faith come from? What is the Source of faith? Is faith wishful thinking? Or stoic endurance? NO- to both. ~ What do the scriptures say? ~ ( I hope to have a mental tattoo of this burned into my brain) Remember, (please).
~ faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God ~ (Romans 10.17)
Three more of my most favorite words in all of my limited “kith” are these: “it is written.” You just can’t beat this with a stick!” Open your Bibles with me, please and read with me these words: “it is written!”
“Look and live my brother!- Live! Look to Jesus now and live! It’s recorded in God’s word- (Hallelujah!) it is only that you look and live!
Where and how and why is Jesus revealed unto us? The Living Word is known by and through the written word. Who is the Living Word of God? (Short answer?) ~ It is the LORD ~ Is this an educated guess or a wild stab in the dark? NO. -not at all.. Once again, (this time with feeling?) “It is written!” (rather fun too!)
~ He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and His Name is the Word of God ~ (Revelation 19.13)
What is the “Hebrew” word for this? (WoW?)
What else about the word of God? Shall we? May we? ~ What do the scriptures say? ~And the word of the LORD came unto… and then? How many times has this pattern been repeated?
God was able (somehow) to communicate with Adam. And then again with Abraham. And then again with Moses. And then again with David. And then again with him and her and him and her and then??
God became a man. The Word became flesh and lived among us. The Hebrew word for this? ( WoW!)
Impossible? How can the infinite become finite? Exactly. But… (yes, but..) ~ what do the scriptures say? ~ (he keeps returning and referring to this “it is written” theme- what’s up with that?) Friends, what do the scriptures say? ~ with God ALL THINGS are possible. The answer then is “Yes”- God did become a man and lived among us. (Have you heard and do you know the “rest of the story?”)
Tell me the story of Jesus. Write on my heart every word. Yes. Please.
We cannot , we must not ,we should not get away from IT IS WRITTEN.
We must tell HIS STORY and HIS STORY is the Plan IN THE MAN CHRIST JESUS.
So many are hurting and lost and need to find their way to THE DOOR of HIS HOUSE and many of the religious who will NOT ENTER are blocking the Door.
Yes Carl and the many others who confess JESUS and live for JESUS may we be totally committed to HIM as HE IS TO US.
May we be what the bible says “LIVING WITNESSES” of HIS LIFE in the here and the now.
GOD BLESS
Amen to Carl and Carol! (Sort of wish my name began with a “C”.)
But, at least, I do “C”.
I’m so selfish I believe the Bible was written that I may know and believe! ME. Here in MY days of life’s breath in this vale of tears.
Much danger and ship-wreck awaits when people get away from “it is written”
I have a book to recommend, I think you will both like it.
ONE BOOK, ONE AUTHORITY by Dr. Douglas D. Stauffer
“(Sort of wish my name began with a “C”.)
But, at least, I do “C”.”
Hi Dorothy,
In Hebrew the letter C signifies “fence” and the letter D signifies “door”
Personally, I don’t like being “fenced in” (C), but do like an open Door
Especially when it opens to a body of “water” M, like the ocean
Hi brother Michael,
It was a sort of tongue-in-cheek comment, but I like being fenced in by Jesus’ everlasting protection!
A small cottage with a picket fence seems cozier than not fenced. Down where I live ranchers do their best to fence in ALL that belongs to them, — every tumbleweed, critter, and low cloud. Then brand it. lol
“It was a sort of tongue-in-cheek comment, but I like being fenced in by Jesus’ everlasting protection!”
Hi Dorothy,
I understand but I like to think of Jesus as the “model” for mankind
And God as the one who protects us with his “fence”
In one of my favorite movies, Paul Newman plays an Indian called “Hombre”
Hombre is actually half Caucasian and his name means “man” in Spanish
On a rather crude, allegorical level, Hombre is a “Christ figure”
In the opening scene of the movie, Hombre is shown herding wild horses into a corral
To protect the horses, Hombre “fences them in”
As we watch the movie unfold, it becomes obvious that Hombre
Has more respect and love for his horses and tribe than for his fellow Americans
But Hombre ends up saving his fellow Americans from being killed by the outlaws
And Hombre dies in the process of returning the stolen money to his tribe
Of course, with the actor being Paul Newman, one cannot help but think
Of the martyr Paul, the first to model Jesus and become a “new man”
For you cuz
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdyl075EODQ
I like the Isaacs 🙂
I like the Isaacs too, and found one of my favorite songs when I listened to them
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LoZqvMryMs
SINÉAD O’CONNOR ::: FEEL SO DIFFERENT
God grant me the serenity
To accept the things I can not change
The courage to change the things I can
And the wisdom to know the difference
I am not like I was before
I thought that nothing would change me
I was not listening anymore
“But you shall keep my statutes and my rules and do none of these abominations, either the native or the stranger who sojourns among you.”
Leviticus 18:26
Hmmm
I think Jesus would have been aligned with the views from Judaism 101 below
And as a leader, the historical Jesus served as a role model for Jews to imitate
Paul opened the door for Gentiles to follow the laws and customs of the Jews
Judaism 101
Kashrut: Jewish Dietary Laws
The short answer to why Jews observe these laws is: because the Torah says so. The Torah does not specify any reason for these laws, and for a Torah-observant, traditional Jew, there is no need for any other reason. Some have suggested that the laws of kashrut fall into the category of “chukkim,” laws for which there is no reason. We show our obedience to G-d by following these laws even though we do not know the reason. Others, however, have tried to ascertain G-d’s reason for imposing these laws.
In his book “To Be a Jew”, Rabbi Hayim Halevy Donin suggests that the dietary laws are designed as a call to holiness. The ability to distinguish between right and wrong, good and evil, pure and defiled, the sacred and the profane, is very important in Judaism. Imposing rules on what you can and cannot eat ingrains that kind of self control, requiring us to learn to control even our most basic, primal instincts.
“If I belong to the community whose Lord and Master is YHWH, then I embrace certain values that express His character and I behave accordingly. Mishpatim do not regulate my behavior. They demonstrate my values. ”
Absolutely! These values will come naturally from a Ruach-filled, Ruach-alive Torah Bible Believer.
No rules need be voiced, nor regulated in our behaviours, but the actions in our lives will demonstrate the KIngship of the Community we belong to.
It is the sweet obedience of a renewed, regenerated mind of following, serving our Beloved Meshiach.
Hi skip,
Your teachings are a blessing to me! Praise God. He makes no mistakes in directing our lives and the people He brings into contact with each of us.
I have a question regarding the eating of unclean foods. Jesus talks about that which goes into the mouth does not defile the body. Meat for the belly and the belly for meat. However, it is that which overflows the heart and comes out of the mouth that defiles. (Paraphrasing totally mine!)
Your thoughts on this??