Happy New Year and welcome, 2024! The first series I'm going to share throughout this year is my series on The Ten Commandments. I pray these poetry verses and prayers can help us not only familiarise ourselves with a very important section of Scripture but also give us insights into how these commandments apply to us today.
The Ten Commandments could be described as a "God-based moral code" which God spoke to the Israelites first as they assembled at the foot of Mount Sinai. They were addressed to the ordinary Israelite and were spoken in simple, easily understandable terms as they sought to deal with the temptations of the average person.
The Ten Commandments were never given with the idea that a person can earn heaven by obeying them but rather, the Law, given by God directly and then through Moses, would highlight to humanity their need for a Saviour. We know that Jesus Himself was the only one to ever keep the Law perfectly and while some of the Law of Moses is specific to Israel, the Ten Commandments are universal.
Jesus spoke of these commandments during His ministry and highlighted the fact that while mankind would go on to have a new covenant with God through Him, The Ten Commandments would remain a wonderful gaurdrail for keeping humanity on a good moral path. Often organised into two groups, the first four focus on our conduct towards God while the next six address our conduct towards one another. They continue to impart wisdom and show us God's heart and desire for His people.
I pray this series can be helpful and edifying as we take a look at these key verses in Exodus 20. May we grow ever closer to our wonderful Saviour who has freed us from the Law's condemnation yet inspires us to live holy lives that glorify Him!
Exodus 20:1-17
The Ten Commandments
“And God spoke all these words, saying:
“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
“You shall have no other gods before Me.
“You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.
“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.
“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.
“Honour your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.
“You shall not murder.
“You shall not commit adultery.
“You shall not steal.
“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour.
“You shall not covet your neighbour’s house; you shall not covet your neighbour’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbour’s.””
The First Commandment The Ten Commandments could be described as a "God-based moral code" which God spoke to the Israelites first as they assembled at the foot of Mount Sinai. They were addressed to the ordinary Israelite and were spoken in simple, easily understandable terms as they sought to deal with the temptations of the average person.
The Ten Commandments were never given with the idea that a person can earn heaven by obeying them but rather, the Law, given by God directly and then through Moses, would highlight to humanity their need for a Saviour. We know that Jesus Himself was the only one to ever keep the Law perfectly and while some of the Law of Moses is specific to Israel, the Ten Commandments are universal.
Jesus spoke of these commandments during His ministry and highlighted the fact that while mankind would go on to have a new covenant with God through Him, The Ten Commandments would remain a wonderful gaurdrail for keeping humanity on a good moral path. Often organised into two groups, the first four focus on our conduct towards God while the next six address our conduct towards one another. They continue to impart wisdom and show us God's heart and desire for His people.
I pray this series can be helpful and edifying as we take a look at these key verses in Exodus 20. May we grow ever closer to our wonderful Saviour who has freed us from the Law's condemnation yet inspires us to live holy lives that glorify Him!
Exodus 20:1-17
The Ten Commandments
“And God spoke all these words, saying:
“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
“You shall have no other gods before Me.
“You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.
“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.
“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.
“Honour your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.
“You shall not murder.
“You shall not commit adultery.
“You shall not steal.
“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour.
“You shall not covet your neighbour’s house; you shall not covet your neighbour’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbour’s.””
“You shall have no other gods before Me.”
"Behold, The Ten Commandments, recorded in God’s Word!
To think they don’t apply to us would really be absurd!
The wisdom found within these laws, we cannot take away,
So how can we apply these truths within our lives today?
“You shall have no gods before Me.” Commandment number one.
The throne within my heart belongs to Jesus Christ, God’s Son.
No false, deceptive deities must rule within my days.
Oh may my soul be watchful they don’t reign in subtle ways!
What passion do I serve the most and who do I live for?
Should any name but Jesus Christ reside within my core
Then strip away my idols Lord and purge me from this sin!
Oh may Christ rule and reign in me and may I live for Him!"
Isaiah 43:10-11
“You are My witnesses,” says the Lord, “And My servant whom I have chosen, That you may know and believe Me, And understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, Nor shall there be after Me.
I, even I, am the Lord, And besides Me there is no saviour.”
1 John 5:20-21
“And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.
Little children, keep yourselves from idols.”
Let’s Pray
Heavenly Father, thank You Lord for calling me into the truth and revealing to me that You are the one, true, living God. Help me Lord, to keep a check on my heart each day and please gently reveal to me now, if there is anything that has snuck into my priorities that’s displeasing to You.
Help me to honestly ask myself, who am I living for? What am I most passionate about? Have I lost sight of You or changed my focus from Heavenly things to Earthly matters? If there is anything in my life that I’ve been prioritising over You then I repent of this idolatry now and ask that You would please forgive me of this sin. Please help me to get my priorities back in the correct order and give me a passion for You, Lord Jesus.
May You rule and reign on the throne of my heart today and each day from now on. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
