Exodus 23

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

Further Laws for the Protection of Society under the Mosaic Covenant

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. The Mosaic Law was given for the protection and regulation of society. 1) Under the Law, the courts were to be just. 2) Under the Law, the Sabbaths were to be kept. 3) Under the Law, the feasts were to be celebrated.

  2. The Mosaic Law was given for the direction and caution of conquest

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. Let’s practice the “little by little” principle.

QUESTIONS

  1. While many of the laws under the Mosaic Covenant are self-explanatory, others need some explanation. Explain the law in Exodus 23:19, “You shall not boil a young goat in its mother’s milk.”

  2. If a rich man and a poor man came before a court for judgment, which should be treated better?

  3. Give a modern application for the laws in Exodus 23:4-5.

  4. Why were the Children of Israel to let the land rest every seventh year?

  5. How many religious feasts were in the Jewish calendar?

  6. For which feasts did the Jewish men have to appear before the Lord at the tabernacle?

ANSWERS

  1. This law was to keep the Children of Israel from using a common Canaanite occult fertility practice.

  2. Neither. Exodus 23 teaches that a rich man should not be shown partiality over a poor man, nor a poor man over a rich man.

  3. Don’t refuse to help your neighbor with a problem even if he’s taking you to court in a property dispute.

  4. The practice of a sabbatical year reminded the Children of Israel that God owned the land and they were just sojourners, entrusted with the land.

  5. There were seven feasts in a Jewish year.

  6. The Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Harvest (Pentecost), and the Feast of Ingathering (Tabernacles).

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. The idea of a “Sabbath” in not common in our culture. Oftentimes people work hard at their jobs five days a week, and then wear themselves out with “recreation” on the weekends. Discuss the value of taking a day of rest. Remember, this was God’s example in the Creation Week.

  2. God warned the Children of Israel about the danger of allowing other gods in their land. They were to be ruthless and thorough about eliminating these false gods. Yet we know that they were not, and we know the consequences. List some of the things that become false “gods” to people today. How should these gods be dealt with, so they do not become a snare?

CHALLENGE

  1. When we become a Christian, we don’t become spiritually mature overnight. It is a “little by little” process. Can you say that God is working on you in this way? Are you more Christ-like today than you were a year ago?

KEY VERSES

  • “Six days you shall do your work, and on the seventh day you shall rest.” Exodus 23:12

  • “Three times in the year all your males shall appear before the Lord GOD.” Exodus 23:17

  • “You shall make no covenant with them, nor with their gods. They shall not dwell in your land, lest they make you sin against Me. For if you serve their gods, it will surely be a snare to you.” Exodus 23:32-33

Exodus, Old Testament, TalksRon ReidEXODUS 23