Question:
Is the phrase “the law of God” or “the law of the Lord” ever used to refer to Jewish national laws?
Answer:
In an obvious sense, every law given by the Lord can be considered a law of the Lord. While it may not be the ultimate law of God, such as the Decalogue, it is still a law because it was provided to humanity by God. This law can be eternal in its scope, like the Ten Commandments, which are both timeless and universal, or it may be a limited law meant to apply only for a specific period and then cease to exist.
For example, it was a command from the Lord for Noah to build the ark and for him and his family to enter it. However, once the flood was over, that command was no longer in effect. Similarly, the laws governing sacrifices were also laws of the Lord, but they came to an end with the crucifixion of Jesus.
“The law of the Lord” can sometimes refer specifically to the Ten Commandments. At other times, it is broader, encompassing all the books of the Torah, also known as the Books of Moses. The context usually clarifies the intended meaning. A case in point, where a temporary law is referred to as “the law of the Lord,” can be found in Luke 2:22-24. In this passage, the offering made by Mary is described as being done “according to what is written in the law of the Lord.” Other similar expressions can be easily identified using a concordance.
