The Ten Commandments

Several times, in our discussions of the Bible, members of our class have referred to the "Ten Commandments." In the Hebrew Scriptures, these were God's commands, given to the Israelites whom God was delivering from slavery to freedom. In the story they are delivered to Moses on two stone tablets, having been inscribed by the hand of God. These commandments were to shape the daily lives of God's people; they were presented as the heart of God's Law.

We located the Ten Commandments in two places: (a) the Book of Exodus, Chapter 20, and

(b) Deuteronomy, Chapter 5. The Book of Exodus tells the key salvation story in the Old Testament, a theme of "freedom from bondage" that is repeated throughout the Hebrew Scriptures. Deuteronomy is a retelling of the Exodus story, interpreting God's message for new generations.

We listed as many of the commandments as we could remember (Bibles in hand):

(1) No other gods (2) Make no idols (3) You shall not steal (4) You shall not kill (5) Honor your father and mother (6) You shall not commit adultery (7) No false witness (8) No misuse of God's name (9) Remember the sabbath and keep it holy (10) Don't covet.

While our reflections on the commandments have only just begun, we noted several things. First, "worshipping another god" doesn't necessarily mean worshipping another God figure like Zeus; it means having another power in our lives that we answer to absolutely, even before God's priorities. Likewise, making an idol can mean creating something ( a system, a weapon, wealth) that comes to run our lives. Is God our ultimate authority, or not? "Coveting" is a major issue in 2010, just as it as in Moses' time. When our minds and hearts become consumed by what we want or think we need to have, we lose touch with the life of love and service that God intends for us. We forget that we are God's people, whom God provides for and delivers.

One of the commandments, to keep the sabbath, is described somewhat differently in Deuteronomy than in Exodus. Check out and note the differences so we can discuss them in class.

Jesus reinterprets the Ten Commandments for Christians in his Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). This will be very important learning for us as we seek to follow Jesus!