My Come Follow Me studies for this week took me to Exodus 19-20; 24; 31-34 in a lesson titled “All That the Lord Hath Spoken We Will Do.” The following information introduced the lesson.
Although
the children of Israel had murmured and wavered in the past, when Moses read
the law at the foot of Mount Sinai, they made this covenant: “All that the Lord
hath said will we do, and be obedient” (Exodus 24:7). God then called Moses
onto the mountain, telling him to build a tabernacle so “that I may dwell among
them” (Exodus 25:8).
But
while Moses was at the top of the mountain learning how the Israelites could
have God’s presence among them, the Israelites were at the bottom of the
mountain making a golden idol to worship instead. Soon after promising to “have
no other gods,” they “turned aside quickly” from their promise (Exodus 20:3;
32:8; see also Exodus 24:3). It was a surprising turn, but we know from
experience that faith and commitment can sometimes be overcome by impatience,
fear, or doubt. As we seek the Lord’s presence in our lives, it is encouraging
to know the Lord did not give up on ancient Israel and He will not give up on
us and the people we love—for He is “merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and
abundant in goodness and truth” (Exodus 34:6).
Some of
the principles taught in this scripture block are: (1) The Lord’s covenant
people are a treasure to Him (Exodus 19:3-6); (2) Sacred experiences require
preparation (Exodus 19:10-11, 17); (3) Obedience to God’s commandments brings
blessings (Exodus 20:1-17); (4) Making covenants shows my willingness to obey
God’s law (Exodus 24:1-11); (5) Sin is turning away from God; repentance is
turning toward Him and away from evil (Exodus 32-34); (6) The Sabbath is a sign
(Exodus 31:13-16), and (7) What was the difference between the two sets of
stone tables Moses made? (Exodus 34:1-4). All the principles deserve some
discussion, but this essay will discuss only principle #3 about obedience to
commandments brings blessings.
While
the Israelites were gathered at the base of Mount Sinai, they heard the voice
of God give the Ten Commandments (see Deuteronomy 4:12-13). We know that these
are not God’s only commandments because there are many other commandments in
the scriptures. However, this discussion will concentrate only upon the Ten
Commandments, which are as follows.
1 And
God spake all these words, saying,
2 I am the Lord thy God,
which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house
of bondage.
3 Thou
shalt have no other gods before me.
4 Thou
shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any
likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or
that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under
the earth:
5 Thou
shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy
God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of
the fathers upon the children unto the third and
fourth generation of them that hate me;
6 And
shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
7 Thou
shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain;
for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his
name in vain.
8 Remember
the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
9 Six days
shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
10 But
the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy
God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy
daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within
thy gates:
11 For in six days
the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and
rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath
day, and hallowed it.
12 ¶ Honour thy father and
thy mother: that thy days may be long upon
the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
13 Thou
shalt not kill.
14 Thou
shalt not commit adultery.
15 Thou
shalt not steal.
16 Thou
shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
17 Thou
shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet
thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox,
nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s. (Emphasis added.)
The
first observation is about a division among the Ten Commandments. The first
four commandments have to do with our relationship with God. The last six
commandments have to do with our relationships with other people. The Ten
Commandments are an enlargement on the two great commandments taught in Matthew
22:36-40.
36 Master,
which is the great commandment in the law?
37 Jesus
said unto him, Thou shalt love the
Lord thy God with all thy heart,
and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This
is the first and great commandment.
39 And
the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy
neighbour as thyself.
40 On
these two commandments hang all the law and
the prophets. (Emphasis added.)
If you choose to learn more about the Ten Commandments and how they can bless your life, I suggest that you study them. You might make a simple table as you ponder the significance of the Ten Commandments in your life.
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Commandment |
In
other words, what does God want me to do |
Blessings
that come from living this commandment |
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· How does keeping these ten
commandments help you keep the two great commandments that Jesus gave in Matthew
22:34-40?
· What are things that you may be
tempted to put before God? What blessings have you seen from putting God first?
· How would you respond to someone
who says the Ten Commandments were given a long time ago and do not apply
today? What examples from your life would you share as part of your response?
· How has the Lord fulfilled the
promise in Exodus 20:6 in your life?
