https://esv.literalword.com/?q=exodus+20
Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Monday, 20 January 2025:
Exodus 20:1-17 – The Ten Commandments
“And God spoke all these words….” Here God spoke directly to Moses and all the people of Israel. After this, the people asked that God not speak with them directly, and that Moses be the messenger (Exodus 20:18-19). So, subsequently, Moses went back up the mountain to receive more revelation from God for the people (Exodus 20:21).
The first four commandments deal with our relationship with God. The remainder of the commandments deal with our relationships with others. However, they should not be considered as independent from one another. If we fail in any of the last six, we have already broken the first commandment and the Great Commandment.
“This God-based moral code set the God of Israel — the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob — apart from the commonly worshipped gods of the pagan world at that time. They were often just as immoral or more immoral than their human followers. The God-based moral code also established that this people, this nation of Israel belonged to God and not to Moses. This wasn’t Moses’ law (though we often casually refer to it as such). Rather, God spoke all these words, and Moses nor any other man was never to think of himself or allow others to think of him as above the law. God was above all, and His law was and is the expression of His will.
The Code of Hammurabi is another well-known set of laws and principles from this same approximate period. There are some similarities between the Ten Commandments/Mosaic Law and the Code of Hammurabi, but the differences are even more profound. While Hammurabi mentions the gods of Babylon, the emphasis is clearly on him as the king and lawgiver (with divine authority, of course). The Code of Hammurabi begins with page after page of how wonderful Hammurabi is and how much he has accomplished. Hammurabi is clearly above his own law since he was the embodiment of the law. Not so with Moses; the emphasis is clear: God spoke all these words, and no man is above the law.
We need God to morally instruct and guide us. Though these principles resonate with the human conscience (both individually and collectively), they are certainly not the only influence upon our thinking and behavior. We need to know that there is a God in heaven who expects certain moral behavior and that there are consequences from obeying or disobeying these commands.
The Ten Commandments (and all of the Law of Moses that follows) is a God-based moral code. It doesn’t just say that certain behavior is unwise or unhelpful; it says that God commands us to do or not do certain things, and it either says or implies that: God sees our obedience or disobedience. God measures our obedience or disobedience. God, in some way, rewards our obedience and punishes our disobedience. Without a God-based moral code, it is difficult or impossible to answer the question “Why?” in response to any moral demand.” (David Guzik)
Exodus 20:3 – “You shall have no other gods before me.”
God will not accept you prioritizing something ahead of Him. Anything that influences your decisions more than God is your god in the moment, and idol. The first priority is to put God truly first in your heart, in all that you think, all that you say, and all that you do.
Exodus 20:4 – “You shall not make for yourself a carved image.”
God is spiritual, unseen, and quintessential [beyond the five (quint) senses of hearing, seeing, tasting, feeling, and smelling. We are to worship Him as He is, not attempting to limit His essence by our imaginations. Whether we intend to worship it or not, we should never make an image of God, regardless of the justification we contrive. We are not only incapable of portraying God, we are forbidden from doing so. This commandment actually addresses the sinful nature of our hearts that is constantly trying to create the God of our imagination, one that looks like us and has our attributes. God created man, and man has been trying to create God ever since. It may seem innocent enough to create a statue or image of God, but if you meditate upon this deeply, you will realize just how inappropriate this is. God must be worshipped in spirit and in truth.
Exodus 20:7 — “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.”
Careless use of God’s name or careless words about Him show a complete disrespect for Him. God will not be disrespected. This commandment is closely related to the first commandment and the Great Commandment of total love for God. What we say reveals what is in our hearts. Loose words about God reveal a lack of Fear and love for Him.
Exodus 20:17 — You shall not covet….
Listen to this message from Tim Keller on the Tenth Commandment, which Tim Keller says is the key to all the rest and an expression of one of the most important principles to practicing the Christian life. https://podcast.gospelinlife.com/e/the-tenth-commandment-1598423362/
Like the First Commandment, the Tenth Commandant addresses the heart and its desires and motives, while the others address actions. Only God can give us a heart for Him alone and which desires only what He desires, who doesn’t desire what God has not allowed or given. Coveting is idolatry (Ephesians 1 and 5), which is why the bookends of the Ten Commandments are Loving only God and not lusting after what God has not given you. If you love God and remain content in His perfect provision, you won’t have to worry about the rest of the commandments, which is why Jesus said the Great Commandment of loving God and others covers all the rest of the laws. (Matthew 22:36-40; Romans 13:9)
Exodus 20:20 — “Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin.”
Notice that the Bible says in this one verse, “Do not fear,” and then says we should “fear” Him. The first “fear” involves dread, while the second fear involves reverence, overwhelming respect and appreciation. Sin comes from a lack of reverence for God. The Bible says, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.” (1 John 4:18) When you love God, you have no desire to sin and, therefore, have no fear of punishment. When you are guided by love, you don’t need laws to constrain you. You will be able to say, “The love of Christ controls us.” (2 Corinthians 5:14)
Take 15 minutes to read this excerpt from “A Simple Way to Pray,” by Martin Luther on praying the Ten Commandments: https://learn.ligonier.org/articles/praying-the-ten-commandments-the-first-table-of-the-law
“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 20 January 2025: Today, pray that God will help you identify and remove any idols in your life – things which are a distraction to your focus on God and have undue influence over your thinking and decision-making. Practice gratitude for and contentment with what your perfectly sovereign, just and loving God has chosen to give you.
Defenders Bible Reading Plan 