Weightier matters of the Law - Judgement

1. Weightier matters of the Law - Judgement Study 6 – “Yahweh loveth a cheerful giver” Weightier Matters of the Law - Judgement

2. Seven Vices Yahweh Abhors Proverbs 6:16-19 These six things, doth Yahweh hate, yea, seven, are the abomination of his soul: 1Eyes that are lofty, 2a tongue that is false, 3and hands shedding innocent blood; 4A heart contriving iniquitous devices, 5feet hasting to run into mischief; 6One that uttereth lies—a false witness, 7and one sending forth strifes between brethren. (Rotherham) Angry, greedy taker Weightier Matters of the Law - Judgement

3. By Contrast - The Way to Zion Ps. 15:1-2 “Yahweh, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth (emeth) in his heart.” (Context – A cheerful giver) Weightier Matters of the Law - Judgement

4. The Challenge For Us! 2 Cor. 9:7 “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” A different way - by constraint or cheerful giving? Weightier Matters of the Law - Judgement

5. Roots of the Over-arching Principle Acrostic psalms – Ps. 9; 10; 25; 34; 37; 111; 112; 119; 145. Ps. 111 and 112 are twins – same number and length of verses - the first eight verses with two clauses each, beginning with successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet - the last two verses with three clauses, beginning with three letters of the alphabet in succession = 22. Both “Hallelujah” psalms – Ps. 112 begins where Ps. 111 ends. Ps. 111 is about Yahweh; Ps. 112 of those who choose to be like Him. Weightier Matters of the Law - Judgement

6. “Be ye perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect” Ps. 111 Extols the virtues of Yahweh’s character. Faithfulness to His covenant. Emphasis on what He has done for us. Blessedness of knowing Him. • Ps. 112 • Blessedness of fearing Yahweh. • Perpetuation of covenant family. • Manifestation of the Divine character. • Stability of ways – Certainty of future. Weightier Matters of the Law - Judgement

7. Firmness of Yahweh’s Character Ps. 111:6-8– “The might of his works, hath he declared to his people, that he may give them the inheritance of the nations. The works of his hands, are faithful (emeth) and just (mishpat), firm are all his precepts; Upheld to futurity, to times age-abiding, done in faithfulness (emeth) and equity.”(Roth.) Weightier Matters of the Law - Judgement

8. God Manifestation – Guarantee of Firm Future Ps. 112:5-8– “Well for a man showing favour and lending! He shall sustain his affairs with justice (mishpat). Surely, unto times age-abiding, shall he not be shaken, In remembrance, age-abiding, shall the righteous one remain; Of evil tidings, shall he not be afraid, Established is his heart, led to trust in Yahweh; Upheld is his heart, he shall not be afraid, until that he gazeth on his foes.” (Roth.) Weightier Matters of the Law - Judgement

9. So, why the acrostic structure? Hebrew ValueMeaningSignificance Aleph 1 Ox Servant; burden-bearer Tau 400 Sign or cross Ensign; finality/eternity Greek Alpha 1 Of Hebrew origin The first Omega 800 Finality Weightier Matters of the Law - Judgement

10. Manifested in Christ Rev. 1:8– “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.” Rev. 1:11; 21:6 Rev 22:13– “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.” Revealed at bush – Ps. 111:9 To be manifested in the Saints Weightier Matters of the Law - Judgement

11. Biblical Hebrew - Yahweh’s ‘pure language’ ValueMeaningSignificance Aleph 1 Ox Servant; burden-bearer Tau 400 Sign or cross Ensign; finality/eternity Koine Greek – The peoples’ common language Alpha 1 Of Hebrew origin The first Omega 800 Finality Weightier Matters of the Law - Judgement

12. From ‘servant’ to ‘slain lamb’ Rev. 5:6 – “…a lamb as having been slain” (Bro. Thomas). Rev. 14:1 – “…a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand”. Weightier Matters of the Law - Judgement

13. The Uniqueness of Ps. 119 “This is a psalm by itself, like none of the rest; it excels them all, and shines brightest in this constellation.” “The composition of it is singular and very exact. It is divided into twenty-two parts, according to the number of the letters of the Hebrew alphabet, and each part consists of eight verses, all the verses of the first part beginning with Aleph, all the verses of the second with Beth, and so on, without any flaw throughout the whole psalm.” Weightier Matters of the Law - Judgement

14. “All the counsel of God” There are ten different words by which divine revelation is called in Psalm 119: 1. Testimonies 2. Commandments 3. Precepts 4. Word 5. Law 6. Ways 7. Truth 8. Judgements 9. Righteousness 10. Statutes Acts 20:27 “For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.” mishpat - 23 occs. Weightier Matters of the Law - Judgement

15. The Mind of God in Christ - Ps. 119 22 sections of 8 verses = 176 verses. 22 letters in Hebrew alphabet = whole mind and ‘language’ of God (Zeph. 3:9). Why 8 verses? – 8 is number of new beginning and immortality. Cp. Omega – N.V. 800. Represents the attitude of the Son of God to his Father’s word - leading to eternal life. Key uses of mishpat – V. 7, 13, 20, 30, 62, 106, 120, 160, 164. Weightier Matters of the Law - Judgement

16. The Judgements of God in Christ John 8 – The woman taken in adultery. Context John 7:37-42 – Fountain of living water but the people divided. Context John 7:43-53 – Division over ‘justice’. What was going on in houses? – John 7:53. John 8:3-5 – Failure of justice and equity – Lev. 20:10, 22. John 8:6-9 –Context in mind - Jer. 17:9-13 - The unrighteous “written in the earth”. John 8:10-11 - The Law upheld – God’s righteousness declared while mercy shown. Weightier Matters of the Law - Judgement

17. A Final Appeal Zeph. 2:3 Seek ye Yahweh, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment (mishpat); seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of Yahweh’s anger. Weightier Matters of the Law - Judgement

18. Heading Weightier Matters of the Law - Judgement

19. Study Summary Yahweh hates lack of integrity – Prov. 6:16-19 2 Cor. 9:7 – Over-riding principle Ps. 112 and its interpretation in 2 Cor. 9 Loving righteousness – hating iniquity Ps. 119 – The spirit of Christ – Cheerfully fulfilling judgements Selected passages with mishpat Selected N.T. verses Example of the woman caught in act of adultery – John 8 Weightier Matters of the Law - Judgement