Sermon Tone Analysis

INTRODUCTION:

We often as Christians accidently neglect parts of our Faith.

- Perhaps that comes as a surprise.

>>>>>>>>>and You say really!

But the answer is Yes.

- We as created beings are limited in every way - strength, knowledge, time, skills … and thus we often accidently and with good intentions forget about parts of our faith.

For example,

The Holy Spirit is often called the forgotten person of the Trinity.

Paul Tripp often describes what he calls “Gospel Amnesia” - in Other words we live forgetting what Christ has done.

And for many Christians - we live without regard to the Law.

We live as though the Old Testament Law has nothing to say to us.

It is the neglect of the Old Testament Law that I want to draw our attention too.

The one part of the Law that we always remember - is that we are not under the Law.

- “since you are not under law but under grace.”

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- “since you are not under law but under grace.”

But does that mean -

The Law has no purpose in our lives?

Is the Law a piece of Scripture that we no longer need?

Does that mean it no longer has authority over our lives?

>>>> After-all, we can’t be legalistic - can we!

What I would like to suggest this morning is that the Law teaches us Godly Wisdom, and the NT reaffirms that the Law is valuable for living wise, Godly lives.

Our text this morning is a great description of the Law!

{{{For many we consider the Law a curse!

But the Law was far from a curse, and in fact a blessing of God.}}}}

Recounts the Blessings God has bestowed on the

- Created World,

- Abraham,

- and Israel.

But I would like us to return to and take a closer look at how Ezra describes the Law as a blessing.

This morning, I would to challenge you that -

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PROPOSITION: We ought to seek wisdom from the OT Law

TRANSITIONAL STATEMENT: And this morning we will understand 2 reasons why.

First,

We will understand that - The Old Testament Law was a blessing to Israel.

Then,

We will understand that - The Old Testament Law is Still A Blessing for Christians Today.

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So first,

1) The Old Testament Law was a blessing to Israel.

What comes to mind when you hear the Mosaic Law?

For Christians, the law brings many images - but none of them good.

- Often the Law bores us as we read the long list of commands and requirements.

We might even think - who could ever obey all these commands.

- For others, the Law brings feelings of guilt and oppression as we consider the impossibility of keeping the Law.

And those feelings are not entirely without warrant.

Consider, -

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Given an account like that - we can understand why we act as though the Old Testament law is boring and awful.

Certainly the Law brings Guilt,

And the Cross is so much better news then keeping the Law.

But may we not be so quick to throw away the Law.

Is the law the problem?

Or is the problem the sinfulness that the Law judges?

Consider who spoke the Law to Moses!

Is a God a person who speaks evil, and harshness?

Or is God a good, truthful, and loving God?

Ezra describes the Law as showing the wisdom and character of God.

And thus because he spoke it - the Law is good, wise, and truthful.

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So Ezra describes the Law as being -

(a) Right rules (judgments).

“13 You came down on Mount Sinai and spoke with them from heaven and gave them right rules”

 You came down on Mount Sinai and spoke with them from heaven and gave them right rules and true laws, good statutes and commandments, 14 and you made known to them your holy Sabbath and commanded them commandments and statutes and a law by Moses your servant.

In this case, I actually prefer the KJV when it says “right Judgments”.

The Word the ESV translates “rules” is a pretty common word for judgement.

It’s Verb form means to judge.

In other words, the Law is a list of correct or righteous judgments from God.

ILLUSTRATION:

Have you wished you had list of what is right and proper actions.

You are struggling with what is wise and right in an ethical situation.

And the reality is you do have that - isn’t the Law a long list of righteous or correct judgement.

Without th

Without telling to keep the requirements of the Law- because no one can.

Rom 3:20teaches us that no

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This is why we need Christ.

Christ is righteousness without the Law.

And yet at the same time, the Law is a set of right judgments.

And in that way the Law is meant to give us practical wisdom for everyday living.

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In fact, teaches us the Law was meant to make Israel wise.

We may not be under the Law,

but we can still learn from the Wisdom of the Law.

We can still profit from the wonderful list of right judgments that God has bestowed upon us.

In other words - we do have list for what is right and wrong - from which we can learn to live wisely.

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Further, Israel was given

(b) True laws.

“and true laws”

“and true laws”

What does that mean?

contrasts the Words of humanity with the Words of God - and how do they compare?

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Humanity’s words are summed up as wicked.

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But God’s Words are Holy and Just.

Because of the one who spoke the Law to Moses,