Ten Words
Ten Words
And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. (Deuteronomy 6:6)
I always struggle…you know, when you are typing an answer or giving feedback in a text box and then read in tiny print that the answer, I am giving must be less than whatever number of words or characters is given. A thought I have had is when I see that limiter, “Then why do you want me to answer knowing there is a chance I may not be able to share with you all I would like to tell you?” I cannot tell you the number of times I ran out of words/characters. Ugh! I am sure there is a reason, but I have become less motivated to give a review or pose a question when I have to be attentive to my word count.
God gave Moses ten commandments. Commandments also called “words” (Exodus 34:28; Deuteronomy 10:4) denote the base of what it means to be in covenant with God. The term “words” is also used in Deuteronomy 6:6. Moses had just restated the commandments God had given him on the Mt. Siani. This, most likely, is what Moses is capturing when he says to the new generation of Israelites about to enter the Promised Land, “And these words…”, i.e., God’s ten command sayings.
These “words” for today, provide a great common ground among for religions today. They have been a great and simple way to communicate faith, morality, and relationship to God and humankind. The instructions given in these brief, succinct statements are foundational, good ways for one to choose to live one’s life.
Below are some quotes from various persons who have provided thought and comment on God’s Ten Words:
The law of the ten commandments is a law of God’s making; a law of his own speaking.” (John Wesley, John Wesley’s Notes on the Bible)
“It (the commandments) tells us, not what God is, for that is only shown in Jesus Christ, but what man should be. It combines in a concise form that moral code which is part of the nature of things and is written on man’s conscience.” (F. B. Meyer, Through the Bible Day by Day)
“This law God had given to man before (it was written in his heart by nature); but sin had so defaced that writing that it was necessary, in this manner, to revive the knowledge of it.” (Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible)
“God gave us the Ten Commandments to us, and the reason is because He wants us to live good lives—lives that are peaceful and happy and productive.” (Billy Graham, “Answers,” from Billy Graham.org)
“The Ten Commandments were not given with a consideration for human ability or inability to keep them; they are the revelation of God’s demands made of men and women who had declared that if God would make His law known they would keep it.” (Oswald Chambers, “God’s Oughts in the Old Testament”, from sermonindex.net)
“God’s commands are designed to guide you to life’s very best.” (Henry Blackaby quote)
These quotes help us to connect to the Author who originally spoke the ten words to Moses. He is still speaking them to us today and now, through the filter of Christ who came to fulfill the law and not abolish them. (Matthew 5:17).
Where I struggle to often get my number words under the limit, God had no problems to get to the point on how He would want His people, all people to live, love, and obey.
Shema living/parenting encourages applying and teaching God’s commands for daily living. For more information and our book Shema Parenting go to, www.shemaliving.com.
To hear Him,
Ernest M. Graham, EdD, DEdMin
Numbers 6:24-26
