The law given to Israel had different categories. There were the commandments: fundamental instructions to do concerning God and morality. There were the judgments: civil law governing social behavior to their fellow man. There were the statutes: religious law of how to worship and serve the Lord correctly. Also there were the testimonies: the Lord truthfully giving witness of what is right or wrong or how something occurred that could not be observed by all. (See Deut. 6:20, 1Kings 2:3, Acts 13:22) We read in Psalm 19:7, “the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple”. And in Psalm 119:24, “thy testimonies are also my delight and my counselors”. One can know the wisdom and knowledge of life by trusting God in His testimonies.
God’s testimonies range from what is right and wrong to the account of Noah’s world flood. From what marriage is between a man and a woman to who Jesus is (His beloved Son). From why Christ died on the cross to His resurrection, seated on the heavenly throne as our only Priest. From what salvation by grace is to why this world will end in cataclysmic judgment before Christ’s kingdom comes. As the prophecy of Revelation 19:10 says: “…worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy”.
One of the names for the ark in Israel’s tabernacle was “the ark of the testimony” for in it was to be placed “the testimony”. One of the things that made its way into the ark of the testimony was the Ten Commandments. They are called, “two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God”, Ex. 31:18; 25:21, 22. The testimony of the Ten Commandments in the golden ark witnessed the mysteries of life. They say there is only one God who is not to be blasphemed. They say He is the author of morality declaring stealing, lying, murder, coveting and adultery as sin. But the fourth commandment tells Israel to only work six days and then rest the seventh, completing the week. The reason given is that the God they bore witness to was the Creator who created all things in six days and rested the seventh, Ex. 20:9-11; 31: 15-18. In the ark we then learn the mystery of the origin of the universe and life. It testifies that we have a Creator and that He made it all in six days. Whose testimony do you trust?