Saturday's Scripture Story
Giving of the Ten Commandments
Exodus 20:1-17
1 And God spoke all these words:
2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
3 “You shall have no other gods before me.
4 “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
7 “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
8 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
12 “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
13 “You shall not murder.
14 “You shall not commit adultery.
15 “You shall not steal.
16 “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
Older generations can't think of this story without Charlton Heston popping into their minds. The younger generation hardly knows who Charlton Heston is, let alone the Ten Commandments he famously threw and shattered in the movie by that name.
The fuller story includes Exodus 19 and following chapters, but here in chapter 20 we find these commandments etched in stone by God for Moses and His people, later broken – physically and spiritually.
They've been etched in stone here in the United States too – and broken many, many times as well. Nowadays, it's hard to find a place for them in our country. But the real question is what place do they have in your world.
Beyond being able to enumerate the Ten Commandments is this question: Do you understand the spirit of the laws and do you carry them out to the glory of God?
Prayer Prompt
Ask God to teach you the spirit behind the Commandments. Consider meditating on one a day as you work your way through them. Pull out that old catechism you've had since confirmation and work through the questions that come with each commandment. It would be good for you… and if you’re asking “what catechism?”, ask a friend or pastor and see what happens!