The ancient Israelites lived according to the Torah, also known as the Mosaic Law, the law that they received from God through Moses during their long journey in the desert. The Mosaic Law encompassed every aspect of life, from fundamentals to dietary codes and smaller matters too. For the ancient Israelites, there was no distinction between a secular and a religious sphere. Everything was viewed through the lens of their faith. Thus, the Mosaic Law governed not only one's individual relationship with God but the whole organization of society.
By observing the Mosaic Law, the Israelites truly lived as God's own chosen people. But they were chosen not for their own glory but to be a light to the other nations. A major part of their calling was to show to the rest of the world how to live in right relationship with God. The observance of the Mosaic Law deliberately set them apart from other cultures, so that they would not blend in with the surrounding tribes but would be the shining light that would call them to repentance.
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