The Perfect Law that Frees Us

Deuteronomy 31:9–13 (ESV) Then Moses wrote this law and gave it to the priests, the sons of Levi, who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and to all the elders of Israel. 10 And Moses commanded them, “At the end of every seven years, at the set time in the year of release, at the Feast of Booths, 11 when all Israel comes to appear before the LORD your God at the place that he will choose, you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing. 12 Assemble the people, men, women, and little ones, and the sojourner within your towns, that they may hear and learn to fear the LORD your God, and be careful to do all the words of this law, 13 and that their children, who have not known it, may hear and learn to fear the LORD your God, as long as you live in the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess.”

Look at this command. God had Israel gather together every seventh year to release all slaves and cancel all debts. At that same time, during the feats of tabernacles, the law was to be read in the hearing of all people. What a picture of the purpose of God for His people. He needed them to know His law meant liberty. We don't think that way but it is. Without the law, debts would not be cancelled and freedom would not be realized. Slavery would be perpetuated and humanity would suffer.

It was the feast of tabernacles that was implemented to remind God's people that they were delivered by the mighty hand of God from Egypt to live among Him. His purpose in delivering them was to bring them to Himself.

Exodus 19:4 (ESV) ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.

Now think of this. As Israel commemorated their freed state from Egypt and into the presence of God, they were also economically and socially liberated with debts and indentured servitude was canceled among them. While all this took place God's Law was being read in their assembly. You have to see what God is doing here for them. He's teaching them that listening to Him and attaining freedom go hand in hand. 

What does the enemy want us to believe? He wants us to believe it's the opposite. He wants us to believe we should mark out our own way and live according to our own rules. He wants us to live how we see fit only to realize the pain and sadness that is often associated with doing life on our terms and disobedient to the God who gave it.

Now our biggest problem here is that we forget God's Word is liberating not suffocating. This is why we fall into repetitive sin and bad habits. We think the joy and fulfillment we seek is on the other side of ignoring God when every time we are taught through experience that whoever sins is a slave of sin. So what's the answer? Remembrance. And this was the point of Deuteronomy 31: An every 7-year reminder that liberty and freedom was in God's heart from the very beginning. That when people listen to Him, He brings them out of the chaos of sin and shame and into the peace and promises that come from His presence. 

James sums up this nicely in words that had to be written with Deuteronomy 31 in mind:

James 1:22–25 (ESV) But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

I couldn't put it better if I tried.