Holy Men of God - 04
- The "words" - Ezek. 20:1
- "Words of the Covenant"-Deut. 5:22
· We read in Exodus 31:18 that they were written by God Himself and given to Moses at Matt. Sinai.
· Moses returned from the mountain and found the people worshipping a golden calf fashioned by non-other than Aaron, Moses' brother. Exodus 32:15-16 says that Moses broke the tablets with God's commands in anger.
· God gave Moses a second set which were eventually deposited in the Ark of the Covenant - kept in the holy of holies - Exodus 34:1 and 40:20.
- These were eventually lost.
· Now there are different opinions as to how the commandments were separated on the tablets.
*The concept that some commandments were on one stone and the others were on another led many to imagine how they may have been.
· The custom at the time for the declaration of laws by a king was that 2 copies were made. One for the king, one for the people.
A. Scholars are fairly certain that according to the custom of the period, God fashioned 2 writing tablets of stone - all 10 commandments on a single tablet front and back times 2.
B. Both were then put into the ark, since this is where God and man met.
· Augustine (4th century theologian) supposed that there were 3 on one and 7 on the other.
A. He was the one who grouped the 1st and 2nd command into one command and divided the 10th into 2 commands - a division Roman Catholics use to this day.
· Later Protestant theologians (i.e. Calvin - 16th century) as well as modern scholars have grouped them into 4 and 6 on respective tablets.
A. This accommodates length, divides the duties to God and man, and also reduces well to 2 basic commands as Jesus said in Matt. 22:34.
|
Augustine/R.C. |
Calvin/Prot. |
|
God/Images-1 |
God-1 |
|
Name-2 |
Images-2 |
|
Sabbath-3 |
Name-3 |
|
Parents-4 |
Sabbath-4 |
|
Murder-5 |
Parents-5 |
|
Adultery-6 |
Murder-6 |
|
Theft-7 |
Adultery-7 |
|
Lies-8 |
Theft-8 |
|
Covet Goods-9 |
Lies-9 |
|
Covet Wife-10 |
Covet-10 |
§ Division notwithstanding, these were not totally new ideas.
o The commands concerning the treatment of others were already incorporated in Egyptian legal codes.
o The command to respect God's "name" was also followed by the more enlightened cultures in their religious practice.
§ What was truly new were the 1st, 2nd, and 4th commands:
o To worship only one God because only one existed - this was new.
o To refrain from characterizing God with idols and images - this was new.
o To set aside a particular day, every week for the worship of God - this was new and particular to the Jewish people.
§ Altogether the commandments summarized the basic moral responsibilities men had towards each other and introduced the true nature of God and an acceptable way of addressing Him.
* And all of this was given to man with the accompaniment of miracles to confirm the truth.
Review of the Commandments.
A. What is the 1st Commandment?
§ What principle is involved?
o God/Jesus as only object of worship.
o God/Jesus as 1st priority.
B. What is the 2nd Commandment?
§ What principle is involved?
o Keep a proper/Biblical vision of God/Jesus.
I. The 3rd Commandment
· Exodus 20:7 - Note another command that states the ordinance and the punishment for failure to comply.
A. Names in Jewish Culture
· To properly understand this command we have to understand the role of "names" in Jewish and other ancient cultures.
· For these people (as well as indigenous cultures here in America) a person's name represented his heritage, his character, his role in the community, it was given with this in mind.
A. Eve: "the mother of all living" Gen. 3:20 or "life-giver".
B. Abraham: "Father of many nations"-Genesis 17:5
C. Jesus: Greek form of the Hebrew name Joshua which means "Jehovah saves".
• This focus on names is less prevalent in our society but it is nevertheless still important.
o How many would name your sons Adolph or your daughters Jezebel?
o How many of you have names that mean something or represent someone?
§ Examples... (Paul - Bible, Jane - gracious)
§ Even for us today, names are meaningful and important.
D. The Name of God.
§ God revealed His "name" to the Jews as "Jehovah".
· This name in Hebrew means "self-existent/eternal".
§ This name implies not only who God is but also denotes His nature, His Power, and His authority among other things.
§ Because He is what His name represents, the 3rd Commandment requires us to use that name as well as other references to Him with respect.
· The inference is that to use references (i.e. God's name) without respect is to disrespect God Himself and God promises to punish those who do so.
o People who have unusual or complex family names can relate if you make fun of my name, you make fun of me.
o Because God is supreme and unique as God, anything that lacks respect is an offence to Him.
II. How do we break this Commandment?
We do it in a variety of ways:
1. Using God's Name to witness in frivolous matters:
o "I swear to God, I'll be there on time"
o "This is the best______ under heaven"
· This does not mean we cannot take an oath using God as our witness. (I.e. oath of office/marriage/court).
· These are serious things and we are asking God to witness and help us carry out our duties and responsibilities - not using His name to validate ourselves or our witness.
· It is a serious offence to violate an oath or covenant that we have asked God to witness.
· The patriarchs in the O.T. saw the value and seriousness of oaths and covenants - so much so that they took God as witness when they made a promise or offered a blessing.
o In Matt. 5:37 when Jesus teaches on oaths, He is instructing the people to allow their word as Christians to be their bond in everyday matters (let your yes be yes, no be no) and to not take God as witness to their everyday affairs which would be disrespectful of Him and His name - and dishonest on their part.
2. Using God's Name in careless or disrespectful ways.
A. Using it in "exclamations" that are not in context of worship or study.
a. "Oh my God" "My Lord"
b. "For God's sake"
c. "For the Love of God"
d. "Oh Jesus" etc.
B. Using it in coarse ways or to curse.
a. Making fun of God/Christ.
b. Swearing "God damn"/J.C.
C. Euphemisms ("sounds like")
a. Jeez (Jesus) Jiminy Christmas
b. Gosh (God)
c. Words that sound like "Christ"
*Any other ways to break this commandment?
**These are simply habits that are hard to break.
III. How do we keep this Commandment?
A. Eph. 4:29; 5:4
" 29Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear." (NAS)
" …and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks." (NAS)
· Eliminate those words, phrases, vocal habits that disrespect God.
· Replace them with words, phrases, vocal habits that show faith, respect, gratitude.
i.e. "Praise God" as exclamation for happiness, encouragement, etc.
B. Isaiah 6:1-7
· Isaiah's glimpse of the heavenly glory moved him to see the sinfulness of his lips (even though he was an extremely pious and educated Jew).
- People who do not know God are usually the ones who break this command.
· The more we know and interact with God through Christ, the more we want to honor Him with our lips.
*We do not take the Lord's name in vain if we are continually using our lips to praise, thank, tell and talk to Him in Christ.
IV. Discussion Questions.
1. What is the #1 way that you have seen this command broken in the
a. Media
b. Work/school
c. Church
d. Families
e. Your own life?
2. How can we help others keep this command?
V. Songs of Praise for His Name.
Select songs that specifically praise God's name. I.e. "Glorify Thy Name" Words & Music By Donna Adkins (1976)