SCRIPTURE: Exodus 20:1-21
OBSERVATION:
In v.2, the NIV translates the special name of God given in Exodus 3:14, in Hebrew it is YHWH, as LORD, in capitol letters. In other words, v.2 reads “I am the “‘I am what I am’, your God!”
God is not being mysterious in this name, we can understand it best through Jesus with His “I am” statements: I am the bread of life (John 6:35), the light of the world (John 8:12), the good shepherd (John 10:11), the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6), etc. In other words, I am everything to you, everything you need!
God demonstrates that He is everything they need by explaining that He was the One who rescued them from their slavery in Egypt.
God’s commands FOLLOW His free gift of grace, namely the rescue from Egypt. He didn’t give them the Law first, He rescued them first.
God’s laws have more to do with how we show our gratitude, as well as how He protects us from falling back into the trap of sin. Its like He is saying, “I rescued you from Egypt, now here is how you can keep yourself from ending up there again!”
This list of commands addresses our relationship to God (Commands 1-4) and our relationship to each other (Command 5-10). Jesus confirms that this is the summary of the law in Matthew 22:34-40.
APPLICATION:
These are God’s “tender commandments”, not oppressive laws. God is not trying to prevent me from having fun, He is protecting me from the life of misery that sin leads to.
At different times, in different ways, these commands will speak to me differently. Sometimes I hear God speaking to me about resting in Him (Sabbath), other times He gently challenges me about my truth-telling (false witness, still other times He reveals my covetous heart. The key is that I need to be open to what God is addressing at each moment.
I do not see this law as an oppressive code that I must follow, I see it as an invitation to a better life. It is not a checklist (do these things and you will be happy, safe, etc.) but it is a guideline along which I am to shape my life.
Calling it a guideline does not make it optional, it makes it bigger than a law, it makes it a broad truth (or principle) with many applications. The Pharisees read it as a Law, and felt good about themselves, but Jesus read it as a principle, and applied it deeper and further (see Matthew 5:21-48).
PRAYER:
Lord, may I hear Your heart in these commands, and see in Your amazing grace the depth of Your love and concern for me. Help me to hear Your heart in these laws, and to shape my life according to them. Amen.
God is God because God is God and that’s why God is God 🙂 In the first four commandments we are told to love Him, because if that relationship is broken, how am I able to carry out my relationshipe to those around me – my neighbour? God gave these rules for holy/wholly living after the Exodus – a going out and a new beginning – to live in His presence.
I too need to do first things first – my relationship to the Lord must be right before I can be right with my neighbour. So often the Lord says , Do this and live, yet I keep insistig on my own way. Create in me a clean heart O God so that with my whole being I may serve You in all that I do and say everyday. Work in me and through me by Your Spirit, enabling me to keep your Law in living for Jesus. Thank You for rules for holy living.