Commands

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2:1 “Then we turned and journeyed into the wilderness in the direction of the Red Sea, as the Lord told me. And for many days we traveled around Mount Seir. 2 Then the Lord said to me, 3 ‘You have been traveling around this mountain country long enough. Turn northward 4 and command the people, “You are about to pass through the territory of your brothers, the people of Esau, who live in Seir; and they will be afraid of you. So be very careful. 5 Do not contend with them, for I will not give you any of their land, no, not so much as for the sole of the foot to tread on, because I have given Mount Seir to Esau as a possession. 6 You shall purchase food from them for money, that you may eat, and you shall also buy water of them for money, that you may drink. 7 For the Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He knows your going through this great wilderness. These forty years the Lord your God has been with you. You have lacked nothing.”’ 8 So we went on, away from our brothers, the people of Esau, who live in Seir, away from the Arabah road from Elath and Ezion-geber. (Deuteronomy; ESV)

I’m slowly meandering through Deuteronomy with the Brazos Commentary by Telford Work in hand. I enjoy Work’s midrashic approach and find it deeply devotional. In the passage above, Work writes that Israel “must learn that confessional practices include business practices.” Reflecting on this remembrance, I see how Moses’ narrative provides application for several commandments including the commands not to covet, the command not to steal and possibly the command not to bear false witness.

The Lord sustained the Children of Israel through manna from the heavens, water from the earth and birds from the air. He has provided for their needs and they must not take from the descendants of Esau but pay them for provisions. First, I see the idea of “not coveting” because the Lord is their provider. Thus they are free to pass through the region without desiring the land or materials of the people.

Secondly, the supplies they do need must be bought. So instead of stealing, they purchase materials at a fair price. The commandment not to steal reminds us to be fair and honest in all our business as well as generous in our treatment of those around us.

Thirdly, they are to honor the ancient covenant. (This idea shows up in other places as honoring the ancient landmarks.) I see a connection hear with bearing witness. They honor the witness of past covenants in their current transactions. To violate those covenants might be a form of bearing false witness since the covenant “bears witness” to a relationship between persons.

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Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. (Ex 20:8-11Ex 20:8-11
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. ⁹ Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: ¹⁰ But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: ¹¹ For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.  

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Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, as the LORD your God commanded you. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter or your male servant or your female servant, or your ox or your donkey or any of your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates, that your male servant and your female servant may rest as well as you. You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God brought you out from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the LORD your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day. (Deut 5:12-15Deut 5:12-15
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
12 Keep the sabbath day to sanctify it, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee. ¹³ Six days thou shalt labour, and do all thy work: ¹⁴ But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thine ox, nor thine ass, nor any of thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; that thy manservant and thy maidservant may rest as well as thou. ¹⁵ And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and that the LORD thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore the LORD thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day.  

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All glory and honor and praise unto the LORD our God, Creator of heaven and earth and sea and all that is in them. All power above the earth, in the earth and beneath the earth is yours alone. You called all things into being, You spoke and the heavens and earth were formed. You spoke and there was light. You spoke and the day and night were formed. You spoke and stars, sun, moon, seas, ground, plants and animals were formed. You spoke, you shaped, you breathed humans in your image and likeness. All things were created in and through your Word by the power of your hovering Spirit.

We rejoice dear Lord and Provider that you alone satisfy the desires and needs of every living thing. You alone create, sustain, and fill your creation with glory. You alone are worthy of praise. You alone give hope. You alone fill us with joy. You alone leads us in the way of everlasting life.

We rejoice that when we were still enslaved and powerless to help ourselves, you stretched out your mighty hand and delivered us from the cruel Pharoah, the harsh slavemaster, the destroyer of our souls. You called us by name, you set us in family, you redeemed us, healed us and restored us into the light of your love.

Lord Jesus we rejoice that the Father sent you and revealed you to us as Word Made Flesh. We rejoice in this world of time and space where all things are united in you alone.

You call us into life.
You call us into fullness.
You call us into the riches of grace upon grace upon grace.

We rest in you alone.
We rest in you alone.
We rest in you.

We forsake the bread of anxious toil and feast on the abundance of your blessings.
We rejoice that even as we live and breathe and move in this world of time and space, we live and breathe and move in you.

We are not abandoned or forsaken. We do not stumble in darkness but rest in the light of you countenance.

Even as we work to eat and provide for our families, we rejoice that our time is rooted and founded in Jesus Christ.
So we rest.
We rest.
We rest
in the Vine that is always fruitful,
in the Vine that is always life-giving,
in the Vine that sustains us,
in the Vine that renews us,
in the Vine that makes us fruitful in word and deed.

Even as we plant and build and live in the land, we rejoice that our space is footed and founded in Jesus Christ. There is
no place,
no place,
no place beyond
His grasp,
His eye,
His love.

In the midst of our working,
in the midst of our dreaming,
in the midst of our struggling,
in the midst of our suffering,
in the midst of learning,
in the midst of striving,
in the midst of our yearning,
in the midst of our making,
in the midst of our buying,
in the midst of our selling,
in the midst of our churching,
we stop.

we breathe.

we rest.

we remember.

we behold,

we bow

before

the Lord of the Sabbath.

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In Deuteronomy, Moses is recounting, rehearsing, remembering the Word of God in the midst of the people. He reminds them again and again that YHWH spoke directly to them out from the mountain, out of the midst of the fire.

“[Y]ou stood before the Lord your God at Horeb, the Lord said to me, ‘Gather the people to me, that I may let them hear my words, ​so that they may learn to fear lme all the days that they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children so.’ 11 And you came near and stood at the foot of the mountain, while the mountain burned with fire to the heart of heaven, wrapped in darkness, cloud, and gloom. 12 Then o​the Lord spoke to you out of the midst of the fire. You heard the sound of words, ​but saw no form; ​there was only a voice. 13 And he declared to you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, that is, ​the Ten Commandments.” (Deut 4:10-13Deut 4:10-13
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
10 Specially the day that thou stoodest before the LORD thy God in Horeb, when the LORD said unto me, Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children. ¹¹ And ye came near and stood under the mountain; and the mountain burned with fire unto the midst of heaven, with darkness, clouds, and thick darkness. midst: Heb. heart ¹² And the LORD spake unto you out of the midst of the fire: ye heard the voice of the words, but saw no similitude; only ye heard a voice. only...: Heb. save a voice ¹³ And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone.  

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…you saw no form on the day that the Lord spoke to you at Horeb out of the midst of the fire… (vs 15)

Did any people ever hear the voice of a god speaking out of the midst of the fire, as you have heard, and still live? (vs 33)

Out of heaven he let you hear his voice, that he might discipline you. And on earth he let you see his great fire, and you heard his words out of the midst of the fire. (vs 36)

The Lord spoke with you z​face to face at the mountain, out of the midst of the fire, 5 a​while I stood between the Lord and you at that time, to declare to you the word of the Lord. For ​you were afraid because of the fire, and you did not go up into the mountain. (Deut 5:4-5Deut 5:4-5
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
4 The LORD talked with you face to face in the mount out of the midst of the fire, ⁵ saying,  

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In the Gospels, we encounter God speaking out from the person of Jesus. The mountain, the fire, the Holy Place comes down in the midst of the people. Jesus is this Word of God that speaks out of the midst of the fire. He is not any less holy, any less terrifying, any less fiery and all-consuming. He is the revelation of God in flesh-the complete revelation. He comes to bring judgment for sin, He comes to bear judgment for sin. In the mystery of His grace we are brought into Him by His Spirit. In other words, we are brought into the fire or baptized in the fire as John the Baptist says. The holy mountain is not an external location in the Middle East, it is in His people. Those same commands that are rooted in love still speak in our heart by the Spirit leading us into the fullness of His love, the fire of His holiness.

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The Good Shepherd (Ravenna)

If you haven’t guessed, I’m working my way through each of the 10 Commandments and meditating upon the glory that I believe is revealed and guarded in the command. This is not comprehensive but thoughts that come to mind after spending the last 18 months reflecting on these grand and wondrous Words.

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. (Deut. 5:11Deut. 5:11
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
11 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain: for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.  

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Blessed be the our Lord Creator and Ruler of all times, all places, and all peoples. We bow our knees and confess, “Jesus is Lord, Jesus is King, Jesus is Savior.” We confess Jesus as the name above every name. We lift our voices to the Lamb of God who is worthy of all praise and honor and glory and power and wisdom.

We rejoice that the Father in heaven has adopted into the family of God through our Lord Jesus and by the power of the Holy Spirit. Thank you for sealing us with the Spirit of Truth, who teaches us to say, “Jesus is Lord.” Not simply with our mouths but with our lives. The word of truth articulated and translated in our tongues, in our hearts, in our hands and in our feet.

We rejoice King Jesus in your righteous rule. We didn’t know what greatness was, we didn’t know what glory was, we didn’t know what beauty was, until you came. You revealed the rule of the Father in the heart of a servant. Clothed in glory and dwelling in unapproachable light, you precede all things, all thoughts, all referents. No idea, no concept, no word can contain you, the Lord of Glory.

And yet.

Instead of grasping for glory and power and honor (which are all yours), you let go and humiliated Yourself before all creation and entered into creation as Word made Flesh; as servant; as criminal; as the cursed scapegoat of all our violence, all our cruelty, all our pain, all our brokenness, all our sin. You carried all of the darkness and pain and evil of the world upon yourself.

In dying, you poured out your body, your love, your life into the Father’s hand who raised you up by His Spirit and exalted you above every name. We glorify this name. We honor this name. We bow before this name. We swear fealty to this name.

We confess this name by Your Holy Spirit.

By the great and wondrous Grace of Your Spirit, we’ve been caught up in your Righteous Rule and we rejoice. We’ve been taken up to the throne. We’ve been set in a family: the family of God. We’ve been made kings and priests of our Lord Jesus, the King of all Kings.

May our words and our hands and our feet and our hearts become an anthem of praise and glory and honor unto the true King, the Kinsman-Redeemer, the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

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You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments. (Deut 5:8-10Deut 5:8-10
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
8 Thou shalt not make thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters beneath the earth: ⁹ Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me, ¹⁰ And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.  

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We sing your praise most glorious Lord and Creator of all things in heaven above, on earth beneath and in the water beneath the earth. By your great and gracious word, you’ve taught us that all things were created in and through the Word, our Lord Jesus Christ. We rejoice Father that you created all things in and through Your Son Jesus by the power of your Spirit.

And even as we are in awe of the wonders of this world, we know and reaffirm that all things that exists exist because they were created in and through Jesus. So in and through all things do we lift up holy praise to the Lord Jesus Christ who chose to enter into His Creation, and fully reveal the Father. And we realize that no image in creation can be worship and glorified outside of you. For you alone are worthy all praise and honor and glory and wisdom.

Jesus, the true image, the express image, the icon of God. For in Jesus, we behold the Father by the Spirit. And we are changed. The glory of the Son changes us into His Image that we might become the image of God for which we were created.

We rejoice in this world of splendor. We rejoice in the stars and sun and moon. We rejoice in the lush world of plants and trees and rocks and hills. We rejoice in the birds in the air, the squirrels and rabbits and every living thing. We stand in awe of the majesty of the soaring eagle and the boundless energy of the newborn puppy. We rejoice in the streams and rivers and ocean. In the fish of the deep sea and the myriad of other living things that teem beneath the surface.

You created us with five senses to experience and enjoy the heavens above, the earth below and the sea beneath the earth. We rejoice in the soft scent of mountain laurel and in the drunken winds that carry the aroma of honeysuckle. We delight in the pungent taste fresh tomatoes, the fiery flavor of salsa and the sweet intoxication of chocolate cake.

Thank for the gift of music that washes over our ears with joyous melodies and the bittersweet songs of love and life. To behold the brilliant colors of flowers and fish and birds, fills us with joy and awe. And gazing upon the streams of gold and pink and blue and yellow in the setting sun bring rapturous delight.

We are grateful for soothing feel of warm water and the cool breeze across our skin. What a gift is the embrace of friends and lovers and the healing touch of one person to another.

Thank you Lord for this world of physical experiences, this world of beauty, this world of breathtaking sights and heart-shaking sounds.

In all these wonders, glory: the glory of the Lord shining out from the vast and bountiful world. Everywhere we turn, we are overawed by you Oh Lord and the glory of Your creation.

And the greatest glory of this earth is the man and woman created to bear and reveal your image and glory. In every relation Lord, we rejoice in you.

In watching the father instructing his children or the mother caring for their needs, we rejoice in your constant and unfailing care. We rejoice in Your Spirit that teaches and guides us in the way of truth. In beholding the loving bond of brothers and sisters, we rejoice in you Lord Jesus who is the friend that sticks closer than a brother.

In the love of a man and a women, we rejoice Lord Jesus in your love for your people and by Your Spirit, raising us up together with you and the Father in a communion of love. You have loved and have loved and have loved your people. And you great and wondrous love extends from to generation to generation to generation. We rest in your faithful love, and we rejoice in this world of wonder you’ve given us as home.

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I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me. Deut 4:6-7Deut 4:6-7
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
6 Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. ⁷ For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for?  

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Thank you Father for rescuing us from the house of slavery. In your great and wondrous grace, you’ve adopted us into your family. You’ve rescued us from the folly of our own foolishness. We were taken captive by our own lusts and desires. We not only turned away from you but we turned away from one another. Our selfish desires led us astray and we fell captive to unforgiveness, self-pity, inglorious imagination. Seeking to be wise we became fools and worship created things and people instead of worshipping you, the Creator of all things.

In our despair and confusion, you remembered us. In our state of war against you and your kingdom, you loved us. Like the only true Father, you came to us in our confusion and rebellion, and you rescued us.

You’ve led us forward into the wideness of your grace, and we are overwhelmed. Overwhelmed by your unstoppable love. Overwhelmed by your songs of deliverance. Overwhelmed by the joy of your salvation.

You’ve freed us from the tents of wickedness and welcomed us into the house of the righteous where we feast upon you and your goodness. As the only good and gracious Father, you shower us with ever good thing and all we can do is rejoice. Thank you oh great and gracious Father. May your Spirit teach us to sing anthems of praise to your name. Blessed the Lord, God Almighty, Our Father and Protector and Provider and Royal King both now and forever. We rest in Your embrace.

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The 10 Words are embedded within the stories of the Lord delivering the Children of Israel from slavery in Egypt and leading them into a land of promise. If we don’t read the commands within the story we may miss the rhythm. Within the actual commands, the Sabbath stands out as a command that has a story or two stories embedded within it. The Exodus 20:8-11Exodus 20:8-11
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. ⁹ Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: ¹⁰ But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: ¹¹ For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.  

WP-Bible plugin version of the command alludes to the creation story: God creates for six days; at the end of the six days, He says, “Very Good!”; and then He sets aside the seventh day as a day of rest.

The Deuteronomy 5:12-15Deuteronomy 5:12-15
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
12 Keep the sabbath day to sanctify it, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee. ¹³ Six days thou shalt labour, and do all thy work: ¹⁴ But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thine ox, nor thine ass, nor any of thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; that thy manservant and thy maidservant may rest as well as thou. ¹⁵ And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and that the LORD thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore the LORD thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day.  

WP-Bible plugin version of the command references the story of Israel’s deliverance from slavery in Egypt. Some call this story the redemption story. I tend to think to think of it as the re-creation story. Slavery strips a human of personal status: no name, no status, no self control. These non-persons are called out of the grave and into new life. They receive a name, a commission (the Torah), and a promise: the people who are not a people become a people, a new creation or a re-creation.

I’ve already teased out a few ideas related to Sabbath Recreation. So now I want to explore another nuance: the aspect of storying. For six days, Israel works hard for survival. While travelling across the wilderness and settling the land, their days are filled with all the typical chores of nomadic cultures and then agrarian cultures. In other words, their busy surviving. Bot one day they pause. They rest. They thank God for His faithfulness. They remember.

They remember the story of creation. They remember the story of re-creation. They remember their own history. They retell the story. This regular habit of pausing and retelling their story in Sabbath thanksgiving and in festival celebration, reveals an essential element of identity formation in everything from personhood to tribal or ethnic identity to brand management. Telling our story again and again and again imprints our identity on our minds, in our bodies and ultimately in our actions.

Many companies spend thousands of dollars to develop a brand identity program, focusing their energy on design. Design is important but pales in comparison to telling and retelling and retelling the story. Companies need to tell their story. But first they need to learn their stories. Many people participate in a companies’ stories, including their customers. If they don’t learn to listen to their stories as well, they may discover the customer stories may turn against the company story, and then they’ll spend lots of PR cash trying to regain their voice.

But let me think about storying on a personal level. If there is a story to tell, I would suggest there is a story to hear. Many conference speakers are master storytellers. Many great filmmakers are also amazing story tellers. But I would also suggest we need to cultivate the gift of storycollecting.

I come from a family of storytellers, but I sometimes think my greater gift is storycollecting. People need to tell their story and someone needs to listen. I suggesting storycollecting or story listening is a part of Sabbath Hospitality.

Today while I was drinking coffee and reflecting on the 10 Words, a man walked up and immediately started telling me his story. I stopped and listened. Obviously that what was the rhythm I needed to pay attention to.

He was wearing a cross and two chains. I asked about the chains. He explained that they were cheap fan chains (for ceiling fans). He wore these chains with the cross as a sign of devotion without being ostentatious. Then he proceeded to tell me stories of St. Francis and his vow of poverty and service. In a matter of minutes, I traveled all through church history listening to tidbits about the lives and saints and lives devoted to service and obedience to the call and pattern of Jesus. As he was leaving the man handed me a gift. A book on the “Rule of St. Benedict.”

Everywhere we go, we are surrounded by people with stories to tell. If we are willing to listen, people will tell us their stories. We give them a gift in listening, and they give us a gift in telling them. In Orson Scott Card’s Alvin Maker stories, there is a character named Taleswapper. He collects stories and then redistributes them. I think this is an interesting way of thinking about stories. We listen and trade. As we listen, we may learn the hidden wisdom of Hebrew storytelling.

Their story is told from varying perspective based on the current circumstance. By telling their story in new ways or through new angles, they speak wisdom to the current crisis, challenge or opportunity. If we learn to listen rightly, we may learn the rhythm of knowing when to tell a story and what story needs to be told. I would suggest that a world of storytellers may bring more peace and healing than a culture of would-be messiahs pointing fingers at all the devils around them.

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12 “Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the LORD your God has commanded you. 13 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 14 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your ox, your donkey or any of your animals, nor the alien within your gates, so that your manservant and maidservant may rest, as you do. 15 Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the LORD your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the LORD your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day.

The Sabbath command to rest and remember extends to children, servants, animals and strangers within our gates. I would call this “Sabbath hospitality.” The children of Israel had been slaves. Now they enjoyed freedom. They are told to enjoy the freedom. Set aside a day of thanksgiving, of rejoicing, of feasting.

Then they are told to extend this celebration to everyone and everything within their sphere of influence. My blessing becomes the blessing of the community around me.

This seems opposite to the way of business and much of life in a supposed “dog-eat-dog” world. And yet, if I follow the rhythm of Sabbath, I will look for ways to extend the blessings of peace and freedom and life to those around me. How might this be worked out? It seems to me that is has implications for the way I treat family, animals and creation by extension, those who serve me (like the waiter in the restaurant, the sales clerk, the postal person, and a never-ending network of people who bless me from farmers to factory workers), and finally I am extending this grace to those with whom I seem to have no connection. They enter my gates. This may have referred to strangers who asked for hospitality and shelter but might I also apply to those who cross my path?

As I think about Sabbath hospitality, I think about a call to let the joy and blessings I have known to continue flowing through me. In the web 2.0 world, some people like Doc Searls highlighted forming a “culture of generosity.” I think Sabbath wisdom challenges me in this area. For the truly joyful ones are not those who hoard and hide away their treasures. But those who open their arms to welcome and bless the people and creatures around them.

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In the non-stop pace of our current techno-culture, can we learn anything from the Sabbath pause? What stop? It seems almost unthinkable that slowing down may help us to catch up. I fear we’re losing the wisdom in the tale of the “Tortoise and the Hare.” While the fable was told and retold long before the technological acceleration of today, I would suggest the truth still applies.

According to the Exodus 20:8-11Exodus 20:8-11
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. ⁹ Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: ¹⁰ But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: ¹¹ For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.  

WP-Bible plugin appearance of the command, the children of Israel are commanded to “remember” the Sabbath as a replication God’ s rest and rejoicing after He completed the work of creating the world. According to the Genesis story, God looks back over His work and declares, “It is very good!”

He celebrates what He has created. In the Sabbath command, God invites man to join in this celebration of creating. Created in God’s image, humans are also creators. We can’t help but create stories, songs, iPods, computers, jingles, mousetraps, and smoking monkeys. We create both functional things and fun things. Even silly things. If we replicate the pattern, we pause and remember. We look back over our creative work and celebrate. Of course, this assumes that our work is “very good.” If the work is destructive, harmful to humans or the world around us, it might not be “very good.”

So Sabbath speaks to social responsibility as well as civic celebration. We seek to create things and art and even relationships that are “very good.” Then we celebrate them. And oddly, Israel is told to celebrate Sabbath completion long before they ever complete the work of entering the Promised Land. Their celebration anticipates a work that will be “very good.” In the command, they are learning to lean upon the faithfulness of God’s provision and power in the midst of their pursuit.

Thus, Sabbath becomes a mini-celebration in the midst of work, looking backing remembering what we’ve done and looking forward to what we will do. Now just think if we applied Sabbath celebrations to projects and people and even places. We might not feel so stressed in the midst of a difficult season.

I’ve been involved in chaotic software implementations where the project manager was stressed and stressing everyone around them. They could have used the gift of Sabbath wisdom. In the midst of the stress, we may not be able to take a day and party, but we might be able to pause and celebrate each person’s involvement in the project.

No matter how confident the people around you seem, a kind, encouraging word of thanks and celebration is an invaluable gift you can give them. Through our timely words, we may re-energize and refocus a project by simply remembering the work done thus far and anticipating the good work ahead. Then Sabbath becomes a power of re-creation in revitalizing a people in pursuit of a goal.

Instead of waiting for a break, let us bring the word of Sabbath refreshing and encouragement to the people in our lives from family to co-workers to even people who serve us in the stores and various transactions throughout the day. But that’s the beginning of another aspect of Sabbath wisdom that I’ll save for another day.

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“Now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the judgments which I teach you to observe, that you may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers is giving you.” Deuteronomy 4:1Deuteronomy 4:1
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
4 ¹ Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers giveth you.  

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Israel stands at the edge of the Promised Land. Soon Moses will leave them and Joshua will take charge as they cross the Jordan and take possession of the land. On the eve of this historic conquest, Moses delivers a sermon on God’s faithfulness in the midst of Israel’s unfaithfulness.

He has been calling to mind their journey after receiving the Law at Mt. Horeb and journeying toward the Promised Land. While their parents didn’t trust YHWH’s command (and died in the wilderness), the children have been brought back to the place of promise with the same command to go in and possess the land.

As Moses recounts God’s victories on behalf of His people, He reminds them of the foundation of their commission: observance of the Law.

“Now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the judgments which I teach you to observe, that you may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers is giving you.” Deuteronomy 4:1Deuteronomy 4:1
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
4 ¹ Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers giveth you.  

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Each word in this verse opens in summary a vision of how Moses and Israel understood their calling under the Law. As I reflect on these words, I hear insight into how Christian may understand our calling in light of the fulfillment of the Law in Jesus Christ.

Now – In light of God’s unwavering faithfulness to His promises, let us trust and obey His words. As I meditate on that transition word, “Now,” I can’t help but hearing Paul’s word, “Now.”

“Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”
2 Corinthians 6:22 Corinthians 6:2
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
2  

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Paul has been talking about the great reconciling power of God’s grace in the midst of our human weakness. Now he exhorts the Corinthians to live as God has called them and empowered them to live in holiness and separation from the idolatries in the world around us.

Through Scripture we see images of people living and walking outside the fullness of God’s power and grace. I think of Zacheus, living of the exorbitant overcharges he places upon the people. Jesus comes to dine with Him, and the “Now” happens.

In the “now,” Jesus calls. “Come out and lived in the freedom and fullness I have prepared for you.” This now, is the now of Spirit calling me forth into a new way, a new path, a new life. This now is the now that proceeds out from the “fullness of time.”

O Israel – Moses calls out to the elect named by God. While Jacob is named by his mother, God calls him Israel. He is a given a new name and raised into the status of royalty and promise by God’s grace and goodnness.

The sons of Israel or the children of Israel grow up as a blessed people who will fulfill the call upon Abraham to bring God’s blessing to the whole earth.

To hear the name Israel is to hear the blessing of God. In Jesus, this blessing is fulfilled. And now all who are in Christ Jesus, hear the blessed name of Israel, called out to be God’s blessing for the whole earth. Paul writes:

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.
Ephesians 1:3-5Ephesians 1:3-5
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: places: or, things ⁴ According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: ⁵ Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,  

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Listen – In the middle of His sermon, Moses says, “Listen.” Makes me think of the preacher who pauses and says, “Listen up people.” Or more directly, it makes me think of Jesus speaking to His disciples, “Truly, Truly I say to you.”

It is as though Jesus is saying, “Now you better make a note of this. I am getting ready to say something that is deep truth and I want to make sure you remember and heed it.

As Moses calls us to “listen,” we lean in for a word from the throne of God. We hear a word that defines out mission and action in this world.

Statutes and Judgments – The two corresponding Hebrew words are khuqqim and mishpatim. These two words appears again and again when Moses is preaching about the Law.

The first word, khuqqim, is related to the idea of inscribing or carving. While Moses dictated the whole Law for the people, he received the “10 Words” inscribed by God’s hand. The fact that these words are inscribed in stone seems to give them a significance that no other words in Scripture have—except one.

There is a glory surrounding the giving of the 10 Word. Such glory that Moses has to cover his face. When I hear verses about God setting our feet on the rock, I think there is a connection with this stone. To stand on the 10 Words is to stand on the unchanging words and commands of God.

In the New Testament, the glory of the stone inscribed with words is surpassed by an even greater glory: the heart that is inscribed with the Word. Jesus comes as a fulfillment of the stone for now the 10 Words are united in a single Word made flesh.

This word completes, fulfills and reveals the Law. Jesus leaves us with a promise that we will be united with Him by the Holy Spirit. Paul continues Jesus’ theme in Romans by writing about how we are united with Christ in death and resurrection. Then in 2 Corinthians, we read about the glory of the Law in stone is now surpassed by a glory of the Law in flesh: not simply Jesus’ flesh, but our flesh.

The Spirit is writing the Law in our hearts, and we are moving from “glory to glory.” Eventually, we will see the image face to face:

7 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
2 Corinthians 3:7-182 Corinthians 3:7-18
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
7 But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: ⁸ How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? ⁹ For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. ¹⁰ For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. ¹¹ For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious. ¹² Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: plainness: or, boldness ¹³ And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: ¹⁴ But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. ¹⁵ But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. ¹⁶ Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. ¹⁷ Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. ¹⁸ But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. by the...: or, of the Lord the Spirit  

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The other Hebrew word used for the Law here is mishpatim. This word has to do with the ability to judge. James Jordan understands wisdom as the ability to judge between good and evil. We see Solomon practicing wisdom in judging between two prostitutes with similar stories. He speaks and by the power of his word, reveals the liar (thus judging between good and evil).

This power to judge is directly tied to ruling. If we cannot judge, we will be like the simpleton who cannot distinguish between the house of lady wisdom whose house leads to life (Proverbs 4, 8Proverbs 4, 8
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
8 Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.  

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5 Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.  

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There is a path that leads to the house of lady wisdom and a path that leads to the house of the foolish woman (Proverbs 4:18-19Proverbs 4:18-19
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. ¹⁹ The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.  

WP-Bible plugin). One leads into the full light of day and the other stumbles further and further into darkness.

We see Israel walking into the light of day from David to Solomon’s rule and stumbling into darkness from Solomon to Zedekiah’s rule (although some kings in between do walk in light, the overall movement of the nation is a descent into darkness).

As I begin to wrap around this idea of rule and wisdom and the path of wisdom vs. the path of foolishness, I can see references to the law throughout the Psalms and prophets and more. There are multiple a references to walking in the path, I will show you the way,” do not turn to the left or right, the road to righteousness, the path of holiness, standing on the rock, and so on. I would suggest all these references are rooted in observance to the Law (meditation upon and obedience to the commandments).

Just a reminder, we do not simply go back to Deuteronomy 5 to meditate upon the Law. We have hear the same rhythms in Matthew 5 and other sermons by Jesus as well as the letters from Paul and others. These are not a bunch of regulations we post. Rather, we ruminate and reflect on them. We walk according to them. The Spirit teaches us them.

We enter into the heart of them: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself. In some ways, the New Testament is an extended reflection upon the fulfillment of the Law in Jesus Christ and through His cross, and how it now is revealed in the midst of His people and in the midst of the world.

Live, and go in and possess the land – Moses ties the Law directly to the action of entering, possessing and living in the land. The Law is the wisdom that gives Israel boldness to enter the Land (because the covenant-making YHWH stands behind it with promises of a His faithfulness).

Observance of the Law is connected with Israel’s fear of God. As they walk in the fear of God, other nations fear them. For they bear the name and the power of YHWH (who makes mountains melt and by a single word causes the earth to melt).

Observance of the Law is essential for Israel to dwell in the fullness of God’s provision as they live in the land. In other places, Moses will predict that in prosperity, Israel will forget the source of blessing and quit observing the Law. This forgetfulness will cause God to forget them, thus allowing their enemies to overtake them.

Paul quite possibly gives us a poetic reinterpretation of this phrase by quoting a poet of his day. In his sermon to the idolatrous philosophers, Paul says “in Him we live and move and have our being.” Jesus, the fulfillment of the Law, is the source of our courage and power and prosperity. We are blessed in Him and live in Him and live to glorify Him in all things.

LORD God of your fathers – Moses reminds the people that the source of the Law is not some oppressing dictator, but the covenant-making God who remembers His promises. LORD or YHWH is a covenant name for God, which connects with His faithfulness to the promise. The Creator God made a promise and cut a covenant with father Abraham. This covenant promise was renewed with Isaac and then again with Jacob. Now as the children of Israel look at how the Creator God did in fact remember his promises to the ancestors, they can call Him YHWH for he has demonstrated His covenant faithfulness again and again.

We are brought into this family of Abraham through the covenant faithfulness of Jesus. Jesus answer’s YHWH’s faithfulness to man by becoming the man who is completely faithful to YHWH. In Jesus, we enter into this circle of covenant faithful love. In Jesus, we enjoy the fruist and healing blessings associated with the covenant, and in Jesus we are transformed by the Spirit in the covenant faithful people, revealing the fruit of “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control” (Gal 5:22-23Gal 5:22-23
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, ²³ Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.  

WP-Bible plugin). This fruit reveals the fulfillment of the Law in us by the power of the Spirit.

Giving You – The land that Israel will soon possess does not come through their own efforts, their own righteousness or their own prowess. It comes as pure gift.

While they must possess and follow the prescribed ways of possessing each area, they are simply obeying the Father who is giving them the gift.

For those who think grace suddenly appears in the New Testament as opposed to the Law in the Old Testament, they should go back and reread the Old (especially Deuteronomy). As we read and reflect on the rhythm of the Law, we realize it is gift. It is grace.

It is grace stretching and reaching forward. To what? To the fulfillment. When Jesus comes, he fulfills the striving and longing of law. This law is incomplete until it is fully enfleshed by God Himself in the person of Jesus Christ.

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