Sunday AM
Exodus #52
“Divine Justice”
Exodus 21:12-36
June 2, 2019
Intro:
Sometimes it hard for us to understand. Being New Testament folk, we sometimes scratch our heads when the psalmist says, “I love your law O, God.” Who loves the law? I love grace. I don’t like anyone telling me what to do. I don’t like restrictions. I want freedom. I’ll be the captain of my own soul, I’ll set my own course.
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Such an attitude reveals the wickedness of our hearts and a profound misunderstanding of the law. The law is good, right, holy and necessary. The law reveals the character of God. That’s why the psalmist loves it. The law reveals the life that is pleasing in the sight of God. That is why the psalmist said, “I will run in the way of your commandments when you enlarge my heart.” The law of God is a mirror that reveals the sinfulness of our soul. The law forces me to deal with my sin. “Right, so why love it? Confronting my sin is not a pleasant experience. Coming face to face with my depravity doesn’t make me happy.” I hope the law drives you to despair! I hope it causes you to lose all hope of ever being good enough to please God because then, and only then, will you experience the wonder of God’s grace and provision in the person of the Lord Jesus.
The people of God were huddled at the foot of the Mountain of God as Moses approached the thick darkness where God was. They trembled at the sound of his voice. As God spoke their hearts melted. Finally they cried, “Moses, you speak and we will listen but don’t let God speak to us anymore lest we die!” Moses, their mediator had entered the presence of God where he was given the law to bring back to the people. As we work through this section of Exodus we are reminded, at every turn, that the law is not limited to the Old Testament while grace is relegated to the New. Law and grace run together throughout the whole of Scripture. Law is anything God demands while grace if everything God provides. As God hands down the law, he extends his grace. It is my hope that as we explore the law you will come to love it. That you will see the beauty of God’s holiness, justice and mercy through the law. Our text this morning is found in Exodus chapter 21 beginning with verse 12.
Text: Exodus 21:12-36
We are in that section known as The Book of the Covenant. This is not a code of statutes but rather a series of “judgements” or “precedents” to be used as disputes are settled among the people of God. Rather than statutes governing ever conceivable crime these are principles or guidelines for apply to the law of God to various circumstances. The first 11 verses of chapter 21 dealt with slavery or indentured service. The rest of chapter 21 deals with capital crimes, personal injury and criminal neglect.
This text deals with everything from 1st degree murder to simple negligence.
As we work through this sections it becomes clear that…
Thesis: The law of God deals justly with everything from the most severe and profound to the most common and mundane with righteousness, equity and a sense of proportion.
There are three things I want to point out.
- The law of God demands justice in the case of the most severe crimes. (21:12-17)
- The law of God always tempers justice with a sense of proportion. (21:18-27)
- The law of God demonstrates that justice and proportion must be accompanied by equity. (21:28-36)
Conclusion:
Matthew 5:38-39 - You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also…
So what is Jesus saying? The law is about making things right when you are in the wrong. We only quote, “Eye for an Eye” when we are wronged, not when we wrong others. Jesus is saying, “You’ve got this backwards. When you are in the wrong you ought to make it right. You ought to do everything justice requires. But when someone wrongs you, you do not have to insist of strict justice. Instead you have the opportunity to offer mercy.”
This is what the Lord Jesus did. He suffered all manner of insult and injury on his way to the cross. Died he demand, “Wound for wound and bruise for bruise?” No, he prayed, “Father forgive them.” When he asks you to do the “impossible” he is only asking you to do what he did. When he asks you to show mercy, he is asking you to give what you’ve been given.
The law demands justice for the most severe crimes; such justice is tempered with proportion; this justice is accompanied by equity. The law of God is marked by righteousness, equity and proportion.
When it comes to justice on the personal level, we have the opportunity to demonstrate the wonder and glory of the mercy of God. Just has we have been freely given mercy, so we freely give.
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