God spoke to the Israelites right before they entered into the promised land of Canaan. God says: The only thing you need to do is to remember My Commandments and I will bless you.
Biblical values are values of our life, something that we live by, a foundation that I hold down and decides the direction of my life. Bible teaches us to live by the 10 Commandments, the law of God. When we ask: What should I do? It always leads to the law of God, and also the law of God that Jesus explains to us. There is amazing love found in the law of God.
In any country, the law gives definitions and guidance to our thoughts and ideologies. It is essential for a country or society to be formed. This law in a kingdom is called sovereignty. That is exactly what Adam had lost in the Garden of Eden, when he rejected God’s Word, he rejected God’s law. As a result, mankind went down a spiral and perished. Destruction comes as a result of rejecting the sovereignty of God.
Later through Moses God gives this law, the purpose is to restore us from destruction. Israel is the centre of the world. The centre of Israel is the temple in Jerusalem. The centre of the temple is the ark of the covenant in the Holy of Holies. Inside the ark of the covenant were the 2 tablets of stone upon which the 10 Commandments were written. Therefore we can conclude that the 10 Commandments is the centre of the world.
The 10 Commandments explain the core of God’s Word given to Adam, and the message to be delivered and given to us through Jesus Christ. The 10 Commandments are the gospel of freedom, love and grace. (Exodus 20:1-17)
The law is spoken by God and is given as the basis of freedom. Therefore if we reject God’s law, we are enslaved by something else, and we are not free. When people realise there are values, there are restrictions and laws. The reason why God gave the law to us, is because in the eyes of God we are valuable. The reason why God gave us the 10 Commandments is to protect the love between God and us. To restore God’s love in us, and our love for God also. So the law is given because of love, and Jesus said, the law is fulfilled through love.
The 10 Commandments were first given through God’s audible voice, God Himself spoke it. So, it holds that powerful authority. This authority is above government, kingdom, and anything on this earth.
Why is the law of God core to our values?
It teaches us who God is, how, when and with what attitude we ought to worship Him. It teaches us about our relationship with God, His name, His time (Sabbath), and other people He cares for such as our parents whom He used for our own existence and other people whom He loves. The 10 Commandments tell us about God’s deep love for mankind. All the human rights that need to be protected are in the 10 Commandments. The law of God helps us to see the world and see God, through the lens of His love, according to His perspective. Moreover, the law reminds us we are His children and we are free. The law is not for Him but for us.
The law tells us to not worship any other gods. Idols can be our phones, money, ourselves, work, our education, our ideologies etc. It is only by the law of God that we can have true justice, equality, rights for humanity and freedom. All good systems like education, love, and wealth, cannot exist without God.
If more people worship God and follow the law of God, this world would be a better place to live. People would respect each other, and love each other better, in a more sane and biblical way. The commandments also tell us not to use God’s name in vain. Did you know this is the only commandment in the bible that states God will certainly punish you if you use God’s name in vain?
Exodus 20:7 (ESV) “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.
“Take” in Hebrew is nasar: Means to take, lift high, carry. It is not just about using God’s Word in our vocabulary but about carrying it, and living it in our lives. Can you proudly tell people out there, that I am a Christian? Will people recognise and acknowledge that you are a Christian? God says: Carry My name properly.
The last commandment tells us not to covet. This is the only commandment that is about our thoughts and not our behaviour. Coveting is in our minds and thoughts. It is because we covet due to our greed, that we end up committing murder, adultery, stealing, and lying. It is the covetousness that Satan sowed into the hearts of Adam and Eve that they committed sin. Because of them, everyone else born afterwards has to die.
Love is the core of God’s law. If you want to keep all of God’s laws, we have to have the love of God, and the love of neighbours. If you want to break every single covenant, be greedy. The 10 Commandments are about God’s love vs your greed. What we choose determines the values we have in our lives.
The end of the 10 Commandments is Jesus Christ. A lot of people try to separate the Old Testament law and Jesus Christ. But Jesus said I came not to abolish the law but to fulfil it.
Let’s think about the 10 Commandments in reflection to Jesus.
1. Jesus is the only one to be worshipped (John 10:30, 36-39)
2. Method and means of worship – Do not worship idols (John 4:24)
3. Attitude and mindset and core of worship – do not exalt things in vain, but only the name of the One who receives our worship (John 8:53-58)
4. Time of worship (Matthew 12:8)
5. Honour your father and mother – Know and believe in the true Father (Matthew 8:21-22)
6. Do not murder – Do not kill Jesus! (John 7:19, 8:37)
7. Do not commit adultery – we are the bride of Christ (Matthew 25:1-4, Revelation 19:6-8)
8. Do not steal – do not take Jesus’ place or things (hearts/souls) that are not permitted to us (Matthew 21:13, Mark 11:17, Luke 19:46)
9. Do not lie – not understanding the truth and speaking non-truths is a lie (John 14:6)
10. Do not covet (Luke 12:15-18)
Conclusion: Why did God give us the Law? (Deuteronomy 7:12-16)
If you keep the law of God, listen to God’s statutes and do them, God will give you everything. This is the blessing of lovingkindness of God being with you. May the law of God become the foundation upon which we build our house, faith, and lives. So that your life and your family will be a beautiful one that will be merged into the kingdom of God in the end.
AMEN.
