Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Co 1:3). Amen.
We usually speak of it in the singular. God’s word. And that is what the Bible is—from start to finish. But it also can be in the plural. That is because God’s Word has God’s words.
That is especially clear as the children of Israel camp at Mt. Sinai. “God spoke” (Ex 20:1). He used human words to convey his divine message and to communicate his divine will just like when we put our thoughts into sentences for those around us. Since they are God’s words, view them properly—seeing your Savior-God and seeing your single goal. We read from …
Exodus 20:1-17
Dear People of the Lord your God who speaks to you individually,
You have heard the different feelings toward these words.
Some look on them sarcastically. They label them “suggestions.” It is like 10,000 steps/day. It is sensible to shoot for. But I don’t really have to get there. Sweaty foreheads are gross anyway. You don’t want to wick that away.
Others look at them ridiculously. They list them as “recommendations.” It is like the serving size on a 24-ounce bag of chips. It is great to strive for. But I don’t really have to share. Greasy fingers are good anyhow. You can wipe that off on a shirt.
Because these are God’s words, a summary of the moral law for all people, we have the opposite outlook. (Thanks to the change he has worked in our hearts and heads.) We understand because we don’t like when others disrespect or disregard our words.
We look on them seriously as the words of God.
We look at them reverently as the words from God.
View God’s Words Properly
1. Seeing your Savior-God (1-17)
2. Seeing your single goal (1-17)
1. Seeing your God (1-17)
It depends on who stands behind the words. It is one thing if a stranger tells a child to make his bed. It is another if it is his mother. Since it is the Lord your God who demands your attention, view God’s Word’s properly—seeing your Savior-God.
There was no missing that this matter was significant as Israel looked out from their tents at Mt. Sinai. “There was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast” (Ex 19:16). It is not hard to imagine a few knees knocking (Ex 19:16). God knows how to make an entrance. If we kicked off church that way, you would probably sit up and settle down. And then Moses writes: “And God spoke all these words” (Ex 20:1).
He starts by introducing himself (not that they didn’t know him). That is critical in understanding God’s Words. He didn’t want to alarm them, but assure them.
He reminds them who he is: “I am the LORD your God” (Ex 20:2). It was at this same place that he had appeared to Moses at the burning bush—the great “I AM WHO I AM” (Ex 3:14). He is. He is changeless and timeless—continual and constant.
His love is not fickle. Another time he explained the meaning of his name to Moses: “compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness” (Ex 34:6). And he does not withhold his mercy: “showing love to a thousand generations” (Ex 20:6). That is code for something innumerable and immeasurable like we would state that there are thousands of stars in the night sky.
And yet his justice is firm. God hates sin (Ps 5:5): “punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me” (Ex 20:5). Each person is responsible for his own activity (Eze 18:20), but the Lord takes note when fathers pass down to their offspring what is crooked or twisted and the resulting guilt of that. A quick example is a dad who has no time for God and his Word will more than likely had that influence down to succeeding generations.
That is because he “a jealous God” (Ex 20:5). Not in a sinful, petty way like us when we consider everyone spoiled except for us. It carries with it the connotation of demanding exclusive loyalty like a husband does of his wife—that she treat him like no other and above any other. He doesn’t want her chasing after other guys. God doesn’t want us running after other gods—loving him with our whole heart. Notice how that is the First Commandment. First in order and importance. God won’t give his glory to another (Is 42:8).
And not just God. But “your God.” We can claim him as our own too.
He recalls for them what he did: “who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery” (Ex 20:2). He heard their cries and kept his promise (Ex 3:7). Think of those 10 Plagues that the Lord used to convince Pharaoh to let his people go all the way to crossing the Red Sea on dry ground.
That opening is crucial as we view God’s Words properly. We see him as our Savior-God. Because here is the question: True or False: I have kept the Ten Commandments.
In our relationship with our God, that means …
The First Commandment: not putting someone or something before God—like a person or our portfolio.
The Second Commandment: not cursing or swearing or even punctuating texts with an OMG. (Isn’t an exclamation mark two characters less anyway?)
The Third Commandment: not despising preaching and his Word by refusing to listen to it.
In our relationship with our neighbor, that means …
The Fourth Commandment: not angering parents or those in authority by our backtalk.
The Fifth Commandment: not hurting or harming our neighbor’s body, or our own, with insults from our mouth or inactivity on the couch.
The Sixth Commandment: not giving into lust, but keeping the marriage bed pure (He 13:4).
The Seventh Commandment: not going after the next IToy as if it is going to bring lasting fulfillment.
The Eighth Commandment: not lying to another’s face because they don’t deserve the truth or lying about others behind their back because others don’t deserve the truth.
The Ninth and Tenth Commandments: not wanting something God doesn’t want us to have.
True or False. FALSE. On my own and by myself—no. So great. More guilt.
But that is why we have Lent. We don’t have to get in good with God by perfect obedience. (We just determined that is not possible.) God is holy—free from sin. We are not—far from sin. It is like no germs. At all. I read an internet article this week about 8 places you should never touch in a public restroom. One was the door. It doesn’t matter if it is the one going in or out—of the entrance or the stall. We are covered in worse than disgusting bacteria. And we need more than a paper towel or hand sanitizer.
But we are already in good with him. See your Savior-God. He has rescued us from the slavery of sin—its curse and its control. The Sabbath Day was to call that to mind (Ex 20:8-11)—the perfect rest that Jesus would bring, complete rest for our souls (Mt 11:28). That is why we join with the apostle Paul and proclaim: “We preach Christ crucified” (1 Co 1:23). That is where God placed our sin. It is “the power of God” (1 Co 1:24). That is how God destroyed our sin. It is “the wisdom of God” (1 Co 1:24). That is how God can forgive our sin. But there is more. Jesus came out of the grave as our guarantee that our guilt is gone. Jesus highlighted that after clearing the temple of some abuses going on there. “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days” (Jn 2:19). The Jews would carry out his crucifixion. But Jesus would bring out his resurrection. View God’s Words properly—seeing your Savior-God who took away our guilt through Jesus, our Savior (Mt 1:21). So we can have the same excitement as the psalmist who sang about God’s Word: “The law [that is, teaching] of the LORD is perfect, … giving joy to the heart” (Ps 19:7,8).
2. Seeing your goal (1-17)
And then attitude turns to action. Because it is mom who asks for a made bed, the youngster quickly sprints upstairs and quietly straightens the sheets. Since it is the Lord your God who deserves your appreciation, view God’s Word’s properly—seeing your single goal.
Israel could regard God, not as a cruel dictator, but a kind deliverer. That could/would change their approach from one of grumbling to one of gratitude—a response to his grace and goodness, living according to his holy will.
Our eyesight is sharpened like putting on a new pair of glasses. One more time we can evaluate the statement: True or False: I have kept the Ten Commandments. TRUE. For two reasons: Jesus died for me. Jesus did for me. God took my sin and put it on Jesus. He took Jesus’ holiness and put it on us (2 Co 5:21). So God’s Words are not a “have to,” but a “want to.” They are not a “you must,” but a “thank you.” They are not taking the fun out of life, but putting the direction into it.
How does that look from grateful and thankful hearts?
In our relationship with our God, that means out of love …
The First Commandment: fearing, loving, and trusting God above all things—our #1 priority.
The Second Commandment: praying, praising, and giving thanks.
The Third Commandment: being in and around his Word and sacraments often.
In our relationship with our neighbor, that means out of love …
The Fourth Commandment: respecting those God has put above us and over us.
The Fifth Commandment: being a friend to all.
The Sixth Commandment: leading a pure life as a single person, and loving spouse with tenderness as a married individual.
The Seventh Commandment: protecting the possessions of others while using money wisely.
The Eighth Commandment: taking words and actions in the kindest possible way.
The Ninth and Tenth Commandments: having holy aims and desires.
All the while we will head back to the cross in failure and head out in our endeavors with confidence. View God’s Words properly—seeing your single goal. To God be the glory for all his gifts (1 Co 10:31).
There are certain chapters of God’s Word that stick out. Exodus 20 is one of them because it is God’s Words. It shares God’s salvation of us as well as God’s expectation for us. Jesus removes our sin and revives our spirit. View God’s Words properly—seeing your Savior-God. Believe in him. And seeing your single goal. Live for him. Happy Lent. Amen.
The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you (1 Co 16:23). Amen.
March 4, 2018
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