pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: Ten Commandments


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Love and Relationship

Reading: Exodus 20:1-4 and 7-10

Verse 2: “I am the Lord your God.”

Our Old Testament reading for this week contains the Ten Commandments. This list of “rules” seeks to define the relationship of God with the people and to define our relationships with one another. At their core they are about how we love God and one another. After all, love is at the core of our relationships. Today we look at the commandments that apply to our relationship with God. Later in the week we’ll look at the commandments that deal with our relationships with each other.

The Ten Commandments begin with “I am the Lord your God.” “I AM” was the name that God gave Moses many years ago to use when he first went to free the Israelites from slavery. Ever since then, I AM has been their guide, protector, healer, provider… In the wilderness the people depended on I AM. (This should be the case with us too!) The relationship is further defined as God prohibits idols and other gods. It is to be an exclusive relationship. I AM is the Lord their God. There is no need for anything else. The same is true for us. Yet we pursue so much else – the latest this, that position or title, that ideal vacation… We try and create our own joy, peace, contentment… instead of turning to the true source of all of this: I AM.

Verses 7-10 are about keeping perspective as we seek to live in right relationship with our holy God. Honoring God’s name is important. It shows that we value our relationship. To dishonor or misuse God’s name reveals a lack of commitment to the relationship. And, lastly, we are called to honor the Sabbath. To build our love for God and to strengthen our relationship with God, we must spend dedicated and intentional time with God. And we must rest – rest from the business and grind of life. This renews us for the work of relationship and love. In all we say and do, may our lives reflect the truth of verse 2: “I am the Lord your God.”

Prayer: Lord God, I love you and desire a deep and intimate relationship with you. I want you to be my all in all. You are absolutely committed and totally willing. My flesh is weak and my heart falters at times. Day by day help me to grow in my love of you, thereby deepening my love for humanity. Amen.


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Opening the Commandments

Reading: Exodus 20: 12-20

Verse 13: “You shall not…”

Today we continue with the Ten Commandments. We read the last six today. These govern our relationships with others. The commandment to honor our father and mother is like a connector. The fourth commandment, to keep the Sabbath holy, calls us to honor God, our creator and heavenly parent. The fifth call us to do the same for our earthly parents. Just as honoring the Sabbath will bless our faith and life, so too will honoring our parents bless us and lead to a good, long life.

The last five commandments all begin with the familiar phrase, “you shall not”. These five come in the form of prohibitions. God, through Moses, tells the people not to murder, commit adultery, steal, give false testimony, or covet. For most folks, keeping the first of these five is relatively easy compared to the last couple. Yet even this one can be a thought that crosses our mind in a flash of extreme anger or in a moment of deep hurt. In fact, when one looks at the heart level, at the private thoughts we all have, each of these “you shall not” commandments have and/or will be challenges for us. When one opens up each one just a bit, this truth hits home. For example, Jesus taught that when we look lustfully at another we have committed adultery in our hearts. If one takes more than one should or if one unfairly uses their employees or if one buys from a company known to do so, haven’t we stolen? Gossip, white lies, half truths – all forms of false testimony. And who hasn’t looked at a neighbor’s new car or boat or… and wished longingly that it could be ours? Coveting! On these levels, all of the interpersonal commandments can be hard to keep, just as are the four dealing with our relationship with God.

In our passage the power and glory of God present on the mountain causes the people to fear God. They fear dying. But Moses sees the fear as a good thing. In verse twenty he explains: “the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning”. This fear is not a fear of spiders or heights, for example, but a fear that brings awe and reverence. It is a healthy thing. Knowing the power and glory of our loving and omnipresent and omnipotent God, may we too have a healthy awe and deep reverence for the Lord our God. From that place of love, may we ever seek to walk faithfully all of our days.

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for your guidance and direction in my life. Your will and ways both hem me in and give me freedom. So great is your love! Bless me today with the presence of the Holy Spirit, leading me to walk your road today. Amen.


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A Relationship with God

Reading: Exodus 20: 1-4 and 7-9

Verses 3 and 9: “You shall have no other gods before me… Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy”.

In today’s and tomorrow’s readings we hear Moses speak, giving the Ten Commandments to the Israelites. They have been wandering in the wilderness and are ready to hear from God. As they draw nearer to the Promised Land, God begins to give them some rules to live by. Being dependant upon God not only for your meat, bread, and water but also for which direction to go has kept the people focused on God. Once they enter the Promised Land, settle down, and begin living, it will be easier to forget or neglect God. This is our pattern too. When life is good, we often forget our need for God. When we allow busyness a foothold, we neglect God. Times in the wilderness remind us of our need for God.

The first four commandments deal with our relationship with God. In general these four are about honoring our relationship with God. The first reminds us that God is God. Therefore, we shall have no other gods. Thus, God prohibits idols – things that take the place of God. Next is another prohibition: do not take God’s name in vain. The fourth calls upon us to keep the Sabbath holy, mirroring God’s actions in the creation narrative. For Jews and Christians, there is only one God. The creator and sustainer of the universe and all life is clearly the only God. There is one supreme being. God desires to be #1 in our lives. When our focus is on God, when he is leading us through life, when we recognize God as the giver of our water, food, resources, money… then God is #1 in our lives.

Our relationship with God falters or suffers when we allow idols or other “gods” (small ‘g’) to ascend to #1. When the Israelites entered the Promised Land, it would be the labor of their hands and the allure of the cultures around them that would draw their focus away from God. When we get too caught up in work and wealth and in the world around us, we too lose focus. That is why keeping the Sabbath holy is so important. It reminds us of God. It breaks the pattern of work, work, work. It draws us away from the world. When we intentionally lay aside our labors and we turn all of our focus to keeping the holy day holy, we reconnect with God. In doing so we find rest and renewal for our souls and for our bodies. Each and every week, may it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, bless and keep me, lead and guide me. May each day of work be fruitful. May each Sabbath be holy. Teach me balance in my life. Thank you, God. Amen.