God’s Ten Statements: Honoring the Covenant Relationship

God’s Ten Statements:  Honoring the Covenant Relationship

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

Great enlightenment comes when we fully realize that God relates to His people through covenants.  It is also important for us to understand that God’s covenant with the nation of Israel, as with all His covenants and prophetic words, has a message for the time when it was established, a message for the Church today and a message for the future.   

The Israel or Mosaic Covenant is important because it pictures the ministry and sacrifice of Jesus and Israel’s role in bringing that message to the world.

In our continued study of what we have traditionally called The Decalogue or Ten Commandments, one source cited is the One New Man Bible (ONMB). In discussing The Decalogue, the ONMB comments, “These instructions were given in the future tense because all who commit to Him will change behavior and no longer do those things.”

While we are aware that the first four statements deal with loving God and the last six concern human behavior and relationships, we often overlook the significance of the arrangement.  The arrangement itself teaches that when we come into relationship with the Lord, our behavior and relationships will improve.

The more we realize the blessings involved in our covenant with God through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the more we will want to walk out of the ways of the world and into those blessings.  In a previous piece, we examined the first two of the statements found in Exodus 20:2-6.

The third statement further outlines the desires of our hearts when we walk in covenant. (Exodus 20:7) “You will 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” (ONMB)

The more we understand the awesome nature of God, the more cautious we will be in uttering His name. We will not use the name of the Lord unless we mean it. That involves more than not cursing.  In loving relationship with our heavenly Father, we will not be casual nor manipulative in using phrases like “God bless you”, “In the name of Jesus”, “if the Lord wills” and “The Lord said.” We will definitely eradicate the ubiquitous “omg” from our vocabulary.  

Camaraderie (mutual trust and friendship among people who spend a lot of time together) builds relationship.  It is a stronger word than “fellowship” which is a friendly relationship.  Fellowship is good.  Camaraderie is better.  God desires camaraderie with us.  In that desire, He established the Sabbath. 

(Exodus 20:8-9a)  “Remember the Sabbath to keep it holy. You will labor six days and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God.” (ONMB)

Sabbath means rest or intermission.  In delving into the deeper meaning of Sabbath, it is important for us to following the rule of first mention. 

Sabbath is first mentioned in Genesis 2:1-3 (NKJV):  ^“Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.” 

Seven is the number of completion.  Seven suggests that we are to complete our work and then rest from our labor. God is blessing us with rest. He does not mean for us to be workaholics.

By the time our Lord came to earth, the Pharisees had set up strict rules for what could and could not be done on the Sabbath. Similar rules still influence orthodox Jews today.  When the Pharisees chided the disciples for picking grains of wheat on the Sabbath, Jesus responded, "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath" (Mark 2:27-28 NKJV).

Even though I know that the traditional Sabbath kept by many Christians and Jews today is not specifically outlined in Scripture, if it were possible for me, I would love to be a part of that.  However, for many reasons, it is not possible for me.  How then shall I remember the Sabbath to keep it holy?

The answer lies in Mark 2:28.  Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath.  When we have a personal relationship with our Lord, we can ask Him.  The answer I received may not be the same as the answer you might receive.  Your life is not my life, but the Lord is willing to bless both when we are in relationship.

I am to finish my work and take time to rest.  A time to rest is God’s blessing.  Stress, anxiety and ill health can result from too little rest.  I enjoy camaraderie.  Therefore, I spend quality time with the Lord every day.  I am blessed in that I prepare a sermon, two Bible studies and a blog each week and write other articles as well.  I can do that only with quality time in the Word and in prayer.  I usually finish it all before Saturday.  

The writer of Hebrews also tells us, “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:24-25 NKJB). Whatever day we choose to meet, we need camaraderie with other believers.  

To remember the Sabbath and keep it holy is to “Take time to be holy; speak oft with thy Lord.”