Originally posted: 07/019/2019
The nation is at the threshold of the Promised Land. But before they take another step, Moses, the obedient and prudent servant-leader, summons all of Israel to once again hear the statues and ordinances of the LORD their God.
Then Moses summoned all Israel and said to them: “Hear, O Israel, the statutes and the ordinances which I am speaking today in your hearing, that you may learn them and observe them carefully… 6 ‘I am the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery,’” (5:1, 6).
Consider Him, the LORD your God
His Ten Commandments are inaugurated in Who He is: “I am the LORD,” again declaring the Name by which He revealed Himself to Moses, “I AM THAT I AM” (Exodus 3:14). He is the LORD, the Self-Existing, Never-Changing One; Who was, Who is, and Who will always be.
His Ten Commandments begin with His proclamation of Who He Is and all He has done by His lovingkindness to make His people His own, to be their God, Creator, King, Judge, LORD and Savior: “your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.”
A right realization of Who He is and all He has done is the very foundation of faith and prepares the heart to relinquish all rule to Him. His Ten Commandments convey how His people are to commune and live in unbroken fellowship with Him, the LORD their God.
- Regard Him above all else: He is the LORD your God.
- “You shall have no other gods before Me,” (5:7).
- Render allegiance and worship to Him alone: He is the LORD your God.
- “You shall not make for yourself an idol…” (5:8).
- “You shall not make for yourself an idol…” (5:8).
- Revere His Name: He is the LORD your God.
- “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain…” (5:11).
- “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain…” (5:11).
- Remember and Rest in what He alone has done: He is the LORD your God.
- “Observe the sabbath day to keep it holy, as the Lord your God commanded you… 15 You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out of there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm; therefore the Lord your God commanded you to observe the sabbath day,” (5:12, 15).
- “Observe the sabbath day to keep it holy, as the Lord your God commanded you… 15 You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out of there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm; therefore the Lord your God commanded you to observe the sabbath day,” (5:12, 15).
- Relate to others according to His lovingkindness: He is the LORD your God.
- “Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you… 17 You shall not murder. 18 You shall not commit adultery. 19 You shall not steal. 20 You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. 21 You shall not covet…” (5:16-21).
- “Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you… 17 You shall not murder. 18 You shall not commit adultery. 19 You shall not steal. 20 You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. 21 You shall not covet…” (5:16-21).
How do we respond to Him, the LORD your God?
His Ten Commandments are a summons to a relationship with Him as the LORD your God.
Regardless of what we think or believe, He is LORD. The question is… is He our God?
Simply put, our obedience to Him is an expression of our love for Him and our relationship with Him. When we, by faith, surrender in obedience to His Commandments, our very lives become a declaration of Who He is and all He has done: He is the LORD our God.
Let us respond by loving Him with all our heart, soul, and mind; and relating to others according to His lovingkindness.
“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?”37 And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the great and foremost commandment. 39 The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets,” (Matthew 22:36-40).
Today, hear His heart as you come to Him, the LORD your God.
“Oh that they had such a heart in them, that they would fear Me and keep all My commandments always, that it may be well with them and with their sons forever!” (5:29).
His commandments are not arbitrary; His demand of our obedience is for our benefit, that we may live in unbroken fellowship with Him, the LORD our God, to enjoy His blessings forever!
“But this is what I commanded them, saying, ‘Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you will be My people; and you will walk in all the way which I command you, that it may be well with you,’” (Jeremiah 7:23).
Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him,” (John 14:23).