The Case Law God
. . . that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Romans 3:26 ESV
Just – In our thinking, justice means following the rule of law. But in the ancient Near East, justice is conformity to prior paradigm cases and traditions. In our world, a legal structure exists that can be interpreted, modified or expanded. There is no legal structure in the ancient Near East. Instead, these cultures viewed justice as a sequence of case-law examples which act as models for current circumstances. In the ancient Near East, law does not exist in abstraction. Law is always found in practical traditions. “Today we think of justice as that which conforms to the law. For them justice was that which conformed to traditions reflected in the paradigms.”[1]
Mendenhall suggested that Israel was not led by a system of legal prescriptions enforced by social control. That’s the way we think of the relationship between justice and law. But ancient Israel was a covenant community. Its foundation was based in values, not controls. The values incorporated in God’s love for His people are expressed in the desire to serve Him according to His wishes. This is not the same as viewing the commandments as if they were societal enforced regulations. In other words, the reason the covenant community adopts the commandments as obligatory is not because God is a law-giver but because God is a lover.
For just one minute, consider what this means for our interpretation of Scripture. People often ask me why Sunday can’t be honored as the Sabbath. Why can’t we just choose a day that fits into our culture? The answer is history, not legislation. The Ten Commandments include honoring the Shabbat. If I am grafted into the commonwealth of Israel, then I adopt its traditions as my practice. I follow its “laws,” that is, the way that Israel does things. And the way Israel does things is determined by the way Israel has always done things, namely, following the ways of the case-law God. Israel’s practices set the paradigm for my practices. It’s not a matter of governing rules. It is a matter of community continuity.
If I want to be Christian, I adopt a different set of traditions. I worship on Sunday. I celebrate Christmas and Easter. I observe Lent. I say certain creeds and use certain prayers. I adapt my way of doing things to the Christian way of doing things. The issue is not grace versus law because it was never about “no rules” versus “rules.” It is about which set of paradigm cases govern my behavior. Once we realize that all religions adopt certain paradigm standards of behavior, we no longer see any point in arguing over grace and law. The discussion turns to which paradigm cases set the biblical behavior patterns and which do not. If my behavior is based in the biblical paradigms, then I am a follower of the YHWH of Scripture. If they do not, then I am not. I might be a follower of some other version of YHWH or even of another god, but I can’t claim that I am a follower of YHWH of Scripture. My behavior says otherwise.
It comes down to this: do I accept and follow the paradigm cases of Scripture or do I follow the case examples of some other origin? The question is the same whether I claim to be Christian, Jewish or Messianic. Sort out the origin of the traditions and then decide.
Topical Index: just, dike, law, tradition, paradigm, Romans 3:26
Very well stated Skip.
I recently heard a teaching that unless one understands the Yeshua of Scripture, they may follow another Jesus who will be such a charismatic leader, he has the powers of persuasion to deceive many to follow him to destruction…and once Jesus (false Messiah) takes control, then Yeshua returns. The Jesus that sets up the abomination of desolation will do so contrary to the prescribed manner pleasing to YHWH and will set himself up above YHWH. Many not knowing the way of YHWH will follow thinking they are following the Messiah. Very serious, very scary to think about the multitudes who think they are following/loving Christ, but do not obey His commands.
Well said, thank you.
Now not only I am confused I’m scared for me and for so many millions that have even given up everything because they are sure that what they are doing is pleasing to our Lord quoting so many out of context verses. My family, my extended family, is catholic and when I sit with them and listen to their prayers and go to mass because some member of our family that day died so many years ago I feel so sad because if I open my mouth they jump like lions defending their believes that all I do is close my mouth and shut up. There is only one thing I am sure I can do for them and for me and I humbly ask for you to help in this please pray for me and for my family and so many others.
“The issue is not grace versus law because it was never about “no rules” versus “rules.” ”
This is a very powerful sentence, something I have tried to articulate many times — either to other people,.. or to myself for my own sanity.
In regards to parenting and raising children, I realize that EVERY parent draws the line SOMEWHERE, … even the parents who let their kids ‘get away with murder’ – still struggle and have conflict with their children (often moreso than “strict” parents). We have the same choice in our lives, we choose where to draw the line. We make boundries, we must say no to things, we restrict ourselves from certain actions, ect — the question is whether we let culture or Torah decide where the battle lines are drawn.
The calorie-counting dieter is often much more “legalistic” about what they eat, than someone who follows dietary Torah restrictions.
Thank you Skip – I love logic. This so clearly shows the pitfalls of dogma and tradition vs the Word of YHVH. His Way is life – choose life.