2007.11.20

"Mosaic Law"

Pre-and-post music: The Clash

Had kids describe their 5th Monday at college--make it up. What about the 7th Sunday of their second semester? Got some good answers, and was able to get people to think about what "freedom" would feel like.

Read many verses of Mosaic law--details of 5 oxen for one killed; 4 sheep for 1 killed; can kill a thief by night, but not by daylight; slave's ear is pierced against doorjamb to symbolize being bound to the house; can't keep a man's coat overnight... etc. Talked about the "whats" and "whys" of these verses. Talked about the scores and scores of regulations that made up the Mosaic law, and contrasted it with "Love the Lord thy God...," and "Love thy Neighbor as Thyself." Asked what would be harder. Good discussion.

Talked about where the Israelites were when they escaped Egypt--had no idea how to govern themselves (as evident by their wild orgy when Moses went up the mountain). The only thing that would work with them was the specific, "case-law" form of the Mosaic Law. They couldn't have handled the higher law, b/c they couldn't govern themselves.

Compared to college--speculated about who would try to live the higher law and who would try to live the Mosaic Law, and what the downfalls of both could be in college.... talked about the reason for both...

-db