Ten for the 10 Commandments
Wednesday, April 1, 2009 at 06:00AM Continuing with my "Children, Go Where I Send Thee" series, we've counted down from twelve to eleven; and now we've arrived at ten.
I know we all have the Ten Commandments memorized, but here they are (abbreviated and paraphrased), just for giggles. Stay with me. I'm going somewhere with this.
- Don't worship any god but Me
- Don't create any idol to worship; I, God, am jealous
- Don't misuse the name of God
- Set apart the Sabbath day and rest, as God did
- Honor your father and your mother
- Don't commit murder
- Don't commit adultery
- Don't steal
- Don't tell lies about people
- Don't desire what belongs to someone else
Last night I sat and stared at the two faux stone tablets of the Ten Commandments on my kitchen wall above the desk. Drifting through my mind was the question, Why TEN commandments? The ten certainly seem comprehensive as an outline, but surely God could have come up with one or two more.
I know that the number ten denotes Divine order applied to human government. But which came first: do we have ten commandments because the number ten means Divine order applied to man's government, or did this biblical connotation to the number ten develop because we have ten commandments?
I didn't figure out which came first, but as I stared at those ten rules, looking for numerical significance, something jumped out at me. I saw 3 + 1 + 6. Patience... stay with me. As the Baptist preacher said, "I'm almost through."
Often in studying the commandments, I've heard or read that the first four rules instruct us on how to relate to God, while the last six tell us how we are to relate to our neighbors. Uh huh. What jumped out at me last night is that is not exactly right.
The first three commandments indeed demand a code of behavior toward God. The last six command us to treat our neighbors right. This breakdown has numerical sigificance: three represents the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; six represents the sinfulness of man.
The fourth commandment, to keep the Sabbath set apart (work six days and rest on the Sabbath, in imitation of God) does not have anything directly to do with relating to other people or to God, in my humble opinion. Yeah, I know people say it's a matter of respecting God by setting apart time to spend with Him without distractions. Okay, that idea is set forth in several other places in the Bible, but where does it say that in Exodus 20, where the Ten Commandments appear? It doesn't.
Keeping the Sabbath, in my new and humble opinion, is the one commandment that tells us to do something for ourselves, surely not just for the relaxation, but because rest is required to be able focus on the three ways of relating to God and the six ways of relating to all the other sinners around us.
So we have three commandments on how to behave toward God, one on how to maintain self, and six on how to treat others. These are the Ten Commandments, equaling Divine order. Are you still with me? Let me know.
Next: "Nine is the Number of Last Chances"
Sabbath, ten commandments
Reader Comments (7)
Hey, Diane! That's a very interesting way to look at the fourth commandment. It's worthy of contemplation. I like that. Blessings to you for your insight!
Hi Diane,
I am always interested in reading interpretations of the Ten Commandments. I taught my children that they are as relevant today as they were when they were given to Moses; they are the map to a meaningful and fulfilling life. The more one lives by them, the more apparent the layers of that truth become.
Thanks for your insight.
Lynda
"but because rest is required to be able focus on the three ways of relating to God and the six ways of relating to all the other sinners around us."...very good. I like that. Very insightful. It just amazes me how we get so many revelations when we take time to ponder and really look.
I liked that! I never looked at the 10 Commandments like that before, but you're right! Also note that there are twice as many laws pertaining to man as their are to God, and only one law for ourselves. Very interesting. Thanks for the insight.
Kathy,
That is interesting, isn't it? I saw so many other delicious ideas as I looked at the numbers. God reveals Himself and His intentions to us in an infinite number of ways, as He is infinite. I'm fascinated.
Lynda,
Thank you for visiting. I just popped over to your site and listened to samples of your gorgeious music on CD Baby http://cdbaby.com/cd/lynda3
What an imagination you have, my dear.
One law for ourselves, very good! I never saw that. But it makes sense. Of all the spiritual gifts given, there is one gift that is given for us, which is speaking in tongues, as it is used to edify ourselves.
I am loving these post!