Abraham Kept God’s Laws
Genesis 26:5
“Because Abraham obeyed
My voice
and kept My charge,
My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.”
In the midst of
reaffirming
the physical blessings to Isaac, God gives us this important description of Abraham. We learn that not only did Abraham obey what God explicitly told Him to do
(for example, leaving his homeland and being
willing to sacrifice Isaac),
but that he also obeyed
God’s commandments,
statutes and laws.
This verse is especially significant because it shows that the laws of God
existed long before
they were given
to
Israel through Moses.
What is typically called the Mosaic Law was given to
Israel
at Mount Sinai.
The giving of the law is recorded in
Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.
Some feel that
this law was
devised by Moses or only came
into being
at the time of
Moses.
The argument is that if the law was brought
into existence thousands of years into
human history
at the time of Moses, then it is not a
universal law and was
abolished through Jesus Christ.
The verse we are considering today shows that this argument is false.
The commandments, statutes and
laws of God
existed long before
Moses. God simply used Moses to record and codify those laws for Israel when they agreed to the covenant (Exodus 19:8). God is the ultimate Lawgiver (Isaiah 33:22; James 4:12).
Many examples exist of people having knowledge of
God’s law prior to its codification on Mount Sinai.
Two major examples are:
- Noah understood the laws about clean and unclean meats (Genesis 7:2). This law was later recorded in Leviticus 11.
- Joseph understood the commandment against adultery when Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce him (Genesis 39:7-9).
Psalm 23 portrays the close relationship David
enjoys with his God.
It begins with the metaphor of a
shepherd leading his lamb,
highlighting the Lord’s
personal care, guidance, and protection.
In the closing verses, the
imagery intensifies with even greater intimacy
as David is welcomed into the Lord’s house
as a permanent guest, continual resident,
and friend:
"You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever”
(Psalm 23:5–6, ESV).
David acknowledges that his standing with the Lord
is not like a visitor who is entertained once
and then must leave or as one who is invited to return
only occasionally
No, David rejoices that he
has been given
a
perpetual place setting at the
Lord’s table
Anointing a person’s head with oil was an ancient custom of
courtesy, respect, and hospitality shown toward guests.
In Psalm 23,
David sees himself as an honored guest of the Lord,
who invites him to dinner,
favorably anoints him,
and
pours out such
lavish abundance that David’s cup is filled to overflowing.
Goodness and mercy are depicted as attendants in the Lord’s
household who accompany
David for the
rest of his life.
The word for “goodness”
in the original language means “that which is
pleasing or valuable or useful.”
The term for “mercy” is sometimes translated as “loyal love,” “steadfast love,” or “unfailing love.”
The same
word is used of God’s love
as it relates to the
faithfulness of His covenant.
The verb translated as “follow” here means “to accompany, or to go with.”
It should not be understood as “pursue or run after.”
When David said,
"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,”
he was giving human-like qualities to abstract blessings of the Lord.
A paraphrase might be, “Because You, Lord, are good, pleasing, and valuable, and because You love me so faithfully, I am certain You will be with me all my life.”
David’s good and merciful Shepherd is the same
God who passed in front of Moses:
"The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness” (Exodus 34:6, ESV).
He is the same God to whom Israel sang,
“Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever” (1 Chronicles 16:34).
Even in the presence of his enemies,
David was sure of God’s goodness and faithful love
(Psalm 23:5).
As believers, we can trust that the Lord’s
overflowing blessings
will remain with us no matter what circumstances we face
(Psalm 27:13; 31:19; 69:16).
If we dwell in the house of the Lord continually,
we are under His constant protection:
“One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to
seek him in his temple.
For in the day of trouble he will keep me
safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the
shelter of his sacred tent and set me
high upon a rock”
(Psalm 27:4–5; see Psalm 52:8; 61:4; 63:2–4).
God is the perfect Shepherd and Host.
As our Shepherd, the Lord provides
personal care, guidance, companionship, protection, and security.
And as our eternal Host,
God welcomes us to feast at His rich table of abundant and
overflowing blessings.
We will abide in His house forever.
His presence, protection, and unfailing love will
surround us for all eternity.
And we can say with David,
“Surely
goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life!”
The Scripture has several words translated
"right"
and the usage of the term,
"right hand"
ranges from a direction, to the opposite of wrong, what is just or what conforms to an established standard, and to a place of
honor or authority.
In the case of division or appointment in the Bible, the
right hand or right side came first,
as when Israel (Jacob) divided the blessings to
Joseph’s sons
before he died (Genesis 48:13-14).
In addition, a person of high rank who put someone on
his right hand gave him equal honor with himself
and
recognized
him as possessing equal dignity and authority.
And this is what the
Apostle Paul
writes of Jesus Christ in Ephesians.
"And what is the surpassing greatness of
His power toward us,
the ones believing according to the working of His mighty strength which He worked in
Christ in raising Him from the dead,
and
He seated Him at His right hand in the heavenlies,
far above all principality and authority
and power and dominion,
and every name being named, not only in this world, but also in the coming age"
(Ephesians 1:19-21).
Here we see God exalting Jesus
above all others by
seating Him
at the right hand of the Father.
The term "God’s right hand" in prophecy refers to the
Messiah to whom is given the
power and authority
to
subdue His enemies
(Psalm 110:1; Psalm 118:16).
We find a quote in Matthew 22:44 from Psalm 110:1,
which is a
Messianic Psalm.
"The Son of David"
is
claimed by the LORD
Jesus Christ as
He is the
"greater son of David"
or the
Messiah
In this passage of Matthew 22,
Jesus questions the
Pharisees
about who they think
the "Christ" or the Messiah is.
"While the Pharisees were gathered together,
Jesus asked them, Saying,
What think ye of Christ?
Whose son is He?
They say unto him,
The Son of David.
He saith unto them,
How then doth
David in spirit
call him Lord,
saying, The LORD said unto my Lord,
Sit thou on my right hand,
till I make Thine enemies thy
footstool?
If David then call Him Lord,
how is
He his son?"
(Matthew 22:41-45, KJV).
The position of the Messiah is at
God’s right hand.
The fact that Jesus Christ is at the
"right
hand of God"
was a sign to the
disciples
that
Jesus had indeed
gone to heaven.
In John 16:7-15,
Jesus told the disciples
that He had to go away and He would
send the
Holy Spirit
So the coming of the Holy Spirit
in the
upper room
on the day of Pentecost
(Acts 2:1-13)
was
proof positive
that Jesus was indeed in heaven
seated at the right hand of God.
This is confirmed in Romans 8:34 where the
Apostle Paul
writes that Christ is sitting at
God’s right hand
making intercession for us.
Therefore, what we can say is that "God’s right hand"
refers to the
Messiah,
the LORD Jesus Christ, and
He is of equal position,
honor, power, and authority
with God
(John 1:1-5).
The fact that Christ is "sitting" refers to
the fact
that
His
work of redemption
is done
and when the fullness
of the
Gentiles is brought in
(Romans 11:25),
Christ’s enemies will be made His
footstool.
When the end of the age
comes,
all prophecy
will be
completed,
and time will be no more.
RSS Feed
