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The Dispensation of Law From the 21-fold Plan of God Favorable beginning: Israel at the beginning of this dispensation saw the power of God in signs and wonders in Egypt and the wilderness. He made personal appearances to them (Ex. 24:9-11; Josh. 5:13-15) and spoke with an audible voice (Dt. 5:22-24). There were visible manifestations of His presence day and night (Ex. 14:19-21). God took sickness from Israel (Ex. 15:26; 23:25; Ps. 105:37; 107:20); gave them the riches of Egypt (Ex. 12: 35; Ps. 105:37); gave them revelations and a complete code of laws; made covenants with them; and gave them the gospel (Gal. 3:8; Heb. 4:2). Test: To obey the law of Moses in every detail (Ex. 19:8; 24:3, 7). Purpose of God: To test Israel to see if they would obey Him; to begin a commonwealth of nations headed by Israel and governed by men of His governed by men of His own choice; to establish a visible system of worship that would picture the coming redemptive truths in every detail; to bring about the complete destruction of the giant races by the sword of Israel so as to bring the Messiah into the world through pure Adamite stock (as predicted in Gen. 3:15); to give Israel His complete revelation for the whole human race which, according to His promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, would make them a blessing to all nations. The entire Old Testament was written in this dispensation. God’s purpose in giving the law was that the whole world might become guilty before Him and every mouth be stopped (Rom. 3:19-20; 4:15; 5:13; 7:5-14; Gal 4:21-31; 5:1). The law was a shadow of good things to come and was added because of transgression (willful disobedience) until the seed should come (Mt. 11:11-13; Lk. 16:16-17; Gal. 3:12-25; Col. 2:14-17; Heb. 8:5; 9:1-10; 10:1). This law is now abolished. Means of God in accomplishing His purpose: The giving of the law, the completion of the organization of Israel to destroy the giant races, the settling of Israel in the promised land to utilize them there as an outstanding nation showing forth the benefits at serving the true God - these were the means of God to accomplish His purpose. Failure – 7-fold: (1) Failure in the wilderness. (2) Failure under Joshua (Josh. 7-9). (3) Failure under judges (Judg. 1-2). See Length, above. (4) Failure under kings. Nearly every king of Israel and Judah failed after the division of the kingdom, and the people went into such apostasy that the nation was brought into captivities (2 Ki. 17; 25). (5) Failure in captivity (Ez. 2:3-3:9; Jer. 1:1-22:30). (6) Failure in restoration from captivity (Ezra 10; Neh. 13; Hag. 1; Mal. 1:1-4:6). (7) Failure in rejecting their own Messiah and the gospel (Mt. 5:20; 6:1-18; 11:20-27; 12:22-30; 15:1-20; 16:1-12; 23; 26:57-27:66; Jn. 5; Acts 2:11-38; 3:1-5; 6:8-8:3; 9:1-9; 12:1-19; 13:41-52; 22:1-28:24). Judgment for Sin – 2-fold: (1) Judgment of the sins of Israel and of the whole world in the cross of the Messiah (Jn. 12:27-33; 19:16-30; Acts 2:36; Phil. 2:5-11; Col. 2:14-17; 1 Pet. 2:24). (2) Judgment on Israel as a nation. The kingdom of God was taken from them (Mt. 21:33-46), the nation was rejected to be desolate until the 2nd arrival of the Messiah (Christ) (Mt. 23:37-39), and it was completely destroyed in AD 70, with survivors being scattered among the other nations (Lk. 21:20-24; Dt. 28; Lev. 26) God's provision of redemption: In the cross God provided the true source of redemption (1 Cor. 1: 18-24; Col. 1: 12-20; 2:14-17; 1 Pet. 2:24). Up to this time man offered sacrifices of animals as a picture of the true sacrifice at Calvary (Heb. 8-10). God sent His Son to take the place of all men in death, so that they might be fully redeemed, reconciled, and restored (Ps. 8; Gal. 3:13; Eph. 2:11-18; Heb. 2:9-18; 1 Pet. 1:18-23). Thank you Finis Jennings Dake and Dake Publishing |
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