Welcome, June and we're straight in with The Sixth Commandment, "You Shall Not Murder." Murder is such a huge act which most of us have thankfully never committed and yet...have we ever hated another person in our heart?
Jesus had some very challenging words to say on this subject and so I hope this little poem and prayer can be edifying for us today. Much love, Lucy x
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 Sixth Commandment Jesus had some very challenging words to say on this subject and so I hope this little poem and prayer can be edifying for us today. Much love, Lucy x
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 Not Murder.”
"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?
We’re told, “You shall not murder.” Commandment number six
And yet this violent act does not require rocks or bricks.
No weaponry is needed for things to fall apart
For Jesus said we murder when we hate within our heart!
His warning found in Matthew should fill us with a dread,
To hate another person is to wish that person dead!
Oh God forbid we harbour hate and grieve our Sovereign Lord.
Let us seek to reconcile and live in one accord."
Matthew 5:21-24
“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.”
Let’s Pray
Lord Jesus, please forgive me for the times when I’ve harboured hatred for another in my heart. I know that hatred and bitterness have no place in the heart of Your saints and I don’t want to hold onto anything that is displeasing to You. If I’m carrying the burden of hatred at the moment, Lord I ask that You would gently reveal this to me and help me deal with the situation in a biblical way.
You know all the details of my life and the things that trouble me. You understand why I struggle to let things go and I ask that You would intervene in this moment and replace these negative emotions with Your perfect peace. Help me to let go of any hatred in my heart and trust You as I relinquish the situation into Your hands.
Please give me the wisdom and strength I need to take steps to rectify the situation, if it’s within my power to do so. Please help me to find my peace in You, either way and help me seek to be at peace with all people. Work mightily in my heart and in my life, I pray and may there be no corner of my heart that harbours anything displeasing to You. In Jesus’ name I ask these things, Amen.
