The Letter of the Law

As I studied a portion of my History of Civilization textbook this evening something jumped out at me as a spiritual analogy.

I was studying basic facts relating to Hammurabi's famous code of law. The text stated the following, "Knowledge of the law made it possible for merchants and subordinate officials of the state to act independently of the king and plan ahead, and it gave people confidence to try out new ways of doing things within the well-known rules of social tradition." My mind immediately related Hammurabi's code of law to the Law of God. If the Law of God was nothing more than guidelines on a page then we, as those under the King, would be confident in acting independently of the King and planning ahead. Thus, no relationship with our heavenly Father would be necessary.

I could not help but wonder if that was why God made His Law utterly impossible to keep. Perhaps He did not include an ordnance for every situation that arises in our lives because He wants us to never be independent.

I cannot be pleasing to Him apart from an ever growing relationship with Him.