Vol.X No.IV Pg.7
June 1973

?You Know What?

Robert F. Turner

Bro. Turner:

May I kindly request you to explain DEU.10:5 and DEU.31:24-26. Our Adventist friends are placing a distinction between the Law of God (10 com.) and the Law Moses.?

Reply:

The Ten Commandments were written on two tables of stone and places in the ark of the covenant (10:5), while the details and expansions of the law (being far more bulky and of necessity more often consulted) were places in a more accessible place beside the ark (31:24-26). The simple facts, as expressed in the passages, need no special explanation. It is the artificial distinction, read between the lines by special interest groups, that needs much more "explaining" than the Scriptures afford.

Both "books" were from God, and were considered as one. In NEH.8: we read that Ezra brought "the book of the law of Moses" before the people. In verse 8 it is called "the law of God," and verse 14 describes it as the law "that Jehovah hat commanded by Moses". In verse 18 it is called "the book of the law of Got".

While it is true that the Ten Commandments are the core or skeleton on which God's law to Israel was built, and by metonomy often stood for the whole covenant (as "Constitution" may represent the whole legal system of the U.S.A.) there is no Bible justification for making the Ten Commandments and the Covenant two distinct things -- one of which may be "taken away" (as a covenant with Israel) and keep the other (as "law" to all men.)

The two tables of stone which were in the ark, were called "the covenant" Jehovah, which He made with our fathers, when He brought them out of the land of Egypt". (1KI.8:9,21) The "Law of Moses" was commanded at Horeb (MAL.4:4), not at the time of Moses' last address (DEU.31:); and this is "the tables of stone, even the tables of the covenant," (DEU.9:8-11), which God made only with Israel (DEU.5:1-3). The sabbath is singled out as having special significance to the Israelites (5:15) and is called a "sign" between God and them. It, of all the ten, is the only one that is limited in duration to their "generations" (EXO.31:12, 16-17). It was "perpetual" and "forever" as related to that dispensation. (30:6-10)

In HEB.8:7-13 the "new" covenant is said to replace the "old". Paul was minister of the "new" testament ("covenant" AS) which was more glorious than that which was "done away" (2CO.3:6-11). But artificial distinctions will not help the Adventist cause. The "law" which had to die so that we could be married unto Christ (ROM.7:1-4) is identified in vs.7, as that which said, "Thou shalt not covet". While it is true that we are not under a "system of law" when Christ became our High Priest he brought His own law with Him (HEB.7:12), a "law" not related to the earlier priests. We can not be under both laws, for this is spiritual adultery (ROM.7:7).

Such references can be easily multiplied. Hence, we beg our Adventist friends to "cease and desist" making these artificial distinctions, and to find completeness in Christ.