Does this make sense?
Some things make sense to a majority of people. Take for example, the old ‘don’t shout ‘fire’ in a crowded movie theatre’ even if it’s legal to provide free speech to people. Limitations of freedoms guarantee true freedom for the masses. Biblically if someone killed another accidentally, the Torah gave this murderer a place to await trial that was safe, a ‘city of refuge’, both in the land and even outside the original land of promise. (Numbers 35) The purpose of this refuge was to guarantee both calm in the immediate aftermath rather than an instant retaliation, and assurance that a just trial would take place. Legislation which makes sense to the majority has a built-in relief and agreement.
We have been studying the book of Exodus of late and yesterday’s lesson had mandates for the Jewish people to be a kingdom of priests and to help bring the nations of the world to God by being his agents/ ambassadors and by maintaining our specialness, that is, our being his treasure.
Today we read the 10 commandments, perhaps the most repeated section of Torah throughout the world, throughout history. Even though it’s known especially in Western civilization, there is still no agreement as to the numbering of the commands and even less agreement about the purposes of the phrases. Do the 10 phrases make sense to a majority of people? I dare say that the civilizing of people, who knew only autocracy in Egypt, and mob rule in opposition, this creation of a civil moral code is what most see as the purpose and to them, this is sensible.
The Big 10
1) I am the Lord (.2)
2) Have no other gods (.3), that is make no idols (.4)
3) Don’t take God’s name in vanity (.7)
4) Remember the Sabbath/ keep it holy (.8)
5) Honour your parents (.12)
6) Don’t murder (.13)
7) Don’t adulterate your marriage (.14)
8) Don’t steal (.15)
9) Don’t swear falsely (.16)
10) Don’t covet (.17)
That’s a commandment?
I love that the first commandment is not a command at all. It’s a reminder of who is stipulating the rest of the code. For all generations, this list is designed to showcase the basis of it; that is a relationship between the people of God and the God of the people. Anything less than that is merely construct, formula, religion, and rules.
When people argued (and continue to argue) in the US southern states for the placing of the Two Tablets (the nickname of the Big 10), saying it’s a moral code that even unbelievers can observe, they miss the very thing they are trying to enforce. No, this is not (only) a moral code. It’s a statement of a relationship between God and his people. “Commandment” #1 is the identifying marker of authorship. Getting to “Don’t steal” without going through Phrase #1 is merely making a rulebook for former slaves.
Have you known another Hebrew nickname of these sayings? It is the “Aseret hadivrot” (The 10 words). A word can be a single word or a phrase. It’s the concept that makes each stand out. So don’t miss the identifier of the author.
The real purpose
Skip to verse 20 and you will see the Bible’s answer to the giving of the Decalogue (Deca=10; Logos=words).
“Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid; for God has come in order to test you, and in order that the fear of Him may remain with you, so that you may not sin.”
Here in what we might call “a 20/20 vision,” God tells the Jewish people (and anyone else who is listening today) that there are three reasons he is giving us these Two Tablets.
1) to test us,
2) that we will fear him in the long range and
3) so that we don’t sin.
If our thesis is right that the First Phrase is to make our eyes turn to him, then this 20/20 vision highlights it again. The test is not (only) compliance to the rules, but also to be and stay in relationship with God, no matter what else, in sickness and in health, in poverty and wealth, in the Land and outside.
Testing is not like a school examination to see how much we know, but rather more of a showcase, to demonstrate what is already there. If we allow ourselves to be in relationship with the Almighty, so that others see it, and so that we see it ourselves in the mirror when we are alone or in public, then we will ‘prove’ whose we are.
This same “Proof” sentiment is taught by the Apostle Paul in Romans 12. “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Proof is in the pudding, yes, but it’s the self-proving, like Abraham experienced in the Akedah (Genesis 22) with Isaac. God already knew and knows us. The test is for us!
The purpose is to re-mind ourselves daily, sometimes hourly, that we should fear him, and that we should not sin. Don’t rush the sin-less thinking. Again Paul wrote the Romans that the “kingdom of God is not eating and drinking.” In other words it’s not the rules! He finishes that thought with “but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (14.17)
Being right with God (that’s what Paul means by righteousness) is how this Kingdom works. It’s how the 10 phrases work. It’s how life with God works.
I’m writing this on an airplane as I’m flying over Abu Dabi and Doha, on my way to Istanbul. Those people who abound in those cities consider their religion a ‘submission’ to Allah, and if I read their literature accurately, they fear breaking his code of conduct. Similarly, in a few days, Jewish people worldwide will start the 10 days of fear, ending on Yom Kippur. They beat their breast and ask God over and over to forgive them and are never quite sure if forgiveness will be extended to them.
If you get the purpose wrong, the results will never happen.
Be right with God, today, in Yeshua, our Messiah and Saviour. Then comes peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. That makes sense to me. I hope it does to you as well.
(Photo from Nashville's Sherith Israel Synagogue... two chances to see the Two Tablets)
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