In the Bible, a statute refers to a specific law or ordinance established by God, often intended to guide the moral and ethical conduct of His people. Statutes are seen as binding commandments that believers are expected to follow as part of their covenant relationship with God, as exemplified in passages such as Psalm 119: statutes are “commands” that provide direction for living according to God’s will.
Scripture
25 And he cried to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a log, and he threw it into the water, and the water became sweet.
26 saying, “If you will diligently listen to the voice of the Lord your God, and do that which is right in his eyes, and give ear to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, your healer.”
Biblical Definition of Statute Explained
In the Biblical context, a “statute” signifies a governing principle or law prescribed by God designed to direct the behavior and moral compass of His people. These statutes not only serve as regulations for communal life but also illustrate the broader relationship between humanity and the divine. For instance, in Psalm 119:7, the psalmist proclaims, “I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws,” which highlights the connection between understanding God’s statutes and fostering a heart aligned with His righteousness. This understanding suggests that statutes are not merely rules, but a pathway to spiritual maturity and moral clarity, guiding believers in their daily choices and interactions with others.
Furthermore, statutes are often rooted in the covenant relationship between God and His people, emphasizing fidelity, loyalty, and a call to be set apart in a world that may not adhere to divine values. Deuteronomy 6:17 instructs, “You shall diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God, and his testimonies and his statutes, which he has commanded you,” underscoring the expectation that these laws are not optional but essential to maintaining a faithful relationship with God. This is echoed in Matthew 5:17-18, where Jesus states that He came not to abolish the law but to fulfill it, reinforcing the importance of understanding and upholding God’s statutes as expressions of His eternal truth. Thus, Biblical statutes serve as a means of grace, guiding believers toward living in harmony with God’s will and the flourishing of the community.
The concept of statutes within the Bible carries profound implications beyond mere legalistic interpretations; it encapsulates the essence of divine guidance. Statutes are frequently described as teaching tools, emphasizing the didactic purpose of God’s laws. For instance, in the book of Exodus, the Israelites are instructed to adhere to the statutes as a means of distinguishing themselves from surrounding nations. These laws were not only societal norms but served as reflections of God’s holiness and the ethical standards expected of His followers. This underscores the notion that statutes play a vital role in shaping community identity, emphasizing communal responsibility in upholding divine mandates.
Moreover, statutes are portrayed as acts of divine grace, meant to foster a deep relationship between God and His people. In the context of wisdom literature, such as Proverbs, statutes are often equated with life-giving principles, promising blessings to those who live in accordance with them. Observing these laws is depicted not merely as compliance, but as an expression of love and reverence towards God. These laws represent a divine framework that enables believers to navigate life’s complexities while remaining anchored in their faith. This relational aspect strengthens the notion that adherence to statutes transcends the act of following rules; it is an invitation to participate in God’s redemptive plan, nurturing both individual transformation and communal resilience.
Divine Authority and Governance
In the biblical context, a statute represents a command or decree established by God, reflecting His authority over creation and His desire for order among His people. These statutes serve as guidelines for moral and ethical behavior, illustrating how individuals should live in accordance with divine will. They are not merely rules but are seen as expressions of God’s character and intentions for humanity, emphasizing the importance of obedience and reverence towards divine governance.
Covenant Relationship
Statutes also signify the covenant relationship between God and His people. They are part of the broader framework of the covenant, which includes promises and responsibilities. By adhering to these statutes, individuals demonstrate their commitment to the covenant, fostering a deeper relationship with God. This aspect highlights the reciprocal nature of the relationship, where following God’s statutes is both an act of faith and a means of receiving His blessings and guidance.
Instruction for Righteous Living
Furthermore, statutes serve as practical instructions for righteous living. They provide a moral compass that guides individuals in their daily lives, helping them discern right from wrong. By following these statutes, believers cultivate a lifestyle that reflects God’s holiness and justice, promoting harmony within the community and fostering a sense of accountability among individuals. This aspect underscores the transformative power of adhering to divine statutes, as they shape character and influence behavior in a way that aligns with God’s purposes.
How to Live Righteously According to God’s Will
Living righteously according to God’s will is a journey that requires both intention and action. It starts with immersing yourself in Scripture, allowing the Word to guide your thoughts and decisions. Prayer is essential; it’s not just about asking for guidance but also about listening for God’s voice in your life. Surround yourself with a community of believers who can encourage and challenge you, as iron sharpens iron. Remember, righteousness isn’t about perfection but about a heart that seeks to align with God’s desires. Embrace opportunities to serve others, practice forgiveness, and show love, even when it’s difficult. Each day is a chance to reflect Christ’s love and grace, so take it one step at a time, trusting that God is with you every step of the way.
Bible References to the Definition of Statute:
Exodus 18:20-21: 20 and you shall warn them about the statutes and the laws, and make them know the way in which they must walk and what they must do.
21 Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.
Leviticus 18:4-5: 4 You shall follow my rules and keep my statutes and walk in them. I am the Lord your God.
5 You shall therefore keep my statutes and my rules; if a person does them, he shall live by them: I am the Lord.
Leviticus 19:37-38: 37 You shall observe all my statutes and all my rules, and do them: I am the Lord.”
38 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God. I am the Lord your God.
Leviticus 20:22-23: 22 You shall therefore keep all my statutes and all my rules and do them, that the land where I am bringing you to live may not vomit you out.
23 And you shall not walk in the customs of the nation that I am driving out before you, for they did all these things, and therefore I detested them.
Leviticus 26:3-4: 3 “If you walk in my statutes and observe my commandments and do them,”
4 then I will give you your rains in their season, and the land shall yield its increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.
Deuteronomy 4:1-2: 1 “And now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the rules that I am teaching you, and do them, that you may live, and go in and take possession of the land that the Lord, the God of your fathers, is giving you.
2 You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you.
Deuteronomy 4:5-6: 5 See, I have taught you statutes and rules, as the Lord my God commanded me, that you should do them in the land that you are entering to take possession of it.
6 Keep them and do them, for that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’
Deuteronomy 4:8-9: 8 And what great nation is there, that has statutes and rules so righteous as all this law that I set before you today?
9 “Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children’s children—”
Deuteronomy 4:40-41: 40 Therefore you shall keep his statutes and his commandments, which I command you today, that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and that you may prolong your days in the land that the Lord your God is giving you for all time.
41 Then Moses set apart three cities in the east beyond the Jordan,
Deuteronomy 5:1-2: 5 And Moses summoned all Israel and said to them, Hear, O Israel, the statutes and the rules that I speak in your hearing today, and you shall learn them and be careful to do them.
2 The Lord our God made a covenant with us at Horeb.
Deuteronomy 6:1-2: 1 “Now this is the commandment—the statutes and the rules—that the Lord your God commanded me to teach you, that you may do them in the land to which you are going over, to possess it,”
2 that you may fear the Lord your God, you and your son and your son’s son, by keeping all his statutes and his commandments, which I command you, all the days of your life, and that your days may be long.
Deuteronomy 6:17-18: 17 You shall diligently keep the commandments of the Lord your God, and his testimonies and his statutes, which he has commanded you.
18 And you shall do what is right and good in the sight of the Lord, that it may go well with you, and that you may go in and take possession of the good land that the Lord swore to give to your fathers,
Deuteronomy 7:11-12: 11 You shall therefore be careful to do the commandment and the statutes and the rules that I command you today.
12 And because you listen to these rules and keep and do them, the Lord your God will keep with you the covenant and the steadfast love that he swore to your fathers.
Deuteronomy 8:11-12: 11 Take care lest you forget the Lord your God by not keeping his commandments and his rules and his statutes, which I command you today,
12 lest, when you have eaten and are full and have built good houses and live in them,
Deuteronomy 10:12-13: 12 “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul,”
13 and to keep the commandments and statutes of the Lord, which I am commanding you today for your good?
Deuteronomy 11:1-2: 1 “You shall therefore love the Lord your God and keep his charge, his statutes, his rules, and his commandments always.”
2 And consider today (since I am not speaking to your children who have not known or seen it), consider the discipline of the Lord your God, his greatness, his mighty hand and his outstretched arm,
Deuteronomy 11:32-33: 32 And you shall be careful to do all the statutes and the rules that I am setting before you today.
33 And that you may not turn aside to the right hand or to the left from any of the words that I command you today, to go after other gods and to serve them.
Deuteronomy 12:1-2: 1 “These are the statutes and rules that you shall be careful to do in the land that the Lord, the God of your fathers, has given you to possess, all the days that you live on the earth.
2 You shall surely destroy all the places where the nations whom you shall dispossess served their gods, on the high mountains and on the hills and under every green tree.
Deuteronomy 26:16-17: 16 “This day the Lord your God commands you to do these statutes and rules. You shall therefore be careful to do them with all your heart and with all your soul.
17 You have declared today that the Lord is your God, and that you will walk in his ways, and keep his statutes and his commandments and his rules, and will obey his voice.
Deuteronomy 30:15-16: 15 “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil.”
16 If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you today, by loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it.
Deuteronomy 30:19-20: 19 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live,
20 loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice, and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.”
Joshua 22:5-6: 5 Only be very careful to observe the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, to love the Lord your God, and to walk in all his ways and to keep his commandments and to cling to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.”
6 So Joshua blessed them and sent them away, and they went to their tents.
1 Kings 2:3-4: 3 and keep the charge of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn,
4 that the Lord may establish his word that he spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your sons pay close attention to their way, to walk before me in faithfulness with all their heart and with all their soul, you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’
1 Kings 3:14-15: 14 And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.
15 And Solomon awoke, and behold, it was a dream. Then he came to Jerusalem and stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and offered up burnt offerings and peace offerings, and made a feast for all his servants.
1 Kings 8:58-59: 58 that he may incline our hearts to him, to walk in all his ways and to keep his commandments, his statutes, and his rules, which he commanded our fathers.
59 Let these words of mine, with which I have pleaded before the Lord, be near to the Lord our God day and night, and may he maintain the cause of his servant and the cause of his people Israel, as each day requires,
1 Kings 9:4-5: 4 And as for you, if you will walk before me, as David your father walked, with integrity of heart and uprightness, doing according to all that I have commanded you, and keeping my statutes and my rules,
5 then I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised David your father, saying, ‘You shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’
2 Kings 17:37-38: 37 And the statutes and the rules and the law and the commandment that he wrote for you, you shall always be careful to do. You shall not fear other gods.
38 And the covenant that I have made with you, you shall not forget, and you shall not fear other gods.
2 Kings 23:3-4: 3 And the king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the Lord, to walk after the Lord and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people joined in the covenant.
4 And the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest and the priests of the second order and the keepers of the threshold to bring out of the temple of the Lord all the vessels made for Baal, for Asherah, and for all the host of heaven. He burned them outside Jerusalem in the fields of the Kidron and carried their ashes to Bethel.
1 Chronicles 22:12-13: 12 Only, may the Lord grant you discretion and understanding, that when he gives you charge over Israel you may keep the law of the Lord your God.
13 Then you will prosper if you are careful to observe the statutes and the rules that the Lord commanded Moses for Israel. Be strong and courageous. Fear not; do not be dismayed.
1 Chronicles 28:7-8: 7 I will establish his kingdom forever if he continues strong in keeping my commandments and my rules, as he is today.
8 Now therefore in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of the Lord, and in the hearing of our God, observe and seek out all the commandments of the Lord your God, that you may possess this good land and leave it for an inheritance to your children after you forever.
2 Chronicles 7:17-18: 17 And as for you, if you will walk before me as David your father walked, doing according to all that I have commanded you and keeping my statutes and my rules,
18 then I will establish your royal throne, as I covenanted with David your father, saying, ‘You shall not lack a man to rule Israel.’
2 Chronicles 19:10-11: 10 Whenever a case comes to you from your brothers who live in their cities, concerning bloodshed, law or commandment, statutes or rules, then you shall warn them, that they may not incur guilt before the Lord and wrath may not come upon you and your brothers. Thus you shall do, and you will not incur guilt.
11 Behold, Amariah the chief priest is over you in all matters of the Lord; and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the governor of the house of Judah, in all the king’s matters, and the Levites will serve you as officers. Deal courageously, and may the Lord be with the upright!
Nehemiah 1:7-8: 7 We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that you commanded your servant Moses.
8 Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples,
Nehemiah 9:13-14: 13 You came down on Mount Sinai and spoke with them from heaven and gave them right rules and true laws, good statutes and commandments.
14 and made known to them your holy Sabbath and commanded them commandments and statutes and a law by Moses your servant.
Psalm 19:7-8: 7 The law of the Lord is perfect, 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;
Psalm 89:30-32: 30 If his children forsake my law and do not walk according to my rules,
31 If they violate my statutes and do not keep my commandments,
32 then I will punish their transgression with the rod and their iniquity with stripes.
Psalm 105:45-46: 45 that they might keep his statutes and observe his laws. Praise the Lord!
46 He remembered his holy promise, and Abraham, his servant.
Psalm 119:5-6: 5 Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes!
6 Then I shall not be put to shame, having my eyes fixed on all your commandments.
Psalm 119:8-9: 8 I will keep your statutes; do not utterly forsake me!
9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.
Psalm 119:12-13: 12 Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me your statutes!
13 With my lips I declare all the rules of your mouth.
Psalm 119:16-17: 16 I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.
17 Deal bountifully with your servant, that I may live and keep your word.
Psalm 119:23-24: 23 Even though princes sit plotting against me, your servant will meditate on your statutes.
24 Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors.
Psalm 119:26-27: 26 When I told of my ways, you answered me; teach me your statutes.
27 Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous works.
Psalm 119:33-34: 33 Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes; and I will keep it to the end.
34 Give me understanding, that I may keep your law
and observe it with my whole heart.
Psalm 119:54-55: 54 Your statutes have been my songs in the house of my sojourning.
55 I remember your name in the night, O Lord, and keep your law.
Psalm 119:64-65: 64 The earth, O Lord, is full of your steadfast love; teach me your statutes.
65 You have dealt well with your servant, O Lord, according to your word.
Psalm 119:68-69: 68 You are good and do good; teach me your statutes.
69 The insolent smear me with lies, but with my whole heart I keep your precepts.
Psalm 119:71-72: 71 It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.
72 The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.
Psalm 119:83-84: 83 For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke, yet I have not forgotten your statutes.
84 How long must your servant endure? When will you judge those who persecute me?
Psalm 119:112-113: 112 I incline my heart to perform your statutes forever, to the end.
113 I hate the double-minded, but I love your law.
Psalm 119:117-118: 117 Hold me up, that I may be safe and have regard for your statutes continually.
118 You spurn all who go astray from your statutes, for their cunning is in vain.
Psalm 119:135-136: 135 Make your face shine upon your servant, and teach me your statutes.
136 My eyes shed streams of tears, because people do not keep your law.
Psalm 119:145-146: 145 With my whole heart I cry; answer me, O Lord! I will keep your statutes.
146 I call to you; save me, that I may observe your testimonies.
Psalm 119:155-156: 155 Salvation is far from the wicked, for they do not seek your statutes.
156 Great is your mercy, O Lord; give me life according to your rules.
Psalm 119:171-172: 171 My lips will pour forth praise, for you teach me your statutes.
172 My tongue will sing of your word, for all your commandments are right.
Psalm 147:19-20: 19 He declares his word to Jacob, his statutes and rules to Israel.
20 He has not dealt thus with any other nation; they do not know his rules. Praise the Lord!
Isaiah 24:5-6: 5 The earth lies defiled under its inhabitants; for they have transgressed the laws, violated the statutes, broken the everlasting covenant.
6 Therefore a curse devours the earth,
and its inhabitants suffer for their guilt;
therefore the inhabitants of the earth are scorched,
and few men are left.
Jeremiah 31:35-36: 35 Thus says the Lord,
who gives the sun for light by day
and the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night,
who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar—
the Lord of hosts is his name:
36 “If this fixed order departs from before me, declares the Lord, then shall the offspring of Israel cease from being a nation before me forever.”
Ezekiel 11:19-20: 19 And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh,
20 that they may walk in my statutes and keep my rules and obey them. Then they shall be my people, and I will be their God.
Ezekiel 18:9-10: 9 “if he walks in my statutes and keeps my rules by acting faithfully—he is righteous; he shall surely live, declares the Lord God.”
10 “If he fathers a son who is violent, a shedder of blood, who does any of these things”
Ezekiel 20:11-12: 11 I gave them my statutes and made known to them my rules, by which, if a person does them, he shall live.
12 Moreover, I gave them my Sabbaths, as a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord who sanctifies them.
Ezekiel 36:27-28: 27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.
28 Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers, and you shall be my people, and I will be your God.
Ezekiel 37:24-25: 24 “My servant David shall be king over them, and they shall all have one shepherd. They shall walk in my rules and be careful to obey my statutes.”
25 They shall dwell in the land that I gave to my servant Jacob, where your fathers lived. They and their children and their children’s children shall dwell there forever, and David my servant shall be their prince forever.
Daniel 9:10-11: 10 and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God by walking in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets.
11 All Israel has transgressed your law and turned aside, refusing to obey your voice. And the curse and oath that are written in the Law of Moses the servant of God have been poured out upon us, because we have sinned against him.
Hosea 8:12-13: 12 Were I to write for him my laws by the ten thousands,
they would be regarded as a strange thing.
13 As for my sacrificial offerings, they sacrifice meat and eat it, but the Lord does not accept them. Now he will remember their iniquity and punish their sins; they shall return to Egypt.
Malachi 4:4-5: 4 “Remember the law of my servant Moses, the statutes and rules that I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel.”
5 “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.”
Luke 1:6-7: 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord.
7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.
Romans 7:12-13: 12 So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.
13 Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure.
Romans 8:3-4: 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh,
4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
Reverend Ogunlade is a seasoned Church Minister with over three decades of experience in guiding and nurturing congregations. With profound wisdom and a serene approach, Reverend Ogunlade has carried out various pastoral duties, including delivering uplifting sermons, conducting religious ceremonies, and offering sage counsel to individuals seeking spiritual guidance. Their commitment to fostering harmony and righteousness within their community is exemplified through their compassionate nature, making them a beloved and trusted figure among the congregation.