<\/p>\n
Exodus 20:1-22:15<\/strong><\/span> Exodus chapter 20 brings us the Ten Commandments! <\/span>A great overview and commentary on the Ten Commandments is online at bible.org <\/span>at this link<\/span>.\u00a0 I think this image below is helpful in that it shows the first 4 commandments are about our relationship with God and the next 6 about our relationship with people:<\/span><\/p>\n Verse 19 in this chapter is intriguing as the Israelites speak to Moses: \u201c\u201dYou tell us what God says, and we will listen. But don\u2019t let God speak directly to us. If he does, we will die!\u201d\u201d <\/em>The NIV Study Bible commentary suggests that this is the first time that people asked for a \u201cmediator\u201d between them and God.\u00a0 And that mediator is initially fulfilled in Moses, then in the Aaronic \/ Levitical priests, then in the prophets, and then finally in Jesus Christ \u2013 our final mediator.\u00a0 Powerful for each of us to consider\u2026 Who is the mediator between you and God?<\/span><\/p>\n I liked reading and considering the simplicity of God\u2019s instructions on the proper use of altars in verses 24 & 25: \u201c\u201dThe altars you make for me must be simple altars of earth\u2026. Build altars in the places where I remind you who I am, and I will come and bless you there. If you build altars from stone, use only uncut stones. Do not chip or shape the stones with a tool, for that would make them unfit for holy use.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 For some reason the simplicity of these altars stood in stark contrast to the religiosity Jesus goes after in our Matthew readings today.\u00a0 Maybe God likes us to keep things simple?\u00a0 This is an interesting thing to consider.\u00a0 The gospel message is not complicated.\u00a0 It\u2019s simple.\u00a0 Sometimes I think we do a pretty good job of complicating it for ourselves or others though.\u00a0 When maybe instead we should just be sharing with others our simple altars to God\u2026.<\/span><\/p>\n Exodus chapter 21 dives into some regulations surrounding slavery.\u00a0 I know this brings up some questions.\u00a0 The One Year Bible Companion today covers this topic at a high level: \u201cThe Hebrews, though freed from slavery, had slaves themselves.\u00a0 A person could become a slave because of poverty, debt, or even crime.\u00a0 But Hebrew slaves were treated as humans, not property, and were allowed to work their way to freedom.\u00a0 The Bible acknowledges the existence of slavery but never encourages it.\u201d\u00a0 For further study on this topic \u2013 Bible.org has commentary on slavery in the Bible <\/span>at this link<\/span>, and <\/span>at this link<\/span>, and <\/span>at this link<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n Today in Exodus chapter 21 we read the very well-known verses 24 & 25: \u201cIf an eye is injured, injure the eye of the person who did it. If a tooth gets knocked out, knock out the tooth of the person who did it. Similarly, the payment must be hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 What you may not realize about this \u201claw of retaliation\u201d is that it actually was meant to limit the punishment to fit the crime, which prevented cruel and barbaric punishments that were seen in many ancient cultures.\u00a0 Meaning \u2013 before this law it might have been seen as \u201cacceptable\u201d for someone to kill someone in return for knocking out an eye \u2013 whereas this law limited the retaliation to fit the crime.\u00a0 Jesus of course invokes the higher law of love in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5 verses 38 through 42: \u201cYou have heard that the law of Moses says, `If an eye is injured, injure the eye of the person who did it. If a tooth gets knocked out, knock out the tooth of the person who did it.\u2019 But I say, don\u2019t resist an evil person! If you are slapped on the right cheek, turn the other, too. If you are ordered to court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too. If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles. Give to those who ask, and don\u2019t turn away from those who want to borrow.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Do you see how Jesus exemplified this higher law of love for us through his ministry, life, death and resurrection? Bible.org has a great article titled \u201cJesus and the Law of Retaliation (Lex Talionis)\u201d<\/strong> at this link.<\/span><\/p>\n I find it very fascinating to read all of the laws in these chapters today.\u00a0 I think what is incredible is to remember is that these laws are coming directly from God to the Hebrews.\u00a0 I find it very encouraging that God is so interested in the minutiae details that are discussed in these laws!\u00a0 God is not an impersonal God who just sets up the universe like a clock and lets it tick.\u00a0 God is engaged and concerned with our behavior \u2013 back then and today!\u00a0 Do you believe that God is engaged and concerned with your behavior today? <\/span><\/p>\n Worship Video:<\/strong>\u00a0 Today\u2019s readings in Exodus about the Ten Commandments reminds me of Nichole Nordeman\u2019s song \u201cHoly:\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n
~ Click here to read today\u2019s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~<\/span><\/em>
~ Listen to today\u2019s Scripture with <\/em>The ESV Bible<\/em><\/span> ~<\/p>\n