Old Testament Ethics

There are many different ethical concepts in the Old Testament. Unlike today, the ethics in Old Testament era times were built on social standards, rather than morals for individuals. Holiness and justice are two of the concepts that are very prominent. Israel was called to be holy, not so that they could be free from blame, but so that they would reflect the holiness of God. Since we have a righteous God, it is not surprising that justice is also a prominent ethical concept, since complete holiness is unattainable.

The holiness that Israel was called to was a social holiness. It had to do with the ethical standard that men should live by. Holiness is about the heart, but in this case, it is based on the heart of the nation, not the individual. The Mosaic Law was intended to provide a standard for living for the nation as a whole. It set the moral standard for the nation. As individuals, God certainly desired and commanded holiness, however it is clear that He knew it was unattainable as individuals therefore accommodation was made for un-holiness through sacrifice.

This is where justice comes into play. When Israel strayed from holiness, there were just consequences because God is just. If his standard is holiness, then there is a penalty for un-holiness. Similarly, nations other than Israel were often punished for their un-holiness. Although the standard is no different from the New Testament–salvation by grace through faith–we often miss the implication that a holy nation is comprised of holy people. Therefore, their social ethics of holiness and justice were the means for sanctification.

If Israel were able to maintain their social ethic, then they would have received blessing instead of discipline. Through maintenance of God’s standard, they would then be a light to the other nations; not that they would become Jews, but that they would prove God’s standard as righteous and they would inherit a heart for holiness, faith. In other words, if Israel were blessed for maintaining God’s standard, then other nations would adopt their ethic.

Holiness and justice are prime examples of Old Testament ethics, which reflect a social ethic. Holiness is the standard, which had been set, and justice is the flip side of the coin. Israel was rewarded justly according to their maintenance to God’s ethical standard of holiness.

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