The “Weakness” of the Law – A Kingdom Catechism

The “Weakness” of the Law

A Kingdom Catechism

God overcame the weakness of the Old Testament Law.

Q 11: Were the people of Israel able to fulfill God’s purpose for giving them His Law?

A 11: The people of Israel failed to realize the purpose and promise of God’s Law because, in the main, they did not have a heart disposed to obey God. (Deut. 5:29; Jer. 31:31, 32; Deut. 30:6-10)

Like all human beings, the people of ancient Israel had the Law of God written on their hearts so that their consciences would have the means to direct their thoughts and affections in the ways of love.

Further, they had the experience of having been redeemed by God and of knowing His glory in their midst. Besides this, they received the oracles of God in the form of His Law, so that they would know how to fulfill the demands of love for God and neighbors, and they were provided with priests, prophets, and kings to help them live within the framework of God’s covenant economy.

These provided powerful incentives for obedience and explain why, from time to time, the people of ancient Israel were able to enjoy seasons of covenant blessing with the Lord.

However, God lamented the fact that they did not have the inner transforming power to live consistently in obedience to Him, unto love for God and neighbors. This “weakness” in the Law of God He Himself would have to overcome. He did so through the work of our Lord Jesus Christ and the giving of His Holy Spirit.

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In the Gates is a devotional series on the Law of God by Rev. T.M. Moore, editor of the Worldview Church. He serves as dean of the Centurions Program of the Wilberforce Forum and principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe, a spiritual fellowship in the Celtic Christian tradition. He is the author or editor of twenty books, and has contributed chapters to four others. His essays, reviews, articles, papers, and poetry have appeared in dozens of national and international journals, and on a wide range of websites. His most recent books are The Ailbe Psalter and The Ground for Christian Ethics (Waxed Tablet).

Scripture quotations in this article are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, (c) copyright 2001, 2007 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.