The Pillars of Life

Wednesday, March 21, 2024

Lesson 83

I. OT Background (Four Parts)

A. Torah, Law (Genesis - Deuteronomy).

B. History (Joshua – Esther).

C. Writings, Poetry…(Job – Song of Songs).

D. Prophets (Isaiah – Malachi).

II. The OT Pillars

A. Hesed Love

B. Emeth Truth

C. Shalom Peace

D. Mishpath Justice

E. Zedaqah Righteousness

F. Qawah Hope, Trust, Wait

G. Hokma Wisdom

H. Tov Good (Goodness)

I. Simhah Joy

J. Batah Trust

K. Racham Compassion, Mercy

L. Teshuah Yeshuah Salvation

M. Emunah Faithfulness

N. Tebunah Understanding

O. Daath Knowledge

III. Simhah Joy – Torah, Law

A. Opening Thought: E. Stanley Jones, Victorious Living, p.303 (1936)

Now that we have spoken of the cross, we can turn to the topic of joy. For the Christian, Joy is won out of the heart of pain. It has a certain quality that distinguishes it from lesser joys. Revelation 15:3 speaks of those who sing “the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb.” Actually, there are three notable songs: the song of Nature, the song of Moses, and the song of the Lamb.

The song of Nature is the song of the strong triumphing over the weak. I heard a bird singing happily with a quivering dragonfly in its mouth. It beat the insect from one side to another and interspersed the ghastly killing with cheerful singing. Such a song comes out of the lower nature – it is a song mingled with the pains of others. Hunger and power are satisfied, even though it costs lives.

Many sing that song. Their joy comes from personal advantage, no matter what it may cost others. They rejoice that they have gained in the stock market, even though their gain was somebody’s loss. They rejoice in business success, even though they may have pushed somebody else to the wall. It is the joy of knowing that the head of John the Baptist is off, even though they do not like the sight of it on a platter in front of them. They have won. That is enough.

There is a slightly higher joy in the song of Moses (see Deut. 32). It is the song of limited rights, an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth. We rejoice that we got even with someone. Our sense of rough justice is satisfied. We often sing the song of Moses. We go through life getting satisfaction out of strict justice. That too is superficial and precarious.

B. Scriptures: Torah Law

1. Genesis 31:22- 27 (27)

2. Numbers 10:8-10 (10)

3. Deuteronomy 28:45-47 (47)