TEN WORDS

 DECEMBER 14, 2022

EXODUS 19:5-6

“Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”

EXODUS 20:1-2

And God spoke all these words:
2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery….

1 PETER 2:9

9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

Most of us know them as the Ten Commandments. Yet, a far better rendering of the title may be God’s “Ten Words.” (Decalogue) These Ten Words were written by God’s own finger, not once but twice you may recall. These Ten Words in Exodus 34:28 are called “the covenant”. So important were these utterances from the Covenant God that they were among the items that were placed inside the Ark of the Covenant. The Ten Words served to point the people to the details of the entire covenant.

They were thought of as the Ten Words of wisdom – how to live well and flourish as a society. As Ten Words of special revelation – disclosing the goodness of God’s heart as caring, fair and concerned for everyone’s wellbeing. As Ten Words of re-creation – God’s heavenly rule being realized on earth, bringing order to our chaos. All this so we can be a ‘kingdom of priests’ mediating God’s blessings, and a “holy nation” showing the world a better way.

The bible teaches us that Jesus established God’s kingdom through his work and ministry. You may recall some of his first words were that the “kingdom of God had come near” through his very presence. Jesus demonstrated Kingdom realities in his interactions with diverse people. The establishing of God’s rule and reign through people just like us, who by God’s own work are made to be a “kingdom of priests” and a “holy nation”. Jesus then taught us to pray: “Your kingdom come, and your will be done on earth as in heaven.” I mean just read Exodus 20 and the Ten Words (Commandments) and think what a world would look like that acted like these utterances describe.

So, at the season of Advent/Christmas we remember and celebrate the arrival of God, “the word made flesh” who invades the world and brings order to our chaos, and the world’s confusion, through Jesus.

Does your understanding of Jesus need to broaden this season? 

It what way(s) does your living point to the "better way" to live that the Kingdom of God declares?