March 11, 2024 | Be God's Light
The Ten Commandments
Scripture: Exodus 20:1-21(NIV)
1 And God spoke all these words:
2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
3 “You shall have no other gods before me.
4 “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
7 “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
8 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
12 “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
13 “You shall not murder.
14 “You shall not commit adultery.
15 “You shall not steal.
16 “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
18 When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance 19 and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.”
20 Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.”
21 The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.
Devotional
The Ten Commandments are some of the most well-known words of the Old Testament. Before God gives the first command, He reminds the people of who He is and what He had done for them: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.” Remembering who God is and what He has done is always the starting point for our obedience.
Then God gives four commandments concerning our relationship with Him:
Have no other gods. Don’t worship images or idols. Don’t misuse God’s name.
Keep the Sabbath holy.
This is followed by six commandments concerning our human relationships:
Honor your father and mother. Don’t murder. Don’t commit adultery. Don’t steal. Don’t give false testimony. Don’t covet what others have.
In verse 20, Moses gave the reason for these commandments: “God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.” God is not a cosmic killjoy. Rather, He wants the very best for us.
Psalm 119:33-35 is part of a beautiful poem, where the psalmist expresses a deep desire to follow God’s commands. Read this as your commitment to the Lord.
33 Teach me, Lord, the way of your decrees,
that I may follow it to the end.
34 Give me understanding, so that I may keep your law
and obey it with all my heart.
35 Direct me in the path of your commands,
for there I find delight.
Poem
Exodus 20:20
Don't be afraid
But fear the LORD
For the commands are
True Nannies
Custodians and Guardians
To guide and protect you
Don't be afraid
But have reverent awe
For the "you shall nots" are
Strong hedges
Fences and Walls
To keep and protect you
Don't be afraid
But obey the LORD
For God's warnings are
Great grace
Freedom and Victory
To sustain and protect you
