Covenant: Freedom
The Law Brings Freedom
Exodus 20:1-17
Rev. Tim Callow
Preached Sun. March 7th, 2021
The Hebrew people had become slaves in the nation of Egypt. For years they cried out to God for deliverance from bondage, that they would be free. God sent Moses, a Hebrew of Hebrews who by God’s gracious providence had been raised within the court of Pharaoh so that one day he would be the one to free his people. Through Moses God sent plagues onto Egypt. Plagues like frogs, and boils, and gnats, and darkness, and the Nile turned to blood. But these plagues only hardened Pharaoh’s heart. Finally, God sent the angel of death to claim the firstborn of Egypt. Finally Pharaoh relented, and set the slaves free.
But it did not take long before Pharaoh’s heart hardened again, and he sent his chariots to come and reclaim the slaves. The Hebrew people were at the banks of the Red Sea, and all hope seemed lost. But with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm God split the sea open, and the Hebrews walked through the sea as though through dry land. And when they had crossed, and while the army of Pharaoh was crossing the sea, God let the waters fall and drowned the chariots. Then the Hebrews rejoiced, they were free.
It was during their sojourning in the wilderness that God gave the Hebrew people the Mosaic Law, the condition of a new covenant. It may seem to us that God released his people from one bondage to another. But when we read the Old Testament, and especially when we hear from David this morning, we may be surprised by how they sing the Law’s praises and see the Law as a form of grace. “The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the decrees of the LORD are sure, making wise the simple,” David sings, “the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is clear, enlightening the eyes.” Paul will later speak of the enslaving and futile power of the Law, and we will get to that. But for now I want to talk about its liberatory character. Why does David praise the Mosaic Law? Why did the Jewish people see it as the condition of freedom?
Through his mighty works God had delivered his people from external tyranny, but God’s greater work was to deliver them from internal tyranny. The tyranny that we face from our own sinful desires is far stronger and more ignoble than the tyranny of states and strongmen. As soon as the Hebrews were freed from Egypt it was clear they still had this internal tyranny with them, this tyranny of the heart. The hebrews began to grumble, and to distrust God. They desired to return to their slavery in Egypt where at least they could eat cucumber. They constructed an idol made of gold, a calf, and began to dance around it. Clearly not all was right within the camps of the Hebrews. They were a stiff-necked people, stubborn, and hard of heart.
Liberation from tyrants is one thing. Liberation from yourself is another thing entirely. The past few years we have heard about a number of pastors whose ministries were blessed by God, but who were enslaved to sinful desires. I think running a megachurch, or a large ministry, presents unique challenges for a pastor’s spiritual life. Ministry can already be lonely. But when you either founded a large church, or operate a ministry with your name on it, it can inflate your ego. It is also much harder for anyone else to hold you to account. And I’m sure Satan loves nothing more than tempting people whose failings would most scandalize the faithful.
Paradoxically, if there were more safeguards to hold these leaders to account, more safeguards to hold them to Law, they would have likely been more truly free. Freedom is not simply being able to do whatever you want. Sometimes we might think that way, but there’s no freedom in addiction, and there’s no freedom in suffering. Freedom, instead, is being able to do right, just, and good things. And insofar as we are encumbered with sinful desires, and insofar as we give in, we lose some freedom. But just law can help us, by the grace of God, move toward freedom.
John Wesley understood this principle. When he founded the Methodist Society he put a condition on membership. If you wanted to be a Methodist, in his day, you needed to follow three rules. The first rule was to do no harm. That is harm not just to others, but to do no harm to oneself. He lists a few examples of where is mind was when it came to that rule: “Doing to others as we would not they should do unto us. Doing what we know is not for the glory of God, as: “The putting on of gold and costly apparel. The taking such diversions as cannot be used in the name of the Lord Jesus. The singing those songs, or reading those books, which do not tend to the knowledge or love of God. Softness and needless self-indulgence. Laying up treasure upon earth.” The second rule is Do good. By which he meant doing good works for oneself and for others, following the example of Christ. Some examples he has, “by being in every kind merciful after their power; as they have opportunity, doing good of every possible sort, and, as far as possible, to all men: To their bodies, of the ability which God giveth, by giving food to the hungry, by clothing the naked, by visiting or helping them that are sick or in prison. To their souls, by instructing, reproving, or exhorting all we have any intercourse with; trampling under foot that enthusiastic doctrine that "we are not to do good unless our hearts be free to it.” And finally, “by attending upon all the ordinances of God.” By which he meant diligently availing ourselves of those ordinary means of grace by which Christ promises to be with us. “The public worship of God. The ministry of the Word, either read or expounded. The Supper of the Lord. Family and private prayer. Searching the Scriptures. Fasting or abstinence.”
When Methodists met in small groups they called class meetings they would discuss the three rules and how they have resolved to follow them. This was not meant to be a burden. How could it be? It was directing their hearts to true freedom. Instead, Methodists reported their spiritual life deepened, and a stronger attachment to Christ.
The Laws of Moses function similarly. These are not meant to be burdensome, though people made it that way in the end. They are meant to be life giving. They direct us away from sinful temptations, and free us for joyful obedience.