October 5th, 2014: Covenant and Commandments

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Exodus 19:3-7, 20:1-17

³ while Moses went up to God. The Lord called to him from the mountain, “This is what you should say to Jacob’s household and declare to the Israelites: ⁴ You saw what I did to the Egyptians, and how I lifted you up on eagles’ wings and brought you to me. ⁵ So now, if you faithfully obey me and stay true to my covenant, you will be my most precious possession out of all the peoples, since the whole earth belongs to me. ⁶ You will be a kingdom of priests for me and a holy nation. These are the words you should say to the Israelites.”

⁷ So Moses came down, called together the people’s elders, and set before them all these words that the Lord had commanded him.

Then God spoke all these words:

² I am the Lord your God who brought you out of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

³ You must have no other gods before^[a] me.

⁴ Do not make an idol for yourself—no form whatsoever—of anything in the sky above or on the earth below or in the waters under the earth. ⁵ Do not bow down to them or worship them, because I, the Lord your God, am a passionate God. I punish children for their parents’ sins even to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me. ⁶ But I am loyal and gracious to the thousandth generation^[b] of those who love me and keep my commandments.

⁷ Do not use the Lord your God’s name as if it were of no significance; the Lord won’t forgive anyone who uses his name that way.

⁸ Remember the Sabbath day and treat it as holy. ⁹ Six days you may work and do all your tasks, ¹⁰ but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. Do not do any work on it—not you, your sons or daughters, your male or female servants, your animals, or the immigrant who is living with you. ¹¹ Because the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and everything that is in them in six days, but rested on the seventh day. That is why the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

¹² Honor your father and your mother so that your life will be long on the fertile land that the Lord your God is giving you.

¹³ Do not murder,

¹⁴ Do not commit adultery.

¹⁵ Do not steal.

¹⁶ Do not testify falsely against your neighbor.

¹⁷ Do not desire your neighbor’s house. Do not desire and try to take your neighbor’s wife, male or female servant, ox, donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor.

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Clean your room. Dust the furniture. Walk the dog. Don’t yell at your sister.  Don’t hit your brother.  Wash your hands before dinner.  Be sure to flush the toilet.  Mop the floor. Rake the leaves.  Shovel the sidewalk. Don’t roll your eyes when I’m talking to you!

Do any of these chores sound familiar?  What are some of the other tasks you were given to do as a child? Now how about these?

Pay your taxes.  Pay your bills.  Don’t speed.  Don’t text and drive.  Get your car registered.  Show up for jury duty. 

We have chores and rules as adults too, don’t we?  (And some of those childhood rules should apply to us at any age as well).  Quite often we chafe under the rules that have been put over us.  They sometimes seem like they will ruin our fun.  “Why do I have to mop the floor? I’d much rather play Madden on my Xbox One!!!”  Or, for us adults, “Why do I have to show up for jury duty?  That will really mess up my week!” 

We know that some of these rules are actually for our benefit and safety (“Don’t text and drive” for instance), but just one little, quick text won’t hurt things, will it? The road is empty except for me and this will just take a second…

I often think we look at the Ten Commandments as a set of rules that are meant to take away our fun. Don’t do this or that...and if you do, God will blast you! I imagine the ancient Israelites who first heard these commands coming from the mouth of Moses felt similarly.

Our story today takes place after the LORD has rescued the people from slavery in Egypt and also provided food for them in the middle of the wilderness.  Moses, following the LORD’s instructions, has led the people to Mount Sinai.  They wait at the bottom of the mountain and experience a tremendous pyrotechnic show. The LORD descended on the mountain in fire: the whole mountain shakes; there is smoke, thunder and overwhelming power on display. No wonder the people become afraid!

And then the LORD gives them these “rules,” which have become famous throughout all of history.  But before that happens, the LORD says two other things: first, God reminds the people of their liberation, and then says “you will be a kingdom of priests for me and a holy nation.”

God is giving the people a new way to live: a way where they will live in love and respect for one another and love and devotion toward the LORD.  They are going to be become a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. It’s the job of priests to connect people with God.  Being a “holy” nation means being set apart from everyone else.

In other words, they have a purpose and have been blessed to be a blessing to others.  (This theme shows up once again).  These commandments or “rules” are not meant to take away their (or our) “fun.” They are giving them (and us) a way to live so that people are cared for.

When you read these commandments about honoring father and mother, murdering, stealing, lying and coveting, don’t ask yourself, “Man, do I have to do all of that stuff? It’s exhausting!” Instead, look at these commandments this way: “Wow, wouldn’t it be great to live in a place where people followed these commandments?” It sure would. To live in a place where you don’t have to worry about being murdered, or having your things stolen.  Where you know that people will be honest and that no one will be working hard to take your things because they covet them so badly. 

Much like the rule that says “don’t text and drive,” we are very happy when the other people around us follow God’s commands.  We get to take part in that as well.  Living by these commands will give us a new life, and even when we fail and fall short, we know that God loves us through God’s son Jesus Christ.  When we fall short we can know that Jesus didn’t. When we are faithless we can know that Jesus is faithful.  Amen.