Introduction: Read Exodus22to23v9

God gave the Law at a specific time in the history of God's people. The individual laws especially apply to the day in which they were given. Some are no longer applicable because conditions have changed or because Jesus has brought the Law to completion.

The Law reflects God's concern for his people. It was given for the people's benefit - not for God's benefit. The Law was not given to be a burden or as a means of earning God's favour. Rather the Law was given to meet his people's need. As a consequence I consider that the Law remains relevant. It discriminates between behavour beneficial to society and behaviour detrimental to society. It is amazing to what extent our modern laws coincide with God's ancient laws.

(1) The Law satisfies a desire for justice. 22v3: A thief must certainly make restitution, but if he has nothing, he must be sold to pay for his theft.

So a person was expected to make restitution if he caused loss through theft, negligence or incompetence.

In our society this principle is applied very inconsistently. There are occasions when a person is asked to pay damages. For example if a rambler lets his dog loose among a lot of pregnant ewes he would be asked to pay damages. However, insurance companies protect most folk from having personally to make huge payments for negligence, accident and incompetence. Doctors, dentists, tree surgeons, teachers, motorists are insured against causing harm to others. Finally there are some circumstances where a person suffers great loss and there is no recompense. It is a disgrace that many victims of fraud have to bear the cost themselves. Reckless business men and financiers may go bankrupt and ruin the numerous creditors to whom they owe money. These crooks in everything but name are no compelled to make restitution.

I know a dealer who sold £70, 000 of grain to a large animal feedstuffs company that went bankrupt. He never got his money and was left with farmers to pay for the grain he had sold on. The dealer took out a second mortgage on his house and paid the farmers. He bore the loss. No restitution was made to him.

There are aspects of business life where injustices abound and it causes resentment and dissatisfaction in society.

If Christians engage in a risky activity they should certainly protect others from the consequences of their incompetence or negligence by taking out insurance. This is not something we should resent. God is concerned that those who suffer loss through no fault of their own should receive restitution.

(2) The Law fosters a responsible attitude to other people's property. 22v14: If a man borrows an animal from his neighbour and it is injured or dies while the owner is not present, his must make restitution.

There are people who take very good care of their own property - their house, garden, car and clothes but have a very cavalier attitude to that of other people. I can remember that many years ago we let a redundant pastor and his wife live in our manse which was empty at the time. We didn't charge any rent. When that family moved out they left our property in a terrible state.

I know a gentleman who hired a car and inadvertently topped up the petrol tank with diesel. He never took it back to the hire company and confessed what he had done. How different from the Christian who broke a wine glass belonging to the owner of the holiday flat he stayed in - and offered to pay for another one.

During my teaching career I considered myself in loco parentis - in the place of parents. It was my duty to treat my pupils like I might my own children. So it I had my own children in the classroom it would be quite wrong to favour them over the rest. Perhaps Christians should adopt this principle in the church. Some pastors irritate their flock by being much more indulgent with their own children than with the offspring of others. This was a failing of Eli and Samuel after him.

(3) The Law sets limits on personal freedom.

Certain activities were prohibited that caused public offence: sorcery, bestiality, idolatry, blasphemy and eating 'road kill'.

We still have laws like this - that uphold public decency. It is an offence to urinate or to be seen nude in a public place. Bestiality and necrophilia are both unlawful. You can be fined for throwing down litter or leaving your dog's mess on the pavement.

We should expect as Christians to accept limitations on our freedom for the benefit of others. The apostle Paul was very definite about this. He wrote about this topic in 1Corinthians10v14to33. Here is a quote from my exposition on this passage:

Followers of Jesus need to be very careful not to give offence where Christianity is a minority religion. I read an interesting article about Christianity in Gambia which is a 95% Muslim country. Pastor M, a convert from Islam to Christianity, tries to make the services in his church as culturally familiar as possible. Women and men sit on opposite sides of the church and kick off their sandals at the door. A new convert was expelled from the fellowship for smoking. It is outrageous for a woman from the Fula tribe to smoke and Pastor M wanted to emphasise that although Christians are free, we are called to 'be all things to all men.' As a Fula, that means not smoking. Pastor M knows that their behaviour is one of their key evangelistic tools.

Insisting that shoes are removed before entering church and banning smoking seem very legalistic to me. However, Paul would be in sympathy with Pastor M who is accommodating those with a conscience about these matters - the weak Christian.

I think Christian women in the West should be careful what they wear. Revealing clothes or very expensive outfits can be an offence to some Christians. It is wrong to flaunt your wealth - or your body. The latter offends against public decency.

(4) The Law protects the vulnerable.

The Israelites were told not to take advantage of the widow, orphan or alien. If the needy borrowed money they were not to charge excessive interest. If a man's cloak was taken as a pledge it had to be returned each night so he shouldn't suffer cold. Judges were instructed not to discriminate against the poor in law suits.

This is all very heartening. It shows that God is concerned that the poor and anxious should not be exploited.

That concern is reflected to a certain extent in British law. I think it is very proper that a minimum wage has been established by law and that, at last, the Government is taking steps to impose limits on the exorbitant interest that modern money lending firms like Wonga can charge.

I think Christians should support fair trade products. It is wrong that poor people in the Third World are paid a pittance for their labour or products just so we in the West can have dirt cheap goods. Christians should also set a good example and pay their bills promptly and not keep tradesmen waiting for their money.

(5) The Law prohibits being a party to injustice.

We can do this in a great variety of ways: spreading false reports, being a malicious witness, siding with the crowd, accepting bribes, claiming accomplishments we don't have and taking credit for other men's work.

In Britain perjury is a serious offence but there are many instances of injustice not covered by the law of the land. Rumour, spin and lies can be used to damage someone's reputation and chances of advancement. It is possible to use propaganda like the Nazis to demonise an entire people.

To bear false witness is one of the very worst things we can do. Satan did it in the Garden of Eden with fatal consequences. The priests did it before Pilate to get Jesus crucified. Legalistic Jewish emissaries from Jerusalem, the "super apostles," did it in Corinth to undermine Paul's authority and lead the local Christians astray.

Today it happens in politics, university departments, schools, businesses and even sports clubs. Wherever men and women seek power over others injustices will be rife. Christians should make sure that it doesn't happen in the church. I am afraid that nowhere is in fighting so prevalent as in the church!

(6) The Law encourages neighbourliness. For example: 23v4and5: If you come across your enemies ox or donkey wandering off, be sure to take it back to him. If you see the donkey of someone who hates you fallen down under its load, do not leave it there; be sure you help him with it.

There is no sanction attached to breaking this command. God is using the Law to set standards. It is impossible to make good neighbours by law. Nevertheless those intent on pleasing God will heed what he has to say. The injunctions of God can promote neighbourliness.

Today politicians, school teachers and preachers use their authority to encourage people to be good neighbours. Politicians realise that old folk are able to live in their own homes longer and thereby save the state a lot of money if they have caring neighbours. It makes a huge difference to a housebound old person if a neighbour volunteers to do their shopping or cut their grass. It is a life saver. We should feel privileged if we can make a positive contribution to someone's well being.

Very little of God's Law is old fashioned and irrelevant. The needs of the ancient Israelites were not so different from ours in the 21st century.