Moses called all the people together and said, “Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your hearing today, that you may learn them and be careful to observe them. The LORD our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. The LORD did not make this covenant with our fathers, but with us, those who are here today, all of us who are alive. The LORD talked with you face to face on the mountain from the midst of the fire. I stood between the LORD and you at that time, to declare to you the word of the LORD; for you were afraid because of the fire, and you did not go up the mountain.”
This was the covenant which the previous generation had entered into in Exodus 24:1-8, however, they were to agree to it. He made the point that it was not entered into by their forefathers but with their fathers who had now died in the wilderness. Moses, himself, spoke to the LORD on their behalf and received His words which he had relayed to them. It had been very scary and hence, the people were afraid of seeing The LORD lest they die, thus Moses had stood on their behalf. He then restated the Ten Commandments, which The LORD had first spoken to him and then given to Him in writing twice.
He began in v6 by reminding them that The LORD their God was the One who had brought them out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. This was the basis of what was to follow, and He had the right to demand their obedience. They wouldn’t have escaped from there, had it not been for The LORD their God. That deliverance alone should have been an incentive to obedience. They knew what they had been saved from and even had His promise for a great future.
In verses 7-21 he restated the Ten Commandments exactly as they had been given in Exodus 20 beginning with ‘You shall have no other gods before Me.” He is the only ONE to be served. He had done so much for them and was worthy of their service and worship. I am not going to go through the Ten Commandments in detail, they are listed clearly in Exodus 20, but I shall just give you a brief detail.
We are in the same position – He has done it all for us and we should not put any god before Him. Only He is worthy of all our worship and service. We have been brought out of a bondage far worse than that of Egypt, the bondage of the world, sin, and the devil. There are many ‘gods’ vying for our allegiance today – fame and popularity, money, success to name but three. The Lord has told us to seek Him first, He will supply our need. He alone deserves our allegiance.
No making of carved images nor worshiping them and serving them (v8-10). The Apostle Paul, Romans 1:22,23, makes it clear that it is futile and dangerous to make idols.
No taking of The LORD’s name in vain. His name is to be hallowed. (v11)
Keep holy the Sabbath Day (v12-15). The Sabbath was made for man. God rested on the seventh day (their Sabbath). It is for our benefit and for His glory. Since the resurrection we worship on the first day of the week, Sunday, despite modern calendars making Monday the first day of the week. Our love for God, service and worship is for every day.
Honour our parents (v16). This is a vital foundation of family life.
You shall not murder (v17). Remember, Jesus explained that ‘hatred’ in one’s heart for another is ‘murder’ (Matthew 5).
You shall not commit adultery (v18). Again, Jesus explained that to look at a woman and lust after her in our heart and mind was at the heart of this command.
You shall not steal (v19). This emphasises property which rightfully belongs to another. Paul writing to the Ephesians 4:28, tells us that the person who steals should steal no more, but work at doing good so that he can give to the person in need. What is perhaps the most serious of all, is that we can rob God of what is rightfully His (Malachi 3:8-10).
You shall not bear false witness (v20). This includes lying, slander, gossip, tale bearing, and even silence in the face of truth.
The story is told of a man who lay dying and a ‘friend’ who had previously spread untrue rumours of him, came to visit him. He said he was sorry; however, the dying man asked him to take his pillow and cut it open so that all the feathers flew out, some through the open window. The dying man asked his visitor to then go and collect them. “That’s impossible,” said the man. “I know,” said the dying man. It goes to show that sometimes it may be impossible, however sorry we might be, to put right what has been said. We must be careful what we say and make sure that it is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Our society will crumble if we dispense with truth. It is a bedrock of our civilisation.
You shall not covet (v21). Covet is to ‘long after.’ It comes initially from the eyes and goes to the mind and often, but not always, to an action. The Bible has much to say about covetousness. Perhaps the best example was King David when he saw a beautiful woman bathing (2 Samuel 10,11). If he had stopped there, everything could have been fine, but he didn’t. He sent to find out who she was and if he had stopped there, he might have been fine. Despite knowing that she was another man’s wife, he sent for her and the inevitable happened – they had sex together and she became pregnant. The story sadly does not end there, he then engineered the death of her husband. What terrible sin ensued from what could have been a casual, even accidental, sighting?
The writer to the Hebrews 13:5 says, “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”” And Paul says, “For this you know, that no… covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God” (Ephesians 5:15). It is clear that covetousness is connected to idolatry.
As I indicated earlier, perhaps the most telling phrase comes next in v22, “And He added no more”. Moses had reminded the people of God’s law and that it was sufficient first time, without any corrections, additions or subtractions. They were written by God Himself on two tablets of stone.
The LORD told Moses that He had heard the reply of the children of Israel and was pleased with them, but He ‘hoped’ that they would fear Him and keep all His commandments that it would go well with them and their children forever. Seems a strange word for God to say ‘hoped’ but He knew what they were like. The command was clear that they were to observe His laws in the land they were heading for and be careful not to turn to the left or right but walk in His ways to prosper in the land. (v28-33)
God gave them a motive for obeying Him – He reminded them that the land was promised to them, and they would prosper in it if they obeyed His word. He loved them and had done so much for them so it was only right that they should obey Him.
We who have The Holy Spirit dwelling in us, as all true Christians do, do not have to strive to keep the Commandments, as He will work through us Christ’s righteousness and help us to live godly lives. The Lord Jesus Christ has born the curse of the law on the cross and we no longer have to practice the rituals of the Old Testament, but God’s law still stands, and we must keep it. Jesus said that if we love Him, we will keep His commandments (John 14:15,23.24)
