“Thou shalt not murder!” When we think of the Ten
Commandments, a great booming voice with thunder crashing and lightning from atop
a mountain come to mind. Foreboding. Ominous.
While this is Biblically accurate, I saw things
differently in the words last time I studied the Ten Commandments.
The Ten Commandments actually begin with the line “I
am the Lord your God who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.”
God’s specific instructions follow, but because of this opening line I also saw
God pleading with the people He loves to find their hope in him, to be
contented in His care.
While God is giving His “Thou shalt nots”, beneath
that surface I hear “Trust in me and be content that I am working for you. I
will guide you, fight for you, and save you.” Maybe you’ll hear them too.
You shall have no other gods before me.
Be content that
I AM is your God. There is no other.
You shall not make for yourself a graven
image.
Be content with
faith in the great, beautiful unseen God. No image of any other creature
compares.
You shall not take the name of the Lord in
vain.
Be content to
only use His name honorably. Trust He answers His own when they call His name
even though He is unseen.
Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.
Be content with
His provision for your needs. Content in your limitations and God’s strength to
provide all your needs
Honor your parents.
Be content to
honor the authorities God has placed in your life.
Do not murder.
Be content with
God’s gift of life and free will. Allow the Lord to fight your battles.
Do not commit adultery.
Be content in your
commitments and to honor others’ commitments.
Do not steal.
Be content with
God’s blessings on others.
Do not lie.
Be content to
let the truth stand or fall on its own.
Do not covet.
Be content with
what God has given you and has not given you.
God is continually welcoming us to draw closer to
Him. While His commands may begin with a negative, He always punctuates His
words with love, accompanied by an invitation to trust and find our contentment
in Him.
