[Exodus 19:1-6]
On the third new moon after the people of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that day they came into the wilderness of Sinai. They set out from Rephidim and came into the wilderness of Sinai, and they encamped in the wilderness. There Israel encamped before the mountain, while Moses went up to God. The LORD called to him out of the mountain, saying, "Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the people of Israel: You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.
[Exodus 20:1-17]
And God spoke all these words, saying,
"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 a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.
"You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.
"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
"Honor your father and your mother, 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 his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s."
{Rev. Dwight Yoo}
We are going to a broad gospel perspective on the ten commandments. While we could go in depth, we don't have the time today to do that. So instead we are going to take an aerial survey of God's law.
So for background, on the third new moon since Israel left Egypt, they were near Mount Sinai. God told his people to recall what God did to the Egyptians and brought Israel to Himself. God is reminding them how He saved them. Note that this in the past tense. Why is this important? God saved them first. Then He gave them the law. They are not saved by the law, but they were saved by God's gracious promise. "And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob." - Exodus 2:24 (ESV)
Why Obedience to God's Law Matters
Obedience to the law enables us to enjoy Christ's love and life
"Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine;" - Exodus 19:5
But wait a second, didn't you just say that we are saved by what God did? Yes, I did say that. However, our enjoyment & experience of our standing in God can change. The standing does not change. But whether we enjoy it or not and how we experience it can and does change. How does this look? Consider my son. He carries half my DNA, my wife bore him. He is my son. But if he continues to rebel and not listen to me and devalue me... it will change the relationship. He's still my son, but it would turn into a strained relationship.
Here's another perspective. The laws of God shows the heart of God. Obeying his law brings us closer to God. By following His law, we get closer to God. It draws us closer to Him. And we are drawn into the joy that God has.
"Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
but his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night." - Psalm 1:1
Obedience to the law shapes us to be a community that shares God love and life
Back in those days, communities had idols that they prayed to. God was calling them to be different from them. To follow God alone and not to take on these other idols. I know that these commandments seem pretty normal. Don't murder. Well, yeah, everyone is like that. Murder isn't normal. But if we study a little deeper, we'll see how God calls us to be different. Consider Jesus' words on murder, "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.' But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, 'You fool!' will be liable to the hell of fire." Being angry with your brother is considered the same as murder. That is counter-cultural.
I know that we generally have a individualistic view on faith. But God calls us as a corporate group (nation, kingdom, race..). We are not all called to become evangelists. Not 300 people all doing their own thing. But rather we are called to work together to witness together.
Obedience Leads us to Treasure Christ
All the people answered together and said, "All that the LORD has spoken we will do." - Exodus 19:8 (ESV) This is the right & proper response to God's salvation. God laid down everything for us, anyone who knows & accepts this should have the desire to lay down their lives for Him.
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