The Tender Commandments - Part 1
THE TENDER COMMANDMENTS – SERIES
AUGUST 24TH 2003
PART 1 – “ON EAGLES WINGS”
STORY:
DURING COLLEGE…….SUSANS LOVE LETTERS TO ME…..
- WANTED TO GET PAST ALL THE GENERAL NEWSY STUFF AND GET RIGHT TO THE BEST PART…THE GOOD STUFF….
- Wanted TO READ THE PARTS THAT SAID HOW WONDERFUL AND CHARMING I WAS…..AND WHAT A GODLY, DEDICATED YOUNG MAN I WAS……AND HOW SHE COULDN’T LIVE WITHOUT ME!!!
BUT I WAS ALWAYS WANTING MORE…….ALWAYS TRYING TO READ BETWEEN THE LINES
LOOKING BACK….I REALIZE NOW THAT I WOULD HAVE ENJOYED LIFE A LOT MORE IF I’D JUST RELAXED AND TREASURED HER LETTERS FOR WHAT THEY WERE - - INSTEAD OF TRYING TO BEND THEM INTO WHAT I WANTED THEM TO BE.
I REALLY DIDN’T NEED TO READ BETWEEN THE LINES - - THE LOVE SHE HAD FOR ME WAS RIGHT THERE IN FRONT OF ME!!!
HAVE YOU EVER HEARD THE TEN COMMANDMENTS DESCRIBED AS A LOVE LETTER…………
A TENDER HEARTFELT MESSAGE FROM THE VERY HAND OF GOD?
PERHAPS NOT…
BUT I AM CONVINCED IT IS ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL EXPRESSIONS OF GOD’S LOVE IN ALL SCRIPTURE!!!
AND YOU DON’T NEED TO READ BETWEEN THE LINES!!!
IT’S ALL THERE
HE DOESN’T LEAVE ANYTHING OUT!!!
THESE TEN STATEMENTS ARE ALL-ENCOMPASSING, TOUCHING VIRTUALLY EVERY PART OF OUR LIVES!!!
THEY ARE PARAMETERS TO LIVE BY…..
THE TRUTHS HE KNOWS ARE GOING TO PROVIDE BLESSING AND STREGNTH………A FUTURE AND A HOPE!!!!
IN FACT…
IF I MISS THE REAL MESSAGE OF THESE TEN COMMANDMENTS ….I’VE MISSED A GREAT DEAL!!!
I’VE MISSED THE VERY HEART OF GOD!!!
SOME PEOPLE ….OF COURSE……IMAGINE IT TO BE THE EXACT OPPOSITE!!!
THEY DON’T HEAR LOVE IN THESE STATEMENTS!!!
WHAT DO THEY HEAR???
THEY HEAR THE CLANK OF CHAINS AND THE RATTLE OF PADLOCKS!!!
THEY HEAR GOD SAYING….
“YOU MESS WITH ME……YOU STEP OUT OF BOUNDS…….AND I’LL FRY YOU LIKE A BUG LANDING ON A TRANSFORMER”!!!
ALL OF THIS OF COURSE ….PLAYS RIGHT INTO SATAN’S MASTER PLAN - - THE ONE’S HE’S HAD FROM THE BEGINNING !!!
“GOD IS A PRUDE”…..GOD IS A KILLJOY……GOD IS A HARSH OLD GRANDFATHER WITH A LONG GREY BEARD AND BUSHY EYEBROWS WHO DOESN’T WANT ANYONE TO HAVE ANY FUN………EVER!!!!
SAME LIE HE TOLD EVE IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN!!!
“MY MY MY..GOD HAS FORBIDDEN YOU TO EAT THE FRUIT OF THIS TREEE…………WHAT A PITY AND SHAME………
HE KNOWS IF YOU EVER TASTED FROM THIS TREE …..YOU’D BE LIKE A GOD!!!
NOTHING COULD HOLD YOU BACK……..YOU THINK THE GARDEN IS NICE NOW…..YOU AIN’T SEEN NOTHIN!!!
GOD WANTS TO KEEP YOU FROM THE TANG AND SWEETNESS OF LIFE!!!
TRUE FREEDOM MEANS FREEDOM FROM CONFINING RESTRICTIONS SUCH AS THESE!!!!”
WELL I DON’T THINK SATAN IS RIGHT AT ALL!!!
I THINK EVEN WITH THE TEN COMMANDMENTS THERE IS A BRIGHTER…WARMER….AND MORE PASSIONATE SIDE TO THIS FAMILIAR PORTION OF SCRIPTURE THAT WE MAY HAVE MISSED THROUGH THE YEARS!!!
DID YOU KNOW THAT BEFORE GOD GAVE MOSES THE 10 COMMANDMENTS THERE WAS A PRIOR CONVERSTAION BETWEEN GOD AND MOSES!!!
GOD SET THE CONTEXT HIMSELF OF THE 10 COMMANDMENTS BEFORE HE GAVE THEM!~!!!
IT’S ALL RIGHT HERE IN THE BOOK OF EXODUS…..
SO TURN THERE WITH ME WOULD YOU?
NOW REMEMBER….
SATAN WOULD RATHER WE NEVER LEARNED THESE PRIOR INSTRUCTIONS!!!
WHY?
BEC IT SUITS HIS PURPOSE TO QUOTE GOD’S WORDS OUT OF CONTEXT!!!
IT ALWAYS HAS!!!
IF HE CAN’T PERSUADE YOU TO STAY AWAY FROM THE BIBLE…..HE’LL TRY TO WRENCH GOD’S WORDS OUT OF THEIR RIGHTFUL SETTING!!!
AND THE RIGHTFUL SETTING OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS IS THE BOUNDLESS….FAITHFUL…..FATHER-LOVE OF THE LIVING GOD!!!!
LISTEN TO HIS WORDS!!!
(READ EXODUS 19:3-6)
THE LORD IS SAYING HERE….”MOSES…BEFORE YOU GIVE THE PEOPLE THESE COMMANDMENTS…..BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE….
WILL YOU PLEASE REMIND THEM THAT I BORE THEM ON EAGLE’S WINGS???
THE LORD WAS SAYING TO THEM…AND REMINDING THEM OF SOMETHING!!
“DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN YOU WERE TRAPPED IN EGYPT…AND THERE WAS NOT PLACE FOR YOU TO GO…..AND YOU WERE IN BONDAGE AND IN TROUBLE?
DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN YOU GROANED IN YOUR CAPTIVITY BEC OF THE OPPRESSION AND TERRIBLE CRUELTY OF YOUR TASKMASTERS?
DO YOU REMEMBER LOOKING AT YOUR PRECIOUS CHILDREN AND REALIZING THERE WAS NO HOPE OR FUTURE AT ALL FOR THEM BEYOND CHAINS…A LASH….AND EARLY DEATH?
I HEARD YOU CRIED….I SAW YOUR TEARS….. AND I CAME DOWN TO BUY YOU BACK OUT OF YOUR SLAVERY……DO YOU REMEMBER???
“DO YOU REMEMBER STANDING ON THE SHORE WITH THE RED SEA LAPPING AT YOUR FEET AND PHARAOH’S TROOPS MASSING AT YOUR BACK??
DO YOU REMBMER THE DESPAIR YOU FELT BEC YOU COULDN’T GO FORWARD OR BACK….
AND DEATH WAS RIDING TOWARD YOU LIKE A STORM OUT OF THE WEST???
I MADE A WAY FOR YOU WHERE THERE WAS NO WAY!!!!
“DO YOU REMBMER THOSE DAYS IN THE WILDERNESS WHERE THERE WAS NOTHING TO DRINK….AND YOURO THROATS WERE DRY….AND YOUR LITTLE ONES CRIED FOR WATER???
I OPENED UP A SPRING FOR YOU…..A STREAM OF FRESH ….SWEET WATER….CAME GUSHING OVER THE PARCHED DESERT FLOOR……
“DO YOU REMBMER BEING HUNGRY IN THAT BARREN PLACE….WITH NO PROVISIONS…..AND NO SUPPLIES??
I FED YOU EVERY DAY WITH MANNA……THE BREAD OF ANGELS…
YOU FACED FOREIGN ARMIES…..ENEMIES GREATER AND STRONGER THAN YOU….BUT I FOUGHT FOR YOU!!!
IN THE TIMES YOU THOUGHT YOU’D NEVER MAKE IT…..THAT YOU WOULD NEVER SURVIVE….THAT THERE WAS NO WAY IN THE WORLD YOU COULD ENDURE……..BUT I WAS WATCHING ALL THE TIME!!!
I STEPPED INTO YOUR LIVES TO SAVE YOU!!!
LISTEN…..I SWOOPED DOWN AND BORE YOU ON EAGLE’S WINGS!!!!
DO YOU REMEMBER!????
THAT IS THE CONTEXT OF THE TEN STATEMENTS IN EXODUS 20:1-17
THAT’S WHAT THE LORD IS SAYING….
“MOSES…PLEASE TELL THEM……MAKE SURE YOU REMIND THEM…….BEFORE YOU GIVE THEM THESE COMMANDS……..
HOW MUCH I LOVOED THEM IN THE PAST…..
REMIND THEM HOW I’VE WATCHED OVER THEIR LIVES EVERY DAY AND HAVE CONCERNED MYSELF WITH THEIR FUTURE!!!!
(RANGER RICK….AND THE MAMA EAGLE AND THE BABY EAGLET)
AND HERE’S THE NEAT THING…
WE CAN LOOK BACK ON THE SAME THING IN OUR OWN LIVES…….CANT WE?
EVERYTHING WE HAVE AND EVERYTHING WE ENJOY ARE BEC OF HIM AND ARE BLESSINGS FROM HIS HAND!!!
WE ….TOO…..WERE HEADED SOUTH ONE DAY….
THERE WAS NOTHING BETWEEN US AND AN ETERNAL ABYSS BUT EMPTY SPACE AND A LONG…LONG WAY TO FALL!!!
AS THE APOSTLE PAUL PUT IT ONE DAY…….”WE WERE WITHOUT HOPE AND WITHOUT GOD IN THE WORLD!!!!
BUT WHAT HAPPENED??
IN CHRIST …….THE LORD SWOOPED DOWN AND PICKED US UP AND GAVE US EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE!!!
AND NOW HE SUSTAINS US AND KEEPS US EVERY DAY OF OUR LIVES!!!
IF WE LOSE SIGHT OF THAT…..WE CAN’T SEE ANYTHING AT ALL!!!
AND YES….
THERE MAY BE TIMES WHEN YOU FEEL ABANDONED LIKE AN EAGLET IN THE WIDE EMPTY SKY…….BUT THE LORD WILL ALWAYS COME!!!
IF YOU WILL TRUST HIM AND PUT YOUR FAITH IN HIM….THEN HE’S GUARANTEED THAT HE WILL ALWAYS SHOW UP….AND IT WILL ALWAYS BE AT THE RIGHT TIME!!!
IF HE SEEMS ‘LATE’ FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE….IT’S BEC HE’S LETTING YOU SEE SOMETHING AND LEARN SOMETHING THAT YOU NEED TO SEE AND LEARN!!!
IN THEIR FISHING BOAT OUT ON THE STORMY SEA ONE NIGHT….THE DISCIPLES OF CHRIST ALL THOUGHT THEY WERE GOING TO DIE….AND THAT THERE WAS NO HOPE!!!
BUT JESUS CAME AT JUST THE RIGHT TIME…..WALKING ACROSS THE WAVES!!!
HE WOULDN’T HAVE WAITED ANY LONGER…..AND HE WOULDN’T HAVE COME ANY SOONER!!!!
WOULD THE DISCIPLES HAVE APPRECIATED HIM COMING EARLIER……AFTER THEY WERE STRAINING AT THE OARS FOR ALL THOSE HOURS AND THEIR BOAT WAS BEING SWAMPED AND THEY WERE AT THE POINT OF EXHAUSTION AND DESPAIR???
WOULD THEY HAVE PREFERRED THAT HE COME EARLIER…..BEFORE HE MET THEM AT MID-LAKE???
YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT!!!!….
IN THEIR HUMANITY THEY WOULD HAVE ALWAYS PREFERRED THAT!!!
BUT THEN THEY WOULD NOT HAVE KNOWN HIM AS LORD OF THE STORM!!!
MASTER OF THE WAVES….AND THE SEA!!!!
AND PETER WOULD NOT HAVE LEARNED THAT WITH HIS EYES ON JESUS……
HE COULD OVERCOME ANY OBSTACLE OR IMPOSSIBILITY!!!!!
WOULD THE 3 HEBREW BOYS…….SHADRACK, MESHACH, AND ABEDNEGO HAVE PREFERRED THAT THE LORD COME SWOOPING DOWN TO DELIVER THEM BEFORE THE KING……SEIZED THEM,,,,,,TIED THEM UP….AND THREW THEM INTO THE FIERY FURNACE????
YES….
IN THEIR HUMANITY THEY WOULD HAVE PREFERRED THAT…
BUT….THEN THEY WOULD NEVER HAVE MET THE FOURTH MAN…..STANDING WITH THEM IN FLAMES!!!
THEY WOULD HAVE NEVER LEARNED THAT THE LORD CAN PROTECT THEM FROM ANYTNING AND ANYONE!!!!
GOD IS ALL ABOUT DEVELOPING US AND HELPING US GROW!!!
HE LOVED THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL…..AND HIS PURPOSE WAS TO LEAD THEM STEP BY STEP BY STEP ….
TEST BY TEST BY TEST….
AND TRAIL BY TRAIL BY TRAIL….
SO THAT WHEN THEY CORSSED THE JORDAN….
THEY WOULD HAVE THE FAITH AND THE STRENGTH AND THE CONFIDENCE TO THROW DOWN WALLED CITIES AND TAKE POSSESSION OF THE LAND!!!!
HE ALWAYS HAS A PLAN!!!!!
AND HE HAS A PLAN FOR YOU TOO!!!
NEVER DOUBT IT!!!
YOU MIGHT BE SITTING HERE THIS MORNING…….PUZZLED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES AND TIMING IN YOUR LIFE….
AND YOU MAY EVEN FEEL LIKE YOUR’E GOING NOWHERE FAST!!!
AND YET…..LIKE THAT MOTHER EAGLE………GOD’S EYE IS UPON YOU!!!
HE WILL CATCH YOU UP ON HIS WING AND TAKE YOU WHERE YOU COULD NEVER GO IN YOUR OWN STRENGTH!!!!!
HE CARRIES YOU BEC HE LOVES YOU!!!
AND THAT’S WHAT MAKES THE TEN COMMANDMENTS A LOVE LETTER!!!!!!
LOVE DOESN’T ALWAYS LOOK THE WAY YOU’D EXPECT IT TO LOOK. IT ISN’T ALWAYS DRESSED FOR DINNER.
IT ‘S NOT ALWAYS PRETTY AND FRILLYU….OR SOFT!!!
IT MIGHT EVEN BE WRITTEN IN STONE!!!
IN MIGHT EVEN SHOW UP AS TEN COMMANDMENTS!!!
I HAVE COME TO BELIEVE THAT THE 10 COMMANDMENTS ARE ONE OF THE GREATEST PIECES OF LITERATURE CONCERING THE LOVE OF GOD THAT THERE IS ANYWHERE!!!
AND I BELIEVE IT BEC OF WHAT GOD DOES IN THE FIRST NINETEEN CHAPTERS OF THE BOOK OF EXODUS PRIOR TO THE 10 COMMANDMENTS!!!
WHEN YOU READ THIS BRIEF HISTORY OF THE INFANT NATION……YOU CAN’T HELP BUT NOTICE THAT EVERY TIME THEY ARE IN TROUBLE….AND EVERY TIME THEY ARE IN A DIFFICULT PLACE….
THE LORD’S ALWAYS THERE TO DELIVER THEM!!!
HE’S ALWAYS THERE TO HELP THEM!!!
HE’S ALWAYS THERE TO SEE THEM THROUGH!!!!
SO ….IF THE LORD LOVED THEM AND PROVED IT BY HIS CARE AND CONCERN…..THEN WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD HE TURN FROM BEING A SERVING ….SUSTAINING….AND GIVING GOD……..
TO A SELFISH….DEMANDING ….DO-IT-MY-WAY-OR-ELSE KIND OF GOD?
THE LORD DIDN’T WANT TO BIND HIS PEOPLE IN LEG SHACKLES AND CHAINS AFTER GLORIOUSLY REDEEMING THEM FROM THE DEATH ANGEL AND RELEASING THEM FROM SLAVERY!!!
WOULD HE BEAR THEM ON EAGLES WINGS TO A PRISION???
GOD KNEW THAT ALL OF THESE COMMANDS…..THAT HE SET BEFORE THEM EVERY ONE OF THEM………..WOULD BRING ABOUT BLESSING AND LIFE…..AND PEACE…..AND A SECURE FUTURE!!!
HIS COMMANDMENTS WERE…..AND ARE…..A GIFT OF LOVE IN AN UNCERTAIN AND DANGEROUS WORLD!!!!
SO HOW DO WE RESPOND TO SUCH A GIFT????
ONE OF THE BEST WAYS I CAN THINK OF IS TO PREPARE YOURSELF TO HEAR HIM
BEFORE THE LORD GAVE THE TEN COMMANDMENTS…HE TOLD MOSES…
“I AM GOING TO COME TO YOU IN THE FORM OF A DARK CLOUD….SO THAT THE PEOPLE THEMSELVES CAN HEAR ME WHEN I TALK WITH YOU…..
SO GO DOWN NOW ….AND SEE THAT MY PEOPLE ARE READY FOR MY VISIT……..
SANCTIFY THEM TODAY AND TOMORROW……AND I WILL COME DOWN UPON MT SINAI AS ALL THE PEOPLE WATCH!!!
SO MOSES DID JUST THAT!!!
THE LORD MAKES AN ISSUE OF PREPARING TO RECEIVE THESE COMMANDMENTS!!!
WHAT DOES GOD TELL THEM TO DO???
WASH YOUR CLOTHES…..
TAKE A LITTLE TIME TO GET READY……
THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT STUFF……!!!!
WHEN GOD COMES DOWN TO VISIT YOUR CAMP….YOU WANT TO BE PREPARED!!!
HE TOLD THEM SPECIFICALLY HOW HE WANTED THEM TO MEET HIM!!!
IN OTHER WORDS….THIS IS GOING TO REQUIRE SOMETHING OF YOU!!!
DOING THAT SAYS….”OKAY GOD….LET’S DO BUSINESS…..
I WANT MY LIFE TO BE RIGHT.
I WANT TO HEAR EVERYTING YOU HAVE TO SAY TO ME”
HOW DOES ONE PREPARE THEMSELVES FOR SOMETHING GOD MIGHT LIKE TO GIVE TO US OR SAY TO US!!!
(THE GARAGE IS AN EXAMPLE)
BEFORE WE CAN DEPOSIT SOMETHING SO LARGE AND IMPORTANT IN THE GARAGE……WE HAVE TO CLEAN A LOT OF CLUTTER OUT OF THE GARAGE!!!
IN THE SAME WAY…..YOU CAN’T HAVE GOD’S BEST….YOU CAN’T HAVE THE FULFILLMENT OF HIS PROMISE IN YOUR LIFE….UNTIL YOU COME TO THE REALIZATION…”I NEED TO BE AVAILABLE. I NEED TO MAKE ROOM IN MY LIFE FOR HIM. I NEED TO PREPARE MY HEART TO RECEIVE WHATEVER IT IS HE WANTS TO GIVE TO ME”
IS THERE CLUTTER IN YOUR LIFE THAT KEEPS YOU FROM RECEIVIGN FROM HIM?
WHAT DOES THE CLUTTER CONSIST OF?
IT WOULD CERTAINLY INCLUDE THOSE THINGS JESUS LISTED IN THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER…..WHERE FAITH IS CHOKED OUT BY WORRY AND RICHES AND THE RESPONSIBILITIES AND PLEASURE OF LIFE!!!
THE CLUTTER ALSO MIGHT INCLUDE UNCONFESSED SIN!!!
MOSES TOLD THE PEOPLE TO WAH THEIR CLOTHES………AND WE NEED TO HAVE OUR HEART AND CONSCIENCE WASHED CLEAN!!!
DAVID PRAYED….”SEARCH ME O GOD…..AND KNOW MY HEART…..
TRY ME…AND KNOW MY ANXIETIES….AND SEE IF THERE IS ANY WICKED WAY IN ME……AND LEAD ME IN THE WAY EVERLASTING!!!
AND LISTEN…
SIN IN YOUR LIFE DOESN’T STOP GOD FROM GIVING …….IT JUST STOPS YOU FROM RECEIVING!!!
GOD IS A GIVING AND LOVING GOD……THAT DOESN’T EVER CHANGE!!!!
BUT OUR ABILITY TO RECEIVE HIS LOVE AND COUNSEL ARE FRUSTRATED AND BLOCKED BY UNCONFESSED SIN!!!
ADAM AND EVE ARE A GREAT ILLUSTRATION OF THIS!!!
THEY SINNED….BUT GOD KEPT HIS APPOINTMENT WITH THEM!!!
HE CAME AT THE USUAL TIME….”IN THE COOL OF THE DAY”…..TO ENJOY FELLOWSHIP AND COMPANIONSHIP WITH THEM…..BUT THEY WERE OFF SOMEWHERE CROUCHING OUT IN THE WOODS!!!!
HE WAS STILL COMING TO LOVE THEM….
TO TALK WITH THEM….
AND TO GIVE TO THEM…
BUT THEY HAD REMOVED THEMSELVES!!!!
THEY WERE NO LONGER IN A POSITION TO RECEIVE!!!
THEY HID FROM HIM…..FIRST BEHIND THE BUSHES….AND THEN BEHIND THEIR EXCUSES!!!!
PREPARING TO MEET WITH HIM….AND RECEIVE FROM HIM….MEANS COMING OUT OF HIDING!!!
IT MEANS OPENING OUR HEARTS TO HIS DIVINE INSPECTION!!!
IT MEANS AGREEING WITH HIM ABOUT THE SIN IN OUR LIVES…….
AND WHAT IS SIN?
IT IS THE FALLING SHORT OF HIS STANDARDS, BUT I ALSO THINK IT MEANS TRYING IN MY OWN STRENGTH TO FULFILL MY OWN NEEDS!!!!
IT IS WHERE WE SAY….”I DON’T NEED GOD IN THIS….I’LL DO THIS MYSELF”!!!!
IN MOSES DAY…THE EMPAHSIS WAS ON OBEDIENCE TO A GOD THEY GREATLY FEARD BUT HARDLY KNEW!!!
A GOD WHO CAME DOWN UPON A MOUNTAIN IN A DARK CLOUD…WITH EARTHQUAKES AND FLASHES OF LIGHTNING!!!
IN OUR DAY……THIS WONDERFUL DAY OF GRACE…..WE COME TO A GOD WE KNOW……
THE SON OF GOD WHO LIVED AND DIED FOR US AND NOW PLEADS OUR CASE BEFORE HIS FATHER’S THRONE!!!
HOW CAN WE NOT WANT TO PREPARE OURSELVES TO MEET AND LISTEN TO SUCH A GOD?
HOW CAN WE SATISFY OURSELVES WITH ANYTHING LESS THAN MAKING ROOM FOR ALL HE WANTS TO GIVE TO US AND SAY TO US??
THE OLD APOSTLE JOHN UNDERSTOOD THIS TRUTH VERY WELL WHEN HE WROTE….”LOVING GOD MEANS DOING WHAT HE TELLS US TO DO…AND REALLY….THAT ISN’T HARD AT ALL….FOR EVERY CHILD OF GOD CAN OBEY HIM….
DEFEATING SIN AND EVIL PLEASURE BY TRUSTING CHRIST TO HELP HIM!!!!
IT’S A LOT EASIER NOW FOR ME TO LOOK AT THESE 10 COMMANDMENTS AND TO REMIND MYSELF…”LORD…WHY WOULD I EVER DOUBT YOUR LOVE FOR ME???
YOU HAVE PROVEN IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN ……YOU EVEN WROTE IT DOWN”!!!
IT WAS A VALENTINE WRITTEN IN STONE……..
LATER….IT WOULD BE WRITTEN IN BLOOD…….
WHO COULD EVER QUESTION SUCH A LOVE AS THAT!????
“NO OTHER GODS”
