The Ten Commandments: Deuteronomy 5  (4)

Opening Prayer: Psalm 19.7, 8
The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul;
The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;
The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes…

Psalm 19.7, 8
(St. Christopher: Beneath the Cross of Jesus)
The Law of God is perfect, His testimony sure.
The simple man God’s wisdom learns, the soul receives its cure.
God’s Word is right, and His command is pure, and truth imparts;
He makes our eyes to understand; with joy He fills our hearts.

Today’s Text: Deuteronomy 5.16-21

Preparation
1. How do these commandments encourage love for neighbors?

2. What does the tenth commandment address?

Meditation
The first four commandments outline our duty in loving God. The last six guide us in loving our neighbors. The Law of God thus provides reliable and unchanging guardrails for traveling the path of righteousness. To set this Law aside, or to neglect it, is to encourage the flourishing of wickedness (Prov. 28.4), blunt the efficacy of your prayers (Prov 28.9), relegate yourself to Kingdom mediocrity (Matt. 5.17-19), and cool the fires of love for God and our neighbors in your soul (Matt. 24.12).

As you read through these six commandments, try doing two things. First, get in mind the people in your Personal Mission Field, especially those you expect to see or communicate with today. Second, as you read through the commandments – especially 6-10 – set them into a positive frame. Of course, you don’t want to murder your neighbors, or even harbor ill will toward them (Matt. 5.22); but what can you do to enrich their lives today? How will you guard your heart against lust (Matt. 5.27, 28)? You perhaps will not steal from your neighbors today, but can you think of anything you can do to add to their lives? Resist every temptation to lie or stretch the truth; instead, plan and pray now for grace to speak the truth in love at every opportunity (Eph. 4.15). Instead of allowing covetousness to take root in your heart, cultivate the discipline of thanksgiving and the attitude of contentment in all things.

Obeying the Law of God is the source of full and abundant life in Christ (Lev. 18.1-5; Jn. 14.6). We don’t obey the Law to gain Christ, but to increase in Him in every aspect of our lives. The Law cannot save us; only Jesus can do that. But once He saves us, He calls us to follow Him, and that means keeping the commandments of God (1 Jn. 2.1-6). Thus, the more we meditate on these commandments and pray through them each day, the more we can expect to increase in them and in Jesus.

Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
“Honor your father and your mother…” (Deut. 5.16). This is our first foray into obeying the relational commandments. Parents are our first attempt at personal interactions. These are not always people who are easy to love; but love and honor them we must. What better place to begin to work on obedience and grace? In Proverbs 3.27 we’re told, “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do so.” There is a pattern here. We start at the very beginning and then move outward – from our relationship to God, then at home, then on to others. It is the same pattern that Jesus has set up for us as believers in Him: “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1.8). The internal change gradually moves outward. “Love does no harm…therefore love is the fulfillment of the law” (Rom. 13.10). First at home. Then to the world.

Reflection
1. Why are these commandments, rather than, say, suggestions?

2. How does keeping the Ten Commandments help us to grow in love for God and our neighbors? What kind of love is this?

3. What can you do to add reflecting on the Ten Commandments as part of your spiritual life?

There the finger of God worked upon tables of stone: here upon the hearts of men. So there the law was set outside men to be a terror to the unjust: here it was given within them to be their justification. “For this: you shall not commit adultery, you shall do no murder, you shall not covet, and if there be any other commandment”—written, as we know, upon those tables—“it is briefly comprehended,” said the apostle, “in this saying: you shall love your neighbor as yourself. Love works not a neighbor’s ill: and charity is the fullness of the law.” Augustine (354-430), On the Spirit and the Letter 17.29

Keep me from desiring anything more than You, Lord, so that I…

Closing Prayer: Psalm 19.9-14
Thank God for His Law and all His Word. Listen in silence as He searches your soul. Confess your sins and repent; then go forth renewed in God’s Word and Spirit to serve Him today.

Psalm 19.9-14
(St. Christopher: Beneath the Cross of Jesus)
The fear of God is cleansing, forever shall it last.
His judgments all are true and just, by righteousness held fast.
O seek them more than gold most fine, than honey find them sweet.
Be warned by every word and line; be blessed with joy complete.

Who, Lord, can know his errors? O keep sin far from me!
Let evil rule not in my soul that I may blameless be.
O let my thoughts, let all my words, before Your glorious sight
Be pleasing to You, gracious Lord, acceptable and right!

T. M. and Susie Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All quotations from Church Fathers from Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy: Ancient Christian Commentary Series III, Joseph T. Lienhard, S. J. ed. in collaboration with Ronnie J. Rombs, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2001). All quotations from John Calvin from John Calvin, Commentaries on The Four Last Books of Moses Arranged in the Order of A Harmony, Rev. Charles William Bingham M. A., tr. and ed. (Edinburgh: The Calvin Translation Society, 1863. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (available by clicking here).