DEUT1613 Let us now consider the role of reward and punishment in a theistic ethical system. What distinguishes man from animals is his need for, or at least his capacity to respond to, the Ultimate Power of the universe, an unseen reality whom he may inadequately but inevitably conceptualize as universal “Father” or “King.” Man alone experiences the presence of God and stands accountable to Him. If, as in a covenant ethic, God is Supreme Lawgiver, then good and evil become chesed [i.e., lovingkindness-AJL], faithfulness to and Chat [i.e., sin-AJL], betrayal of divine expectations. Reward and punishment remain a constant foundation of covenant ethics. At the “lowest” level man conceives of obedience and disobedience as a choice between plenty and drought, health and pestilence. “I have set before you this day life and prosperity, death and adversity...” (Deuteronomy 30:15) When in his personal life there seems to be no direct correlation between piety and reward, the religious man may conclude that he is less deserving than he imagines, for that reward is being deferred to some postmortal realm, or that God is testing him.

SHOW FULL EXCERPT