# 52 2024 Dev. Ex.20:2 “Freedom!” Read all of chapter twenty first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s Story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.
Ex.20:2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.”
Ex.20 At the end of Ch.19 God calls Moses and Aaron back up on the mountain. This chapter gives us the words of the Decalogue, Ten Words, The Ten Commandments. In many churches, these commands are read at the beginning of the service, followed by a time of confession and a passage of assurance of forgiveness. Now different passages are used in place of the Ten Commandments, there are many of God’s precepts throughout Scripture. I have found that people pay more attention when the passage is changed up with the many passages of God’s law.
Vs.1-11 speaks to the expected relationship of the people to God. “I am the Lord your God.” He is God and He is our God, He sets us free from the slavery of sin. “You shall have no other gods before me.” This comes with a warning. Do we have other gods today? Yes! We do! Really? What is the most important thing in your life? The warning: “punishing the children for the sin of the parents…” The blessing: “but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.” Amen! “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God…” This law may be the one most abused ever; gee, gosh, dang.
“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.” This was enforceable in the Old Testament, but the New Test. gives us this advice: Rom 14:5-12 “One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord.” One day to worship and to rest is good for our health and glorifies God. Read all of the Rom. passage.
Vs.12-21 speaks to our relationships to each other. “Honor your father and your mother,” This is the only command that has a promise “so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” The next five commands are self-explanatory. “You shall not murder.” Mt. 5:21-22 “You shall not commit adultery.” Mt. 5: 27-30 “You shall not steal.” Ex 22:1-15 “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.” Pr. 6:18-19 “You shall not covet.”Lk 12:15 Click on these passages for the deeper meaning of these relationship laws.
Vs.22-26. Idols and Altars. “Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Tell the Israelites this: ‘You have seen for yourselves that I have spoken to you from heaven:” God, here, gives worship instructions; sacrifices that foreshadow the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. God also gives instruction on the kind of altar to build. Worship was as it is today; fellowship, rejoicing and receiving blessings, in the presence of our God, particularly in this Christmas season. Blessed Christmas! © cgvanwyk, all rights reserved
Heavenhigh 