A Proper Response to the Ten Commandments

It is always telling about a person’s character in how they respond to circumstances. How we respond to difficulty. How we respond to good times. This morning as we read these verses, we will see how the people respond to an interaction with the Lord.

Read Exodus 20:18-20

The Reveling of God Brings Awe and Fear

God has revealed Himself to the people. The primary purposes of the verses that came before are that the people might understand the law that they are now to abide by. It is an outline of their conduct moving forward as the people of God. But in God’s speaking to them, He reveals Himself to them, though not fully.

I say not fully because we read in Exodus 33 where the Lord will not allow Moses to fully see His glory. What we have just read is just a visual of the effects of the voice of the Lord as well as His voice. Because of what they have seen and heard, they are afraid. This fear that overtakes them and actually gives a physical reaction as well. They tremble as well as remove themselves.

When we think of God, we need to keep in mind that the mere thought of Him ought to fill us with awe and amazement. The people who were witnesses to this even believed in this moment that God is awesome as never before. If the plagues in Egypt or the provision of water and manna didn’t convince them, hearing the voice of God certainly proved that this God is all powerful, truly awesome, and glorious in every single way.

I want to point back to the Ten Words that were mentioned in the beginning of this chapter. When we read of the thunder and lightning and sound of the trumpet and the smoking mountain, we are faced with the power and might of God. When we speak of God’s omnipotence, just the sound of His voice is accompanied with thunder and lightning. However, this power gives authority to assign direction to His people on how to live. It gives credence to the actual command. When someone who is in authority gives direction, those under that authority listen.

Because God revealed Himself to the people and they were given a piece of His glory, we then look forward as to why exactly they retreated and why they responded to Moses in the way that they did.

Next,

The Glory of God Makes Us Aware of His Holiness

We read of the glory of God in this display of His voice. But I want to extend that to consider the holiness of God. Often, we think about the term “holy”, we immediately think of His moral perfection. God is in control over all things and has never done any wrong. He determines what is true and therefore what is morally right. But the idea of holiness is that God is set apart.

You see, it is the Lord who is fully set apart in morally uprightness but also in power and glory. As I think about the holiness of God, I cannot help but think about two passages of scripture: the first is Revelation 4.

Revelation 4 ESV

After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald. Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God, and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal. And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”

As all of those in heaven surround the throne of God in heaven, they cry out and recognize that God is holy. He is holy because he has always existed and will always exist. And is worthy of receiving the glory and honor and praise.

Yet another beautiful reminder of just how our God is holy. So, what does the recognition of His holiness do?

Being Aware of His Holiness Brings to Light Our Deficiencies

When we understand that it is God who is holy we are able to then see ourselves in comparison. It is God who is holy and we have fallen short of His glory. He sent Jesus to be the earthly example of set apartness. On one hand, this is a devastating thought for every single human. How could we live up to the standard that has been set to pursue holiness? The standard to enter heaven is holiness because those who are unholy are not to be in His presence. Yet, and here is where it gets really good, a sacrifice was made on our behalf to wash our sins away. That we might stand someday and be declared as belonging to the Lord. While the fact that we fall short of our calling, we ought to celebrate the fact that the Lord made a way!

All of this comes back to a response. How do you and I respond when faced with instruction on how to live? Finally,

An Understanding of Who God is and Who We Are Encourages Obedience

The people of Israel had only ever heard the words of God through Moses. But now that they have heard His glory, been made known of His holiness, and were aware of their own deficiencies, they have all the more desire to obey Him. I want to be incredibly clear on this point. Moses responds to the people that they should not fear being struck down by the Lord. Instead, the provision of the Ten Commandments in this way, with the audible voice of Jesus, was a test that the people passed. Their reaction to step away was a sign that they respected the power of God and wanted to take these commandments seriously.

As we ourselves think about the Lord, how do we view Him? Do we have a real understanding of His power? When we recognize His glory, it ought to draw us to a point of obedience rather than apathy for His commands. We should desire more fully to adhere to the law that He has, according to Romans 2:15, written on our hearts.

Romans 2:15 ESV

They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them

I want to put it to you in a different way that might be helpful to understand. I mentioned a bit ago that there are two passages in Revelation that come to my mind when I consider the holiness of God, the first coming in Revelation 4. However, in the next chapter we read what would have been a heartbreaking tale if it weren’t for Jesus Christ.

Revelation 5.

Revelation 5 ESV

Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.” Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

There was no one worthy to open the scroll. Except for Jesus. The Lion of the tribe of Judah. The Root of David. Our Savior. He conquered so that the scroll could be opened. He conquered so that we might live!

How could we not obey?

As we respond in a moment, I’d like for you to consider who God is and your own obedience to the way that Jesus has called us, His covenant people, to live.

If you’re here this morning and have never confessed that He is Lord over your life, can I encourage you to surrender to Him today?