Forewarned

Psalm 19:7-11 English Standard Version

7 The law of the Lord is perfect,[blameless] reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;

8 the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes;

9 the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules[just decrees] of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether.

10 More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.

11 Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

Before we jump to the conclusion that forewarned is about bible prophecy, let us examine what the Lord tells us about being warned.

The law can be broken down into physical laws and moral laws.

Physical laws have been studied in one aspect or another since man discovered hot and cold. Physical laws affect life in a predictable manner. Mankind has learned more about the physical world in the last century or so than in all of history. Medicine has learned that cancer can be destroyed. Physics has led us to harness the power of the atom. Boom. Suddenly we discover that there are moral implications in manipulation of physical laws.

Which one of our moral laws are warnings? All of them, but what are those warnings?

The Greek word for decree is dogma. The meaning of dogma is determined by the sanctioning body. In the case of God, a decree is a determination of what is best for everyone based on the knowledge that only God holds. A royal decree only lasts as long as the ruling party remains in power and can enforce that decree.

Now we should talk about the other dogma, religious dogma.

Leviticus 11:7-8 English Standard Version

7 And the pig, because it parts the hoof and is cloven-footed but does not chew the cud, is unclean to you. 8 You shall not eat any of their flesh, and you shall not touch their carcasses; they are unclean to you.

Religious dogma might define unclean as sin. They would create an atmosphere in denial of eating pork and playing any sport where the ball is made of pigskin.

Others might see it merely as a health warning.

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