Read:
Reflect:
People do not like to be told what to do. We live in a time of individualism when people are advised to find meaning and direction by looking to their inner selves as their supreme guide for life. Instructions (commandments) from some authority figure are deemed intrusive and even insulting to one’s independence. But such counsel is very misleading because when we look only to our inner selves we find a mixture of good and evil tendencies, which when acted upon can be very harmful to ourselves and others. Human experience abounds with examples of the harm that is done when people act purely out of their ‘self’-ish impulses and desires. We need outside standards that guide us and make for a healthy and flourishing society. I would suggest that the divinely given ten commandments (Exodus 20:1-17) provide such secure standards.
The first thing to notice is that the ten commandments arise out of the redemptive grace of God (v 2). The Lord proclaims himself to the Israelites as their God, who mercifully redeemed (rescued) them out of Egypt, the land of slavery. The commandments that follow, then, are not arbitrary edicts of a dictatorial autocrat, but the instructions for wholesome life that are to guide Israel in their devoted response to their loving Redeemer. In fact, any society that prioritizes these commandments has tremendous potential for a flourishing existence.
The first four commandments focus on our relationship to God (vv 3-11). The first asserts that God alone is to be revered as such. He will not acknowledge or share devotion with any other pretender gods. They are all intruders and must be rejected. Commandment two forbids the crafting of images for they focus attention on created things rather than the Creator. Yahweh, after all, is the only One capable of either passing judgment or pouring out his steadfast love on his creatures - something senseless artifacts cannot do. The third command prohibits any improper use of God’s name. This, no doubt, includes various forms of cursing using God’s name, swearing oaths in God’s name as coverup for lies, as well as all forms of behavior that violate God’s will and holiness while claiming to be his devoted follower. Commandment four requires a weekly setting aside (keeping holy) of a day from regular work and focusing on the worship of God and rest after six days of labor. These four commands all focus on an exclusive, loyal, and respectful worship of God as the fundamental basis of human life and society.
The remaining commandments focus directly on how people relate to one another (vv 12-17). For society to function well the sanctity of various relationships needs to be respected and observed. There are six areas to be noted in particular. (1) The sanctity of the family (honor your father and mother v 12). Children of all ages are to respect and value their parents. Without such
concern the family will disintegrate, lose its roots, and leave orphans in its wake. (2) The sanctity of life (you shall not murder v 13). Life is a precious gift every human has, and to willfully take it from another is a vile attack on a bearer of God’s image. (3) The sanctity of marriage (you shall not commit adultery v 14). Marriage between a man and a woman is a holy bond not to be forsaken for another, or intruded upon by a third party, which is both destructively painful and a violation of a sacred vow. (4) The sanctity of property (you shall not steal v 15). Theft is like a parasite that sucks the life out of any thriving economy and will destroy it if unchecked. (5) The sanctity of reputation (you shall not bear false witness against your neighbor v 16). The dignity which a good reputation gives must not be slandered by false testimony. (6) The sanctity of desire (you shall not covet… v 17). Desires must be carefully kept in check so that they do not crave what are God’s gifts to others and not ours to possess. These are good commands that, if followed, will create a healthy and flourishing society.
Respond:
Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day. (Psalm 119:97)