A Study of Bible AUTHORITY (5)
Obedience and the Old Testament
Mike Johnson
One of the most vital questions in studying Christianity is the question of authority. As was noted earlier, during the life of Christ, the chief priests and elders raised this question when they asked Jesus (Mt. 21:23), “By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority?” Authority is undoubtedly needed, and we must recognize the importance of the authority of God, Christ, the apostles, the Holy Spirit, and God’s Word.
Many passages in the Old Testament emphasize a basic principle—we must obey God! Various Old Testament passages make it clear that we are to follow God’s instructions and not deviate from them in any way.
An example of this is Deuteronomy 4. Earlier, Moses had addressed the people and surveyed the events in their history, showing what God had done for them. In this chapter, he admonishes Israel concerning what they should do as subjects of God. Verse 1 says, “Now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the judgments which I teach you to observe, that you may live, and go in and possess the land which the Lord God of your fathers is giving you.” Israel needed to both listen and obey God’s Words. Many today are interested in religion and might even like to hear a good sermon from time to time, but they have no desire to obey God. It is not enough to just listen to teaching from the Word of God. We must also be willing to obey God’s commandments. (In the New Testament, James 1:22 says, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”) Verse six states that we must “keep” and “do” God’s commandments. Thus, the law did not exist merely for their information, but God expected them to obey it. Verse two says, “You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.”. This verse is very much like a New Testament passage (Rev. 22:18-19), which we will examine later. Verse 3 gives an example where they disobeyed the Lord, which resulted in many receiving punishment. Verse 4 then says, “But you who held fast to the Lord your God are alive today, every one of you.” The Pulpit commentary points out that the word used here “is expressive of the closest, most intimate attachment and communion,” and it is “frequently used of devotion to the service and worship of the true God.” (p. 58)
In Deuteronomy 5:32-33, Moses pointed out to the people the importance of strictly obeying God’s commandments. It says, “Therefore you shall be careful to do as the Lord your God has commanded you; you shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. You shall walk in all the ways which the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live and that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you shall possess.” Moses pictured God’s Word as a highway from which one could not deviate in any direction.
After Moses died, Joshua became the new leader of the people. He also pointed out the importance of obeying God’s Word. Israel was now on the verge of entering the land God had promised them. Joshua told them (Josh. 1:7), “Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.”
In Numbers 22, Israel was about to battle Moab. Israel had been very successful militarily, and Balak, the king of Moab, feared Israel. As a result, he tried to get Balaam to prophesy against Israel. Balaam was greedy (Jude 11) and wanted to prophesy against Israel for the rewards offered. Nevertheless, Balaam stated it correctly when he said to the servants of Balak (22:18), “. . . Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the word of the Lord my God, to do less or more.” He said later (24:13), ‘If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the word of the Lord, to do good or bad of my own will. What the Lord says, that I must speak’?” We need to have that same attitude today toward the Word of God.
Consider a few other passages emphasizing the need to adhere strictly to God’s Word. Proverbs 4:26-27 says, “Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established. Do not turn to the right or the left; remove your foot from evil.” Proverbs 30:5-6 says, “Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar.” In Leviticus 18:4-5, God told Moses to tell the people, “You shall observe My judgments and keep My ordinances, to walk in them: I am the Lord your God. You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, which if a man does, he shall live by them: I am the Lord.”
Today we are no longer under the Old Testament. However, the Old Testament is for our learning today (Rom. 15:7, 1 Cor. 10:11). God required respect for His Word under the old law, and various passages, as we will see, in the New Testament, make it clear that we must respect it today. What is your attitude toward God’s instructions?