LAW AND ITS PURPOSE.

One of the most important themes in the Scripture is the Law's relationship to the Divine Administration of Justice in the World.
The Books of Psalms and Proverbs present what was likely the traditional understanding of this issue in ancient Judah. The Books of Job and Ecclesiastes raise critical questions regarding this understanding. All four books share, however, the assumptions that GOD is the FINAL JUDGE of human behavior, put humans on trial, and gives blessings to those found righteous, and punishment to those found guilty of sin. Their view places the relationship with GOD through the eyes of the Law. Thus, much of the language used in the prayers, instructions and discourses of these writings also has legal meaning.
A strongly Deuteronomic point of view underlies the psalmists' emphasis on adherence to the Law. This connection manifests itself both in the psalms' legal vocabulary and in their view of Divine Retributive Justice. For Deuteronomy, it is 'obedience' to GOD's commandments that will bring health, prosperity and success. HE requites disobedience with sickness, poverty and defeat. For the psalmists, GOD is the supreme and righteous JUDGE of the cosmos. As such HE makes COVENANTS, investigates covenantal breaches, and enforces the covenants with lawsuit. GOD evaluates the degree to which an individual or a society adheres to covenantal law and blesses or punishes accordingly.
The Wisdom literature in Proverbs reiterates in many respects the view of justice. It is righteousness that GOD will reward with economic prosperity, good fortune, and long life; those who displease GOD, conversely, are punished. The texts includes behavior that accords with the Law: accurate weights and measures, justice in the judicial system, and general obedience to the commandments.
A righteous life includes, however, more than strict adherence to the law. Mere obedience no longer equals the blessing of GOD. The equation requires the addition of Wisdom, that is the range of virtues considered to accompany a life governed by Wisdom: diligence, generosity, judicious speech, humility, and sexual fidelity, among others.
With the book of Job a different perspective on law and justice appear. The book is replete with legal content and tends to follow the format and procedures of a trial. The purpose is to explore a common conception in his day that those who undergo suffering are the subject of a divine trial and of retributive punishment if found guilty. The characters agree on how Justice should operate: the wicked should experience suffering as punishment for their wickedness, while the righteous should be blessed. They disagree, however, regarding whether or not Justice actually does work this way and, if it does not, whether GOD should be held responsible. The trial is complex but seems to begin when Satan brings a formal legal accusation against Job in the Divine Council that Job possesses a blasphemous mind. God must permit the trial to proceed in order not to corrupt or circumvent the existing Divine legal system.
Job endures a torturous legal investigation. Then Satan's hope is to hear Job blaspheme GOD to HIS FACE, an act that would serve as the best evidence on the charge before the Council. Job assumes, though, that GOD is the accusing party and decided to countersue GOD. He claims that GOD is guilty of abuse of authority, primarily for bringing a suit that lacks sufficient justification. Job seeks to find someone to join his claim as a 2nd accuser against GOD, but no one is willing. Instead the 3 friends seek to impeach Job, impugn his integrity, and defend GOD. The friends insist that Job plead guilty and seek GOD's mercy. What happened at the end of the book can be characterized as an out-of-court-settlement. GOD, having defended himself vigorously, seems forced to admit that allowing the suit to go forward was unfair. There is no decisive legal victory for either party. GOD justly controls the suffering of humankind.
In the book of Ecclesiastes, understanding the treatment of Law, it requires a decision regarding the book's literary integrity and purpose because it seems to contain conflicting ideologies and approaches to the law. The text's overriding concern is to keep in proper perspective aspects of life that lie outside the scope of Law.