1) The Law of Moses, as Wisdom?

When we think of the wisdom literature of the Bible, we tend to think of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. This article will propose that 'The Law', called the Law of Moses, is in fact fundamentally the book about wisdom: specifically wisdom in action.

Joshua, who led the Israelites into Canaan, points this wisdom out to them when he commands:

This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth; but you shall meditate therein day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written therein:

for then you shall make your way prosperous,

and then you shall have good success. (Joshua 1:8)

In the Hebrew “have good success” is one word sakal שכל.

Sakal is not really about success as we would think of it, but about the act of thinking about how to do things. It means to be circumspect, to be intelligent, to impart skill, make prudent, to teach, make to have understanding, in sum total; wisdom in action.

The same Hebrew word is translated as 'wisdom' in an ideological pair with knowledge in the book of Job.

Job has spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom. (Job 34:35)

Here knowledge and wisdom are equated.

A related word is translated as 'wisdom' in the following:

Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.(Proverbs 23:9)

A man shall be commended according to his wisdom: but he that is of a perverse heart shall be despised. (Proverbs 12:8)

To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity; (Proverbs 1:3)

The last quote above is especially revealing as wisdom is here placed at the head of a list that includes justice, judgement and equity. Locating sakal or 'wisdom' at the head of the list makes it the most important. People are first instructed in wisdom, then justice and then judgement and equity follows.

So, is the Law's wisdom relevant for us? Should we, as Joshua commands Israel to do, meditate on the Law (that is Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers Deuteronomy) day and night? In Joshua's day these books were the sum total of the scriptures and the words of salvation for that generation.

Despite newer scriptures in King David's day, these words of Law were the words that King David recommended that we ponder (Psalm 1:2, 119:15,23,48,78). And David said he stayed up at night to do it (Psalm 119:148). David called the man “blessed” whose delight was in this Law and who meditated on it day and night (Psalm 1).

David echoes Joshua's words in speaking to Solomon as he hands over the kingship of the Kingdom of Yahweh (1 Chron. 28:5).

Only Yahweh give you wisdom and understanding, and give you charge concerning Israel, that you might keep the law of Yahweh thy Elohim. Then shall you prosper, if you take heed to fulfil the statutes and judgments which Yahweh charged Moses with concerning Israel: be strong, and of good courage; dread not, nor be dismayed (1Chronicles 22:12- 13).

We can note three things: that

1.Wisdom from Yahweh is needed to help Solomon keep the Law.

2. When the Law is kept prosperity follows.

3. Keeping the statutes requires courage.

It seems a process is required. We must study the law to gain wisdom, and we need this wisdom to keep the Law. And then we need courage to carry out the judgements.

One may argue that the Law is fulfilled in Christ (Anointed) and therefore it is not now worthy of the constant study Joshua and David recommended. But a perusal of the following does not indicate either Yeshua or the disciples thought this.

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. (Mat, 5:17)

For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. (John 1:17)

For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believes. (Romans 10:4)

For Moses describes the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which does those things shall live by them. (Romans. 10:5)

Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. (Gal. 3:24)

If ye fulfil the royal law according to the Scripture, Thou shall love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well: (James 2:8)

However the most persuasive evidence for putting meditation of the Law into practice is Yeshua himself. Yeshua at his temptation, which is recorded in Matthew 4 and Luke 4, in his rebuttal refers to the Law, and specifically Deuteronomy 8:3, 6:13, 16. If no less than the Christ Yeshua felt he needed to do that to combat a tempter, surely the words we read, if stored in our minds, could have significant power.

Another point is the value that Yeshua places on the Law. Yeshua in a parable has Abraham saying, 'They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them' (Luke 16:29). When Yeshua explains himself to his disciples just before his ascension, he begins at Moses (Luke 24:27). But his attitude is most telling, as he condemns his generation when he says:

Had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed, me: for he wrote of me. (John 5:46)

As it is, there may be many a Christian who misses the simple faith in Messiah because they do not read the Law, the Torah, and meditate on it. In fact excepting the veil of the identity of the Messiah, a Torah studying adherent to Judaism may see more clearly the hope of the Bible than a Christian.

2) The law in action

We will examine two practical uses of the Law in everyday life.

The apostle Paul, who was not bound under the Law, uses a command regarding animals to establish the principle that the worker should be fed while performing pastoral care.

For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shall not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treads out the corn. Does God take care for oxen? (1Corinthians 9:9)

Paul uses the underpinning principle of the Law and applies it to his situation.

The second example relates to the profession of architecture. I have mentioned to other Christians that there are commands in the Law that affect the practice of architecture. They were surprised. The study of the Law of Moses gives a powerful understanding of the responsibility we have. By the civil law of Australia there are requirements in tort and for negligence, but students of the Law of Moses know already the principle of care in action and restitution, or “making good”.

And if a man borrow aught of, his neighbor, and it be hurt, or die, the owner thereof being not with it, he shall surely make it good. (Exodus 22:14)

There is one law that has provisions that exceed those in the civil law contained in the Building Code of Australia. Consider,

When you build a new house, then you shall make a battlement for your roof, that thou bring not blood upon your house, if any man fall from there. (Deuteronomy 22:8)

So when we buy or build a house, we need to make sure we have a balustrade at locations where someone might fall. We need not worry so much if it complies with the fine points of the civil law as we have a much greater judge who has established the principle that nobody should fall from our house to their hurt.

Should we meditate on the Law of Moses? If we do not, we will not have the wisdom that Joshua speaks of. And if we do not have that wisdom, what is the origin of our courage to act justly?

Human philosophies, such as Buddhism, have produced an image that 'wise' people sit and think. The Law of Moses is not about that kind of wisdom. In fact both Proverbs and Ecclesiastes challenge that cultural model of wisdom, as they are not about pure thought, being commentaries on our actions. I hope I have shown that the Law gives a more powerful type of wisdom, in fact the most powerful type of wisdom, the wisdom of kings, which is: wisdom in action.

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