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Lesson 44 Hope of Israel Ministries BIBLE Correspondence Course 11
COMMENT: Because the principles of
the TEN COMMANDMENTS formed the basis
of the civil statutes and judgments, a violation of
these PRINCIPLES WAS punished by Old Cov-
enant civil authority.
The administration of death was the civil
execution of punishment for violation of certain
laws in the civil law code which Moses spoke to
the people. Such sins as murder, kidnaping and
adultery were punishable by DEATH.
Sinners were thus made to REALIZE
FULLY that they had TRANSGRESSED the
law of YEHOVAH God. THEY WERE MADE
TO REALIZE HOW WOEFULLY THEY HAD
FAILED TO MEASURE UP TO THE KEEP-
ING OF THE LAW. Thus THEIR OWN
WEAKNESS WAS IMPRESSED UPON
THEM AND ALL ISRAEL!
Israel sinned constantly, and was con-
stantly reminded of it! Their history is a LES-
SON to us, today (I Corinthians 10:11), to
make us also REALIZE our weakness and need
Blessings for Obedience: YEHOVAH promised
the Israelites abundant, material blessings if they of DIVINE power in overcoming our NA-
kept their part of His covenant by OBEYING YE- TURES. THIS IS why the ministration of death
HOVAHs laws! was GLORIOUS. It accomplished a GLORI-
OUS purpose.
Old Covenant Israel did not have YEHO-
COMMENT: The judgment in verse 23 VAHs holy spirit of love with which to keep the
was especially designed to protect pregnant law of YEHOVAH God in its SPIRITUAL in-
women (verse 22). A man who had caused the tent. All they could possibly do was TRY to keep
death of a pregnant woman had to pay for it with the law in the LETTER by their OWN HUMAN
his own life. So if the judge required the killers power.
LIFE, then the judge was ADMINISTERING a Had the Israelites kept the law in the let-
penalty of DEATH, wasnt he? And isnt this ter, YEHOVAH God would have fulfilled His
therefore a MINISTRATION OF DEATH? Of part of the Old Covenant and given them all the
course it is! MATERIAL promises of this MATERIAL cov-
2. What was the penalty for a person who enant. But they would never have received eter-
had committed a murder? Exodus 21:12. Again, nal life by keeping this covenant. One would still
the judge had ADMINISTERED DEATH. Does ultimately die eternal death because there was
the New Testament call this same set of judg- ABSOLUTELY NO PROMISE OF ETERNAL
ments the ministration of death? II Corinthi- LIFE IN THE OLD COVENANT! For it is only
ans 3:6-8. the spirit -- the HOLY SPIRIT of YEHOVAH
3. Does the Bible say the ministration of God -- that will give life -- ETERNAL life! (II
death was glorious? II Corinthians 3:7. WHY Corinthians 3:6.)
was the ministration of death glorious? I Co- The ministration of death was a TEM-
rinthians 10:11. PORARY administration -- it existed only till
The Meaning of Marriage -- Part One
