“See, I have taught you statutes and judgments just as the LORD my God commanded me, that you should do thus in the land where you are entering to possess it. So keep and do them, for that is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes and say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people'” (Deut 4:5-6).

According to the New Testament, we are no longer under the law (Rom 6:14; 1 Cor 9:20; Gal 3:24-25; 5:18; Heb 7:12, 19; 9:8-15). But what, then, are we supposed to do with the law since it’s still in our Bible? And doesn’t Paul tell us all Scripture is God-breathed, profitable, and authoritative for faith and practice (2 Tim 3:16-17)? But how can this be the case with commandments we no longer have to keep: e.g., the commandment to wear tassels (Num 15:38-40); the commandments concerning ritual purity (Leviticus 11-16); the commandment which prohibits wearing clothing made from blended garments (Lev 19:19; Deut 22:11); and the commandment for a husband who suspects his wife has been unfaithful (Num 5:11-31)?

The Law is Divine Wisdom

Deuteronomy 4:5-6 provides a powerful, practical, life-changing solution to the “commandments of the old covenant” dilemma. Moses tells us the law is divine wisdom. Even though we are no longer under the jurisdiction of the Sinai law code, we still meditate on the law because it makes us wise and ultimately leads us to and deepens our faith in Yeshua.

By ignoring the law, we not only miss out on a wealth of wisdom, but we also will fail to appreciate the riches of our new covenant faith. How, for example, can we appreciate the New Testament’s glorious injunction for Jewish and Gentile believers to boldly enter into the true Holy of Holies (Heb 10:19-22) when we haven’t first considered the old covenant commandments which prohibit all but one from entering in under pain of death (Lev 10:1-2; Num 16:40; 18:4, 7)? Or how can we appreciate Yeshua’s identity as our Passover lamb (John 1:29) and Paul’s command to purge all metaphorical leaven from our midst (1 Cor 5:6-8) if we haven’t meditated carefully on the feasts of Israel (Leviticus 23)?

We still meditate on the law because it makes us wise and ultimately leads us to and deepens our faith in Yeshua

All of Scripture, even the least of Sinai’s commandments, has been given to us by God to make us wise! So let the feast on God’s word, all of it, begin.

“You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work” (2 Tim 3:14-17).