Commands, in OT

The OT sets out the commands of God to his people Israel, indicating both their extent and their importance.

The reason for God's commands: the need to be holy

Leviticus 11:44–45 See also Leviticus 19:2, Leviticus 20:7–8, Leviticus 20:26, Leviticus 21:8

For I am the LORD your God; consecrate yourselves, therefore, and be holy, because I am holy. You must not defile yourselves by any creature that crawls along the ground. For I am the LORD, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt so that I would be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy.

God's commands to Israel

Deuteronomy 5:31–33 See also Exodus 16:23–24, Exodus 17:1, Exodus 25:22, Exodus 34:32; Numbers 9:18–20; Deuteronomy 15:11 The LORD commands generosity and kindness to the poor; Deuteronomy 15:15, Deuteronomy 24:17–18, Deuteronomy 24:21–22; 2 Chronicles 29:25–26; Nehemiah 8:1, Nehemiah 9:13–14

But you stand here with Me, that I may speak to you all the commandments and statutes and ordinances you are to teach them to follow in the land that I am giving them to possess.” So be careful to do as the LORD your God has commanded you; you are not to turn aside to the right or to the left. You must walk in all the ways that the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess.

Demands made by God upon individuals

Genesis 2:16–17 Adam; Genesis 7:16 Noah; Genesis 21:4 Abraham; Leviticus 6:9; Numbers 33:38; Numbers 24:13 Baalam; Deuteronomy 31:23; Joshua 4:16–17; 2 Samuel 5:25 King David; 1 Kings 3:14 King Solomon; 1 Kings 18:36 Elijah; Jeremiah 1:7, Jeremiah 26:2; Ezekiel 37:9–10 Ezekiel

God's commands to non-human agencies

The universe

Psalm 33:6–9, Psalm 148:4–6

The living creation

2 Chronicles 7:13; Job 39:27; Amos 9:3; Jonah 2:10

The non-living creation

Job 37:11–12; Psalm 78:23–24; Isaiah 5:6; Jeremiah 31:35

The angels

Psalm 91:11, Psalm 103:20

The sword, symbolising the judgment of God

Jeremiah 47:6–7; Amos 9:4

Commands of the leaders of God's people

Deuteronomy 31:24–26 Moses; Joshua 1:16–18 Joshua; 1 Kings 18:40 Elijah; Nehemiah 13:22 Nehemiah

Commands given by kings

Over Israel and Judah

1 Kings 2:46; 1 Chronicles 28:20–21; 2 Chronicles 14:4

Over heathen nations

Genesis 12:20; Exodus 1:22; Ezra 4:3; Esther 1:12, Esther 1:15, Esther 2:8, Esther 3:2, Esther 3:13; Daniel 3:20–22, Daniel 5:29

Parental commands

Deuteronomy 32:44–46; Proverbs 3:1, Proverbs 6:20, Proverbs 7:1–2

The nature of God's commands

Psalm 19:7–10 See also 1 Chronicles 16:15; Psalm 119:86, Psalm 119:96, Psalm 119:151, Psalm 119:172

The Law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, bringing joy to the heart; the commandments of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever; the judgments of the LORD are true, being altogether righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.

God's commands are to be loved

Psalm 119:47–48 See also 1 Kings 8:61; 1 Chronicles 29:19; Job 23:12; Psalm 112:1, Psalm 119:16, Psalm 119:35, Psalm 119:127–128, Psalm 119:131, Psalm 119:143

I delight in Your commandments because I love them. I lift up my hands to Your commandments, which I love, and I meditate on Your statutes.

God's commands are to be obeyed

God commands obedience

Ecclesiastes 12:13 See also Deuteronomy 4:2, Deuteronomy 26:16–18; Joshua 22:5; Jeremiah 7:22–23

When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: Fear God and keep His commandments, because this is the whole duty of man.

Warnings against and examples of disobedience

2 Kings 17:13–14 See also 1 Samuel 13:13–14; 1 Kings 11:10–11; Lamentations 1:18; Daniel 9:4–6

Yet through all His prophets and seers, the LORD warned Israel and Judah, saying, “Turn from your wicked ways and keep My commandments and statutes, according to the entire Law that I commanded your fathers and delivered to you through My servants the prophets.” But they would not listen, and they stiffened their necks like their fathers, who did not believe the LORD their God.

The consequences of obedience

Deuteronomy 6:1–3 See also Genesis 26:4–5; Exodus 15:26; Deuteronomy 4:1, Deuteronomy 8:1; 1 Kings 11:38

These are the commandments and statutes and ordinances that the LORD your God has instructed me to teach you to follow in the land that you are about to enter and possess, so that you and your children and grandchildren may fear the LORD your God all the days of your lives by keeping all His statutes and commandments that I give you, and so that your days may be prolonged. Hear, O Israel, and be careful to observe them, so that you may prosper and multiply greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has promised you.

The consequences of disobedience

1 Samuel 12:14–15 See also Deuteronomy 11:26–28, Deuteronomy 30:1–3; 1 Kings 9:4–9; Nehemiah 1:7–9; Jeremiah 22:4–5

If you fear the LORD and serve Him and obey His voice, and if you do not rebel against the command of the LORD, and if both you and the king who rules over you follow the LORD your God, then all will be well. But if you disobey the LORD and rebel against His command, then the hand of the LORD will be against you as it was against your fathers.