Today's lesson is found in Deuteronomy 5: 6- 6-21. God's commandments are an expression of love and security for His people. During Old Testament times, the heathen nations believed that you could never know what would make their god happy. Thus, they viewed god as an arbitrary and capricious sort of deity. You could be doing what you thought was right and then all of a sudden, disaster befell you and you assumed you made your god angry. Therefore, when our God provided the commandments, especially the Ten Commandments, it was a blessing to the people because now they knew with specificity what was required of them. They saw the commandments not as restrictions, but as beloved guidance and direction.
The thirty-eight years of wilderness wandering were over and Moses wanted to give God's laws to this second generation of Israelites that had come out of Egypt. They were preparing to enter the Promised Land and Moses wanted to make sure they knew that God's laws do not change. They were just as binding on the second generation as the first one. The Ten Commandments can be divided into two parts: Duties Toward God and Duties Toward Man.
The first section is: Duties Toward God. (Deuteronomy 5: 6- 15) The first commandment is "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." "Before me" could be translated as "above me." To place anything before our God is to commit sin. To exalt anything above God is folly. Today, we don't see worship of golden calves, but we do see the worship of cars, houses, fame, and other worldly pursuits which violates this commandment.
The second commandment forbids idolatry. The Israelites were not to make "any graven image." Israel was not to have any representative of deity in their midst. God does not tolerate divided loyalty. Verse 9 speaks of the effects of a parent's disobedience. God would bring the iniquity of the fathers upon their children to the third and fourth generations. However, God does not indiscriminately punish the children of those who turn their backs on Him. Children who walk in the evil ways of sinful parents will be punished. Those children that turn from the evil ways of their parents and follow God will receive mercy. Parents that follow God and obey His laws will pass onto their children a wonderful heritage to follow.
The third commandment forbids the taking of the LORD's name in vain. This goes far beyond cursing. I am of the opinion that the common phrase "OMG" violates this commandment. Swearing an oath to buttress a false statement violates this law. Profanity of God's name indicates an irreverent heart, having no regard for the honor of God. We are to be very careful how we express God's name: YHVH (Yahveh). We are to treat the name with utmost respect. Many Jews will not speak God's name, but instead just the word "Hashem" which means "the name." This is a place where we could learn a lesson from devout Jews. As a whole, Christians take God's name too lightly.
The fourth commandment is to keep the Sabbath day to sanctify it. We are to work six days, but on the seventh day, we are to rest. This means no work. We are to dedicate it to Him. This means to keep the day holy, including no leisure activity. We are to keep the day holy unto the LORD. The Sabbath was to be a day of rest for the entire household: parents, children, servants, livestock, and household guests. In Exodus 20, the reason given for keeping of the Sabbath was related to the creation (Genesis 1). The reason given here is their deliverance from Egyptian bondage. The children of Israel could not rest while in bondage. Their lives were filled hard bondage. Observance of the Sabbath would remind them of their great deliverance. In the book of Acts, we find that the early church adopted the first day of the week as the day for worship. This is the origin of the Christian Sabbath. Sunday is not a day for leisure; it is a day for worship.
The second section is: Duties Toward Man. (Deuteronomy 5: 16- 21) The second table of laws deals with our relationship to our fellowman. Can you imagine what society would look like if everyone obeyed these laws? Carnality is the root cause of rebellion and lawlessness. The mistreatment of others is an indicator that a person is "yet carnal." While we are not legalist (meaning we earn our salvation through works) like the Pharisees, we recognize God has given us a standard of righteousness by which we are to live.
The fifth commandment is a fitting connection between the two tables. The relationship between a parent and child is one of the most sacred relationships. A parent can facilitate a child learning to love, respect and obey his parent. The parent stands in the place of God to the child so it is incumbent upon the parent to train the child in the ways of the LORD. The parent should train the child to pray, study the Bible and manifest the fruit of the Spirit in their lives.
Matthew Henry states that the last five commandments are coupled together under the general heading of: "and you shall not." These last five laws relate to social righteousness. The sixth commandment is: "Thou shalt not kill." The word "kill" is actually "murder." There is a difference between killing and murder. Murder is always wrong. To plan the death of another and actually carry it out is "mala in se (Latin for evil in and of itself)." However, there may be times that it is appropriate to kill. For example, in times of a lawful war, in self defense, or in the protection of another are justifiable actions.
The seventh commandment is: "Neither shalt thou commit adultery." Adultery is a sin against both parties to a marriage. Marriage is a sacred institution and meant to be binding for life. To violate the trust of one's spouse by being unfaithful is despicable and evil. Adultery begins in the mind, as does most sin, and must be guarded against. The sanctified heart can still be tempted but that temptation comes from without the heart and not from within. The consent of the mind to commit adultery was expressly forbidden by Jesus (Matthew 5: 28).
The eighth commandment is: "Neither shalt thou steal." Stealing includes one's money, possessions, time, and support. We have recently seen civil unrest and riots that involve looting. Regardless of the intent when the protest began, to loot and steal from a store or others is a sign of a depraved, lost individual who is headed to the fires of hell unless they repent. John Wesley said: "Have you ever considered that God is the sole Proprietor of heaven and earth? The true Owner of everything therein?" Thus, to steal is actually taking what God has allowed another to possess.
The ninth commandment is: "Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbor." Honesty is not the best policy, it is the only policy. A key phrase is "against thy neighbor." Some things are meant to remain personal and is not anyone else's business. My mentor Rev. J. Herbert Norton said to me, "Barry, don't tell others too much about your sins and shortcomings, God forgets, but people don't." This is good advice I follow to this day. We are to be completely open and honest before God, but careful around others.
The tenth commandment is different from five through nine. The previous laws deal with overt actions, however the tenth commandment deals with an attitude of the heart. "Thou shalt not covet."To covet what someone else has is to be discontented with your own lot in life. The Apostle Paul wrote: "I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." (Phil. 4: 11)God has provided everything we need to be a success in this life. We have the Word of God, prayer and the fellowship of the saints to help us in life. John Wesley said: "God hath given thee whatever tends to thy one end, holiness." As the hymn says, "Holiness unto the LORD is our watchword and song...." The sanctified heart will not covet what another has. Since holiness is our goal, and God has made a way for us to be holy, there is no reason to covet.
God's laws are for our benefit. They are given to us to help us have a blessed life. You can look at every broken home, every person in jail, or every societal ill and you will find broken commandments. Thank God that He can purify our hearts and give us the desire to want to obey God's laws!
The Golden Text is: "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous." (1 Jn. 5: 3) "The service of God is freedom; the service of the world is bondage." (Albert Barnes) God's laws enable us to know exactly how we should live our lives. Thank God for the clear unambigous laws of God!
My summary points:
1. God's laws are given to protect us and enable us to live fulfilling lives.
2. We have duties to both God and man.
3. The Ten Commandments cover both our actions and our hearts.
Next week: "The Greatest Commandment." (Deuteronomy 6: 4- 15)
Don't forget to read the Sunday School Beacon for inspiration and encouragement.
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