Why Did God Give So Many Laws? (Deuteronomy 14-25)

A Few Thoughts to Consider

Have you ever read books of the Bible like Deuteronomy and thought to yourself, why did God give so many laws, and how do they apply to me today?

In Deuteronomy 14-25, we read a list of laws that includes regulations on tithing, guidelines for the treatment of slaves, rules related to agricultural practices, provisions for debt relief, laws regarding charitable practices, inheritance rights, and the punishment for false witnesses in legal proceedings. In Deuteronomy 18:9-14, God gives the following instructions to his people:

⁹ “When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not imitate the detestable customs of those nations. ¹⁰ No one among you is to sacrifice his son or daughter in the fire, practice divination, tell fortunes, interpret omens, practice sorcery, ¹¹ cast spells, consult a medium or a spiritist, or inquire of the dead. ¹² Everyone who does these acts is detestable to the Lord, and the Lord your God is driving out the nations before you because of these detestable acts. ¹³ You must be blameless before the Lord your God. ¹⁴ Though these nations you are about to drive out listen to fortune-tellers and diviners, the Lord your God has not permitted you to do this.

This tells us something about the purpose of these laws. While the nations around Israel had embraced human sacrifice and Satanism, God wanted something different for his people. The purpose of these laws was to give them a physical demonstration of holiness—a separation of all that was common and ordinary. But this raises the question: How do these laws apply to us today? Tim Mackie says,  

The laws are part of one unified story that demonstrates God’s character, wisdom, and the pitfalls of human nature. Just because a law wasn’t quoted in the New Testament doesn’t mean it’s without value. We can find wisdom for our contemporary context in all of the laws. All of the laws can be applied to a contemporary context and adapted for a new setting—even Jesus does this. While the commandment “do not murder” is immediately applicable to any context, Jesus applies it to a broader context when he says the sin of murder starts in the human heart as contempt, pride, and superiority (Matt. 5:21-22).^[1]

Some have organized the laws into three categories: Moral, ceremonial, and civil. My professor in college, Alan Brown, created what he called the UP/SA principle: Universal Principle or Specific Application. This means that some laws are binding on all humans throughout history while others were only given to a specific people group at a specific time.

This isn’t to say specific laws, such as ceremonial and civil laws, should be dismissed because they teach us something about God’s character. For example, in one sense, Deuteronomy 22:1, which says, “If you see your brother Israelite’s ox or sheep straying, do not ignore it; make sure you return it to your brother,” doesn’t apply to us today. But in another sense, it helps us understand God’s character and that he wants us to care for animals.

A Meditation to PRAY

Praise | I praise you for your wisdom that stands above all earthly understanding. You created your laws for a perfect purpose for those who needed them. I am in awe of your desire to keep us set apart and aligned with your truth.

Release | I release the temptation to turn to the ways of the world. Help me to turn away from false and misleading paths and to resist what you have forbidden. 

Ask | I ask for discernment and a steadfast spirit to seek only your truth. Guide me in your wisdom and teach me to walk in the light of your commandments, not being deceived by the darkness of the world.

Yield | I yield to your guidance and your will. Keep my heart and soul devoted solely to your way.

A Challenge to Act Like Christ