Controversy over the Law by Dudley Marvin Canright

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jul 16, 1885

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 11, No. 27.

Controversy over the Law.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

MANY people honestly think that the battle we are waging for the law of God, is something new; but a little examination will show that almost every one of the ten commandments has at one time or another been the especial point of attack by the devil. Indeed, from first to last, it has been the especial object of his hatred. When he has failed on one point, he has taken another. Look at the fact for a moment.

When God placed Adam and Eve in Eden, he gave them everything in the garden except one tree which he reserved for himself. This one they were not to touch. But the tempter came, and persuaded them that the Lord was withholding from them some great good. He told Eve how great would be the benefit derived from partaking of the tree. Now see the result: "And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her, and he did eat." Gen. 3:6. Eve looked upon the tree, she saw that it was a tree to be desired, then she put forth her hand and took of it.

What was the very first sin of Eve? She was led to covet what did not belong to her, and thereby break the tenth commandment, "Thou shalt not covet." After having transgressed this, she broke another: "Thou shalt not steal." She took what did not belong to her. By doing this she lent herself to the service of Satan, and broke another: "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." This was what brought the curse upon the earth. The first attack of Satan was directed against the law of God. From that time to this he has been constantly inciting men to transgress this law.

But the most wonderful fact is, that he has succeeded, not only in persuading men to break the law of God, but to do it as a religious duty; to verily think that they are doing God's service when they are doing the very thing God forbids them to do. Take the case of Israel in the time of Elijah; nearly the whole nation had been led by the influence of Jezebel and Ahab to abandon the service and worship of Jehovah for the worship of Baal. Only Elijah and a few others were left faithful to the true God. Finally Ahab met with Elijah. "And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel? And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and thou hast followed Baalim." 1 Kings 18:17, 18.

Yes, Ahab accuses Elijah as a troubler of Israel, but Elijah tells Ahab that he is the real troubler. Says the bold prophet, "I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the Lord [Jehovah], and thou hast followed Baalim."

The question was not whether they should worship God or not, for on this, Elijah, Ahab, and all Israel were agreed. It was not whether they should keep the first commandment, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me," but, who was the true god. Elijah said it was Jehovah; Jezebel said it was Baal. So all the people came together, "And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word." 1 Kings 18:21.

Yes, this was the point; if the Lord, or Jehovah, be God, then follow him; but if Baal, then follow him. Elijah asked them how long they would halt in choosing between these two gods? This was the question that was to be settled. In the test the god that answered by fire, should be the true God. So when Baal failed to answer, but Jehovah answered by fire from heaven, then, "when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, The Lord, he is the God; the Lord, he is the God." 1 Kings 18:39. This decided the people that Jehovah and not Baal was God.

Here the devil had succeeded in drawing nearly the whole nation of Israel into the open violation of the first commandment, while at the very time they not only pretended to be keeping it, but they were very zealous in regard to it. They said, "Certainly we should worship God, certainly we should have no others except him. But the question is, Who is the true God?" The devil had so blinded them that they had displaced the true God, and placed Baal in his stead. Thus we see how well he had succeeded against the first commandment; but in the providence of God after this fierce struggle, he was defeated and Baal was put away.

After this he turned his forces against another commandment,—the fifth. It seems as though this commandment is so plain that no man could ever have been deceived into breaking it, thinking he was doing right. But it is a remarkable fact that when Christ was upon the earth, the devil had succeeded in leading the Jewish rabbis, and teachers in Israel to directly violate this commandment. It was their teaching, and their practice to do it as a religious duty towards God.

Notice the discussion between Christ and the Pharisees upon this very point: "Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? For God commanded, saying, Honor thy father and mother; and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; and honor not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoreth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." Matt. 15:1-9.

Here Jesus tells them plainly that they were violating one of God's plain commandments by their religious dogmas. God had said children should honor their parents, should care for them, and provide for them in their need; but these religious teachers had said that if a man should devote his substance to the service of the temple, it would be more acceptable to God than to care for his parents; that if he would do this, he would be under no obligation to do for his parents. The whole nation had come to believe that doctrine and many practiced it. Jesus said that in doing this they had made void the law of God; that such worship was vain.

Here then the devil had made a successful attack upon another commandment, and it took the authority of Jesus Christ to correct it.

D. M. CANRIGHT. (To be concluded.)