SEEING WONDERFUL THINGS IN GOD'S LAW
God spoke all these words: "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me." Ex. 20:1-3, N.I.V.
Four thousand years ago on Mount Sinai God gave to mankind a verbalized edition of His eternal law, the Ten Commandments. Not only was it the expression of His immutable will, but it was a revelation of His divine character. And it holds His promise of restoration and redemption for all who will receive it as such.
Yet for millenniums men have trembled at the thought of God and have seen the Ten Commandments as negative warnings from an angry Deity. Thus the law has been approached as a grave duty imposed upon humanity rather than understood as a positive message of deliverance and restoration from a loving Creator. However, it is our privilege to say with David, "I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have renewed my life" (Ps. 119:93, N.I.V.).
Let's take a fresh look at these familiar precepts, with the awareness that in them is revealed the heart of the infinite God and His promise of fulfillment for His people. We may pray as did David, "Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law. I am a stranger on earth; do not hide your commands from me" (verses 18, 19, N.I.V.).
The best place to begin is just before the Sinai declarations, when God expressed His desire for a relationship with His people. He said, "I carried you [out of Egypt] on eagles' wings and brought you to myself" (Ex. 19:4, N.I.V.). It is in this context that we may best understand God as He spoke all these words: 'I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me.' "
God was reintroducing Himself to His people, not simply "yelling" at them from heaven. He declared that He was so deeply interested in their lives that He became actively involved in their deliverance from slavery. He felt absolutely sure that if they allowed Him to guide them He would lead them so well that they would no longer feel a need to seek guidance from any other source, i.e., "gods."
No wonder David asserted, "Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble" (Ps. 119:165, N.I.V.).
God spoke all these words: "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me." Ex. 20:1-3, N.I.V.
Four thousand years ago on Mount Sinai God gave to mankind a verbalized edition of His eternal law, the Ten Commandments. Not only was it the expression of His immutable will, but it was a revelation of His divine character. And it holds His promise of restoration and redemption for all who will receive it as such.
Yet for millenniums men have trembled at the thought of God and have seen the Ten Commandments as negative warnings from an angry Deity. Thus the law has been approached as a grave duty imposed upon humanity rather than understood as a positive message of deliverance and restoration from a loving Creator. However, it is our privilege to say with David, "I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have renewed my life" (Ps. 119:93, N.I.V.).
Let's take a fresh look at these familiar precepts, with the awareness that in them is revealed the heart of the infinite God and His promise of fulfillment for His people. We may pray as did David, "Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law. I am a stranger on earth; do not hide your commands from me" (verses 18, 19, N.I.V.).
The best place to begin is just before the Sinai declarations, when God expressed His desire for a relationship with His people. He said, "I carried you [out of Egypt] on eagles' wings and brought you to myself" (Ex. 19:4, N.I.V.). It is in this context that we may best understand God as He spoke all these words: 'I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me.' "
God was reintroducing Himself to His people, not simply "yelling" at them from heaven. He declared that He was so deeply interested in their lives that He became actively involved in their deliverance from slavery. He felt absolutely sure that if they allowed Him to guide them He would lead them so well that they would no longer feel a need to seek guidance from any other source, i.e., "gods."
No wonder David asserted, "Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble" (Ps. 119:165, N.I.V.).
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