Bible Readings for the Home Circle Part 109

"And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them. And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and _offered burnt offerings_ according to the number of them all: for Job said, _It may be that my sons have sinned_, and cursed G.o.d in their hearts. Thus did Job continually." Job 1:4, 5.

6. How early was this sacrificial system known?

"By faith _Abel_ offered unto G.o.d a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, G.o.d testifying of his gifts." Heb. 11:4. See Gen. 4:3-5; 8:20.

7. By whom was the ten commandment law proclaimed?

"And _the Lord spake unto you out of the midst of the fire_: ye heard the voice of the words, but saw no similitude; only ye heard a voice. And _He declared unto you His covenant, which He commanded you to perform, even ten commandments_; and He wrote them upon two tables of stone." Deut.

4:12, 13.

8. How was the ceremonial law made known to Israel?

"And the Lord called unto Moses, ... saying, _Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them_, If any man of you bring _an offering_," etc.

Lev. 1:1, 2. "_This is the law of the burnt offering, of the meat-offering, and of the sin-offering, and of the trespa.s.s-offering, and of the consecrations, and of the sacrifice of the peace-offering_; which the Lord commanded Moses in mount Sinai, in the day that He commanded the children of Israel to offer their oblations unto the Lord, in the wilderness of Sinai." Lev. 7:37, 38.

9. Were the ten commandments a distinct and complete law by themselves?

"_These words the Lord spake_ unto all your a.s.sembly in the mount out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice: _and He added no more_. And He wrote them in two tables of stone, and delivered them unto me." Deut. 5:22. "And the Lord said unto Moses, Come up to Me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee _tables of stone_, and _a law_, and _commandments_ which I have written."

Ex. 24:12.

10. Was the ceremonial law a complete law in itself?

"_The law_ of commandments _contained in ordinances_." Eph. 2:15.

11. On what did G.o.d write the ten commandments?

"And He declared unto you His covenant, which He commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and _He wrote them upon two tables of stone_."

Deut. 4:13.

12. In what were the laws or commandments respecting sacrifices and burnt offerings written?

"And they removed the burnt offerings, that they might give according to the divisions of the families of the people, to offer unto the Lord, as it is written in _the book of Moses_." 2 Chron. 35:12.

13. Where were the ten commandments placed?

"And he took and put the testimony _into the ark_, ... and put the mercy-seat above upon the ark." Ex. 40:20.

14. Where did Moses command the Levites to put the book of the law which he had written?

"Moses commanded the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord, saying, Take this book of the law, and _put it in the side of the ark_ of the covenant of the Lord your G.o.d." Deut. 31:25, 26.

15. What is the nature of the moral law?

"The law of the Lord is _perfect_, converting the soul." Ps. 19:7. "For we know that the law is _spiritual_." Rom. 7:14.

16. Could the offerings commanded by the ceremonial law satisfy or make perfect the conscience of the believer?

"Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, _that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience_." Heb. 9:9.

17. Until what time did the ceremonial law impose the service performed in the worldly sanctuary?

"Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers was.h.i.+ngs, and carnal ordinances, _imposed on them until the time of reformation_." Verse 10.

18. When was this time of reformation?

"But _Christ being come_ an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us." Verses 11, 12.

19. How did Christ's death affect the ceremonial law?

"_Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances_ that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross."

Col. 2:14. "Having _abolished_ in His flesh the enmity, even _the law of commandments contained in ordinances_." Eph. 2:15.

20. Why was the ceremonial law taken away?

"For there is a disannulling of a foregoing commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness (for the law made nothing perfect), and a bringing in thereupon of a better hope, through which we draw nigh unto G.o.d." Heb. 7:18, 19, R. V.

21. What miraculous event occurred at the death of Christ, signifying that the sacrificial system was forever at an end?

"Jesus, when He had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.

And, behold, _the veil of the temple was rent in twain_ from the top to the bottom." Matt. 27:50, 51.

22. In what words had the prophet Daniel foretold this?

"And He shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and _in the midst of the week He shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease_." Dan. 9:27.

23. How enduring is the moral law?

"Concerning Thy testimonies, I have known of old that _Thou hast founded them forever_." Ps. 119:152.

The Two Laws Contrasted

The Moral Law The Ceremonial Law Is called the "royal law." James Is called "the law ... contained 2:8. in ordinances." Eph. 2:15.

Was spoken by G.o.d. Deut. 4:12, 13. Was spoken by Moses. Lev. 1:1-3.

Was written by G.o.d on tables of Was "the handwriting of stone. Ex. 24:12. ordinances." Col. 2:14.

Was written "with the finger of Was written by Moses in a book. 2 G.o.d." Ex. 31:18. Chron. 35:12.

Was placed in the ark. Ex. 40:20; Was placed in the side of the ark.

1 Kings 8:9; Heb. 9:4. Deut. 31:24-26.

Is "perfect." Ps. 19:7. "Made nothing perfect." Heb. 7:19.

Is to "stand fast forever and Was nailed to the cross. Col.

ever." Ps. 111:7, 8. 2:14.

Was not destroyed by Christ. Matt. Was abolished by Christ. Eph.

5:17. 2:15.

Was to be magnified by Christ. Was taken out of the way by Isa. 42:21. Christ. Col. 2:14.

Gives knowledge of sin. Rom. 3:20; Was inst.i.tuted in consequence of 7:7. sin. Leviticus 3-7.