Whiteboard: The Living Commandments

Our Lenten "Covenant Sermon Series" continues this week with the story of the 10 Commandments.

We don't tend to think of the 10 Commandments as a covenant (a sacred promise between God and humanity). We tend to think of the 10 Commandments as a set of rules we are honor bound to live by. But take a closer look at those first dozen words.

Then God spoke all these words: I am the Lord your God.

The 10 Commandments are rooted in that divine promise.

God says, "I am the Lord" as in the almighty, as in the creator of heaven and Earth, as in the one who sets us free, as in the ultimate force of all the universe.

But God doesn't stop here. "I am the Lord your God."

That is a covenant.

That is a sacred promise.

That is God reminding us that not only is he the Lord the creator of heaven and earth, the ultimate force of all the universe but he is our God. God is the one who sets us free. God is the one who cares for us, who leads us and guides.

Those first dozen words in the 10 Commandments are autobiography from God, to us. The rest of the words then are how we are supposed to respond to that awesome, almighty promise. If God is with us, then we will have no other gods before him. We'll only use God's name for blessings, not for curses. We'll remember the Sabbath. We'll honor our parents, preserve life, and respect one another.

All of those things come as a response to the holy promise from the Lord -- that he is our God, which us his people. And as such, we're going to live like it. Each and every day.

-------

Exodus 20:1-17 The Ten Commandments

Then God spoke all these words:

I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; you shall have no other gods before me.

You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and the fourth generation of those who reject me, but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments.

You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not acquit anyone who misuses his name.

Remember the Sabbath day, and keep it holy. For six days you shall labor and do all your work. But the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work—you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the alien resident in your towns. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but rested the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and consecrated it.

Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

You shall not murder.

You shall not commit adultery.

You shall not steal.

You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.