We are in chapter thirteen of Exodus with our word for today which is actually a phrase used for the first time in the bible in our chapter. תּוֹרַ֥ת יְהוָ֖ה law of the Lord. It is used 19 times in the Old Testament. The word תּוֹרָה direction, instruction, law, decision, rule. It is used 220 times in the Old Testament. Most of the time it refers to the collection of God’s word consisting of the first five books of the Old Testament that God wrote through Moses. In our chapter today it is used in the sense of an authoritative rule. So in our phrase it refers specifically to God’s authoritative rule, or YHWH’s or the one who is reality’s authoritative rule. We see our phrase used in the sense of rejecting it. Isaiah 5:24 Therefore, as tongues of fire lick up straw and as dry grass sinks down in the flames, so their roots will decay and their flowers blow away like dust; for they have rejected the תּוֹרַת֙ יְהוָ֣הlaw of the Lord Almighty and spurned the word of the Holy One of Israel. Isaiah 30:9 For these are rebellious people, deceitful children, children unwilling to listen to the תּוֹרַ֥ת יְהוָֽהLord’s instruction. Amos 2:4 For three sins of Judah, even for four, I will not relent. Because they have rejected the תּוֹרַ֣ת יְהוָ֗הlaw of the Lord and have not kept his decrees, because they have been led astray by false gods, the gods their ancestors followed. We see our phrase used in the sense of taking care to follow it 2 Kings 10:31 Yet Jehu was not careful to keep the בְּתֽוֹרַת־יְהוָ֥ה law of the Lord, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam, which he had caused Israel to commit. Psalm 119:1 Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the בְּתוֹרַ֥ת יְהוָֽהlaw of the Lord. Ezra 7:10 For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the תּוֹרַ֥ת יְהוָ֖ה Law of the Lord, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel. This is how our phrase is used in our chapter today.
Exodus 13:9 And it shall be to you as a sign on your hand and as a memorial between your eyes, that the תּוֹרַ֥ת יְהוָ֖הlaw of the Lord may be in your mouth. For with a strong hand the Lord has brought you out of Egypt. Like with the other phrases we looked at yesterday the people’s focus is on what God has done for them in his power. With our phrase it is very specific to God’s word being what comes out of their mouth. Jesus talked about what we say shows what we have been thinking and connecting with emotionally, that is letting it in our hearts. Luke 6:45 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. This is why the greatest of all the commandments or laws or torahs if you will Jesus says is this one. Matthew 22:37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.
God wants his laws to be in our mouths that is in our hearts so deep that it comes out. This is what David meant when he talked about meditating on God’s law. Psalm 1:1-2 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the בְּתוֹרַ֥ת יְהוָ֗ה law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. I’ll close with this great Psalm about how amazing God’s word or law is. Psalm 19:7-8 The תּ֘וֹרַ֤ת יְהוָ֣הlaw of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
