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’” (Exodus 20:1-2).

That’s the introduction to the Ten Commandments.

I remember reading that to one of my kids and I followed up with, “God frees us to serve Him.” They responded with, “You mean with ice cubes?” (Frees/freeze, get it?)

But it’s true. Israel was in bondage and slavery. God didn’t give them the Ten Commandments and then say, “Use these to get yourself free.”

He first freed them and then gave them Ten Commandments that would protect that freedom.

If you think that’s too restricting, know that the Ten Commandments maybe take up only one page. How many pages of laws does your city take up? What if you added in the laws of all the other local governments, state government, and federal government?

A people that is first freed by the Gospel keeps its freedom by living lives that love the Ten Commandments.

Eight of the commandments are stated negatively (“You shall not…”). Two of the commandments are stated positively.

Peter Leithart says this in his book The Ten Commandments:

Most of the Ten Words are negations: Do not, do not, do not. The prohibited behaviors are like chunks the sculptor chips away to uncover the image of The Thinker lurking in the marble. At the center are two positive commandments: “Remember the Sabbath” and “Honor your father and mother.” When idolatry and hypocrisy have been eliminated, when violence and infidelity and theft and lies have been chiseled off, this is what’s left: a day of joy, and harmony among generations. This is the gem we discover when the mud is washed away, the beauty at the heart of the new creative “Do nots.” This is the life God’s son lives before his Father: Israel, rejoicing with sons and daughters in God who “himself is festival.”

I love this. After we know what not to do, what’s left?

Eating and drinking with the God who loves feasting, and doing that with our parents and our kids to a thousand generations.

What do you think?
Joseph