ADULT STS LESSON 124 RESTATEMENT OF GOD’S COMMANDMENTS
MEMORY VERSE: “And Moses called all Israel, and said unto them, Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your ears this day, that ye may learn them, and keep, and do them” (Deuteronomy 5:1).
TEXT: Deuteronomy 5:1-33; 6:1-25
Moses restated the Ten Commandments to the children of Israel during their stopover at the plain of Jordan en route the Promised Land. This restatement was necessary for the new generation that was born along the journey to learn to obey and fear God. “And Moses called all Israel, and said unto them, Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your ears this day, that ye may learn them, and keep, and do them” (Deuteronomy 5:1). New believers need to know the basic Christian truths on salvation, sanctification, restitution, Holy Ghost baptism, evangelism, prayer, fellowship of believers and regular intake of God’s word to accelerate their growth in the Lord and to help them overcome temptations (1 Peter 2:2,3). Believers need a constant reminder of the whole truth to keep them spiritually alive, updated and empowered to walk and work for God. In this study, Moses recalled the scene of the original covenant God made with Israel at Mount Sinai, restated the Ten Commandments to which Israel then promised obedience, exhorted them to practical obedience that guarantee divine blessings in the land of promise, emphasised the supremacy of wholehearted love for God and the significance of passing the commandments on to their children.
1.REITERATION OF THE ORIGINAL COVENANT AT SINAI (Deuteronomy 5:1-5,22-33; 4:23; Exodus 19:1- 9; Malachi 4:4; Psalm 29:4; Isaiah 33:14; Hebrews 10:31; 12:29)
Here, Moses repeated his earlier emphasis on the need for Israel to hear, learn, keep and do God’s statues and judgments. As believers, we must be diligent to hear God’s word every day through reading and studying the Bible. We must also learn its content by internalising, meditating and praying for grace required for necessary adjustments, obedience and defence of its truths from being corrupted by false teachers (Jude 3). Moses reminded them of the covenant which God made with them at Horeb (Mount Sinai). At Sinai, all the Israelites who were present entered into the covenant with God in person, while those who were babies or yet unborn entered into it by proxy, through their parents. Though the new generation of the Israelites whom Moses addressed in the text were below twenty years – except Caleb and Joshua – the covenant was made on their behalf (verses 2,3). As they became mature, they needed to confirm and renew it with God (Deuteronomy 29:10- 15). The covenant that God made with Israel included some promises which extended beyond the old generation. He promised to make them a holy nation, a peculiar treasure, a kingdom of priests (Exodus 19:5,6). He also promised them the land of Canaan, but He demanded obedience from the people before these promises would be fulfilled. A covenant is an agreement between two parties, and it remains binding unless it is revoked or renounced by either or both parties.
The effects of a covenant, whether good or bad, can extend to generations yet unborn. God came down upon Mount Sinai and the people saw physical manifestations of His presence. He spoke intimately with them and they heard His voice (verse 4). They also witnessed fire, thunders, lightning, a thick cloud, loud voice of trumpet, smoke, earthquake and a voice at the scene of the covenant (Exodus 19:16-20). These physical emblems so overwhelmed the people of Israel that they were afraid to have God speak to them. They chose to hear from Him through Moses (verses 25-27). Then, God asked Moses to come near to hear further commands and pass on those instructions to His people. His purpose in all these manifestations was to instil in them a reverential fear of His majesty (verse 29). Interestingly, in the new covenant, God has chosen to speak to us primarily through His Son, the Holy Spirit and His written word (Hebrews 1:1,2; John 14:26). The holy writ is a more sure word of prophecy in comparison to visible manifestations (2 Peter 1:16-19). Israel’s attitude at the descent of divine presence at Sinai and God’s response teach us useful lessons.
One, it is easy to profess obedience during striking manifestations of divine presence without heart-felt commitment.
Two, personal spiritual responsibility of hearing and obeying God should not be shifted to others.
Three, we must not stay back while others are gathered to hear God’s word (Hebrews 10:25).
Four, God’s desire is that His people remain obedient to Him so that He could bless them (Psalm 81:13-16; Isaiah 48:18,19; Psalm 119:165; Deuteronomy 32:29; Jeremiah 7:23- 26).
Five, Christ, not any other intermediary, is the Mediator between man and God (1 Timothy 2:5). His sacrifice has opened for us a new, living and direct access to the Father (Hebrews 10:19-22; Ephesians 3:13).
2.RESTATEMENT OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS (Deuteronomy 5:6-21; Exodus 20:2-17; Leviticus 26:1- 12; Matthew 15:4-6,19; 19:18; 22:32-40; Mark 10:19; 12:28-31; Luke 12:13-21; 18:20)
Moses restated the Ten Commandments for the children of Israel, with appropriate commentaries and applications for the new situation in Canaan. God began by saying, “I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage“ (verse 6). This is the basis and context against which the commandments were given. As Creator and Redeemer, He has all rights to legislate for His people. The Ten Commandments were originally written by God on two tables of stone. The first table contained the first four commandments which had to do with the duties of man to God and the second table contained the remaining six commandments which related to man’s duties to his neighbour. The first commandment prohibits idolatry. “Thou shall have none other gods before me” (verse 7). The focus here is on who should be the object of our worship, and that which constitutes the driving force in our lives. There is only one God and He alone should be worshipped. Anything or anyone that we pledge or give allegiance in preference to God is an idol (Ezekiel 14:3; 1 Corinthians 10:14; Galatians 5:20; Colossians 3:5; 1 Peter 4:3).
The second commandment forbids image worship or the use of images in worship. God is a Spirit and He wants to be worshipped in Spirit and truth with exclusive affection and loyalty. The third commandment deals with reverence for God’s name because it is sacred and represents His Person. It forbids the use of God’s name in swearing, cursing, fake worship, divination and blasphemy. The fourth commandment is a directive to keep the Sabbath day holy. Whereas in the original promulgation in the book of Exodus, the reason given for this commandment was on the grounds of creation (Exodus 20:11); here, it was on the grounds of their redemption from Egypt (Deuteronomy 5:14). This law reminds of creation and looks ahead to the perfect rest of the redeemed (Genesis 2:2,3; Hebrews 4:1-11). The fifth commandment concerned reverence for parents, which comes with a promise of longevity of life (Ephesians 6:1-3; Exodus 20:12). To honour one’s parents (biological and spiritual) is to respect, love and care for them but only in things that accord with
God’s will. Disobedience to parents has grievous consequences in the Bible (Deuteronomy 21:18-21; Proverbs 20:20). The sixth commandment was a prohibition of murder in any form; whether by abortion, self-murder/suicide, sorcery, violence, revenge, poisoning or exposing one’s neighbours to anything that can kill them because human life is sacred in God’s sight. The seventh commandment forbids adultery. God said “Neither shalt thou commit adultery“ (verse 18). This promulgation was intended to protect the family life and chastity of God’s people. Adultery in the context of the Ten Commandments includes all forms of sexual impurity. The eighth commandment prohibits theft. This law safeguards the right of ownership and secures the property of our neighbours. Anything that belongs to another person must not be taken or acquired without their approval. This law also extends to kidnapping (stealing a human being). The Bible calls those who engage in such act as men stealers (1 Timothy 1:10). Whether stealing men for ransom, to sell as slaves (children trafficking), for rituals or by those who have a morbid desire to own children, it is sinful to steal a human being. The ninth commandment, meant to protect the good name and reputation of our neighbour, forbids slander, libel, defamation of character, false witness in court (perjury), etc. The tenth commandment prohibits covetousness or inordinate desire for the wife and belongings of our neighbour. As New Testament believers, the proper interpretation and application of these commandments are best obtained from Christ’s teaching. He summarised all the laws into two, namely: love for God and love for fellow humans (Matthew 22:37-40; Galatians 5:14).
The Lord also gave detailed exposition on each of them. Concerning the nature of God and the folly of idolatry, Jesus said, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth“ (John 4:24). He quoted the fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth commandments directly (Matthew 19:18; Mark 10:19; Luke 18:20), and expounded extensively on the fourth commandment, which deals with the subject of Sabbath. Concerning the Sabbath, He taught that it was made for man and not the other way round. By His example, He showed that works of mercy should be done everyday, including the Sabbath, and that the law was not intended to be a burden (Mark 2:23-28). For believers today, the ritual of Sabbath keeping has been done away with through the finished work of Christ. The focus has shifted from the end of natural creation to that of new creation in Christ, by His death and resurrection. On the fifth commandment, Christ pointed out that children should honour their parents and not use any religious obligation as a cloak for neglecting this demand (Matthew 15:4-6).
Concerning the sixth commandment, Christ said, “Whosever is angry with his brother without a cause“ is a defaulter (Matthew 5:21,22). In other words, anger is incipient murder; though not yet carried out but already at the formative stage. Also, on the seventh commandment, Jesus explained that to lust after a woman is adultery in the heart already (Matthew 5:27,28). This means then that the scope of the law was far beyond the physical regulation of human conduct; it extended to the spiritual dimension as well. Then, on the eighth commandment, He recaptured it as “defraud not” (Mark 10:19); and concerning the ninth commandment, He listed false witness as one of the defiling things that proceed from the heart of men (Matthew 15:19). As for the tenth commandment, Jesus warns of greed and that a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses (Luke 12:13- 21).
3.OBEDIENCE, LOVE AND CHILD-TRAINING (Deuteronomy 6:1-25; 9:1-6; 11:19; 1 John 5:3; Proverbs 22:6; Psalm 78:4-6; 2 Timothy 1:5; Proverbs 6:21)
Moses exhorted Israel to keep God’s commandments; that His purpose for giving these commands was that they “might do them“. He also commanded them to love God with their whole being. Knowing, memorising or reciting the commandments will not benefit anyone without obedience. Believers today have a greater privilege in the new covenant of having God’s laws written in their hearts (Jeremiah 31:33; Hebrews 10:16). The Israelites were instructed to preserve and teaching their children the commandments. Each family propagate the knowledge of God’s word and ways by was to teach “thy children” the ways of the Lord “...when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up”. Commitment to teaching and restating the Word continually is the antidote to not forgetting God. Teaching children the fear of God is better done through exemplary living. The goal of teaching, training and mentoring children is to establish them in the faith so they can grow to propagate and practise the same.
Questions for review:
- Why must ministers of the gospel regularly remind their congregation of the gospel truth?
- What challenge can believers receive from Moses’ review of the experiences of Israel at Mount Sinai?
- How are the Ten Commandments grouped and how did Jesus summarise them?
- Briefly state the teachings of Jesus on each of the Ten Commandments.
- What are the proofs of love for God in a person’s life?
- Mention ways we can preserve the holiness heritage for future generations.
- What are the dangers in poverty and prosperity?
