That which brings us together…

Deuteronomy 4:1 Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, …

In my studies recently, I ran across a word that captured my attention and began to delve into it.

The word “statute” is defined in English as A law enacted by the executive of a government.  It is permanent in nature and synonymous with “law.”

That is a good definition and in this use very accurate, but when I began to look at the ancient Hebrew pictograms I found a deeper underlying principle.

The word is made up of two pictures: a wall and the sun touching the horizon.

The wall is symbolic of that which separates.

The sun touching the horizon is symbolic of that which brings unity or togetherness.

The moral nature of God is both that which separates and that which brings together.

Jesus, when asked what the greatest commandment or law was, replied to love God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength.  He also stated that the second is like the first and that was to love your neighbor as yourself.

The absolute love of God is the wall that separates us.

It separates us from anything which would displease Him.  It separates us from anything which would steal us from Him.  It separates us from anything contrary to His Holy nature.  Our love for Him drives us from the things of this world, and is a protecting wall that keeps sin our of our lives.

The mirror of our love of God is that love for our neighbor.

It is this love for our neighbor that binds us together.

It is also this love that causes us to reach out to those in sin who are strangers and to pull them into the Walls of Gods love that they may become neighbors, friends, brethren, and fellow citizens of the heavenly kingdom.

It is little wonder that Paul was adamant in telling us to saturate ourselves with His Holy Word.  Only the Statutes of God can keep us together and hold the sinful world at bay!