Skip to main content

Lent Day 15

 

Scripture Reading

Exodus 19:5-6, 20:1-17


Exodus contains the story of God rescuing his people from slavery and bondage and bringing them out of Egypt into the wilderness to prepare them for their inheritance of the land promised to Abraham. In Exodus 19, God leads Moses up Mount Sinai to have a little chat. God talks to Moses about Israel being his chosen people whom he will bless and who are set out to be holy, different from all the other peoples of the land. 


Exodus 20 is the account of Moses telling the people the Ten Commandments God had given to them as guidelines of their covenant with him. God was establishing Israel as a holy nation. These ten commandments were not intended to be posted in every public place in Israel, rather they were intended to serve as the contract or guidelines of God's covenant treaty with Israel. The Ten Commandments were to remind Israel of who God is and who they were. That's why the beginning focuses on God and his act of saving the people from slavery in Egypt. The stipulation of the covenant falls on God. It was not a covenant that was dependent on Israel's faithfulness. All we have to do to see that, is read the rest of the Old Testament and see that time after time Israel breaks God's Law and is continually unfaithful to God. The incredible thing about God's covenant here in Exodus is that God provides his grace to Israel because he knows that they are not going to be able to stay faithful to all the commandments. The good news for Israel and the good news for us is that God does not withdraw his love for us and commitment to us even when we are unfaithful. That's how BIG his love is!


There is one more important thing to point out about the Ten Commandments. Notice how the first part focuses on the vertical, it deals with our relationship to God as individuals and then the second part focuses on the horizontal, the relationships we have with different people. Do you remember what Jesus said when he was asked what the greatest commandment was? Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”


The Law has always been about loving God and loving others. Can you honestly say that you are trying to live out these two commandments that our whole faith is based on? 


Prayer: Yahweh, thank you for your Law that points out my need for your grace. Jesus satisfied all the requirements of the Law on my behalf so that I might walk in a covenant relationship with you. Thank you for the history of the salvation of your people through the Exodus event and how it reminds me of my own salvation experience. May your name be praised! Amen.


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Sermon Soundtrack Vol. 3

 I've been listening to my usual eclectic variety of music the past few weeks. I did want to mention two new releases that intrigued me this week.  Penny and Sparrow released a new album, Olly, Olly. Cyd and I saw them in concert in Savannah several years ago opening for a couple of other bands and we really like their sound.  Johnny Swim is another band I've been listening to again. They are a mainstay in my study playlist.  I pulled up the Mumford an Sons live album at Red Rocks too. Pedro the Lion is a band fronted by David Bazan. I like some of David's early solo work and the older catalogue of Pedro the Lion. This new disc seems to be an exploration of reflective music. 

Grieving With Hope

This past week has brought a sense of heaviness in my heart. My oldest child graduated from high school. She has achieved all that I could have possibly dreamed she would up to this point in life. To say I'm proud is an understatement. Completion of high school also means that life in our family is shifting. It won't quite be the same because she will experience a new season of life that will bring fresh experiences and countless life lessons. As I've talked to Cyd the last few days we both agree we feel a sense of sadness while simultaneously finding our hearts filled with hope for what is to come for our graduate.  Truthfully, the heaviness I feel is linked to other factors. For starters, this week marks 11 years since my Dad died from pancreatic cancer. I'm not a big death anniversary kind of person, but reaching a milestone with a child makes you miss a parent even more. The interesting thing about grief is that for most people, not a day goes by that you don't ...

Lent Day 40

Scripture Reading Matthew 21:1-9 Today is Palm Sunday, the day that we prepare for Easter by celebrating Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem. Some churches celebrate Palm Sunday by having children enter the sanctuary waving palm branches as a reminder of this sacred day. Other churches will have people waving palm branches lining the center aisle of the church as someone dressed as Jesus enters the sanctuary. In both instances, what is happening is a visual reminder of the majesty of Jesus Christ who is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  The reaction of the crowd represents their acknowledgement of Jesus as the long-expected Messiah. The greeting that Jesus received (vs.9) was used in Psalm 118 to greet pilgrims as they entered Jerusalem during the Feast of the Tabernacles. Hosanna essentially means "save," but was probably used here as an exclamation of praise to Jesus. The phrase Son of David describes Jesus' fulfillment that the Messiah would be a descendant ...