Session 03: Biblical Law
Prayer
Blessed are you Lord our God,
for you come to us and seek to make your home in us.
As we study now, let our eyes and our ears be open to you
let our hearts find their rest and their joy in you
that we may grow in grace and live to your glory.
Blessed are you, Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer.
Amen.
Leviticus
In this lecture Hayes introduces biblical law in a comparative approach that identifies similarities and differences between Israelite law and other Ancient Near Eastern legal traditions, such as the Code of Hammurabi. Distinctive features of Israelite law are explained as flowing from the claim of divine authorship.
Click here to watch Hayes Lecture 10
Exercise
Make a note of the important difference between OT law and other ANE laws that are very similar. Why is this so important and what does it tell us about Yahweh?
Something Practical To Do
Listen out for the themes of this week's session in church. Is any of the Decalogue read out - if so where does it appear and do you hear it more keenly or any differently as a result of this session?
Pray
Blessed are you, Lord our God, all things come from you:
from you come our life,
this world and all that we have and are.
Teach us to love and respect your creation
and give glory to you.
Blessed are you, Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer
Amen
Reflect
Spend some time prayerfully thinking about what you have discovered in this session. What are the most significant things for you? How might you use what you have learned in your own faith journey? Write this down in your reflective learning journal.