The Message, October 8, 2023: "Thou SHALL ...," Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20

Author: Rev. Scott W. Cousineau
October 10, 2023

 

“Thou SHALL …”
A Message by Rev. Scott W. Cousineau
Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20

            Let me see a show of hands … how many of you like to be told, “NO!”? How many of you enjoy people saying, “Don’t do that!!!”?

            How many? Not many? Zero. We prefer a more positive approach, right? We prefer positive reinforcement as opposed to negative. As they say, “You can attract more flies with honey than with vinegar.” (Of course, that presupposes that you desire flies … but that is another message to consider at another time.)

            When we were growing up, our parents or guardians were more likely to say, “Play nice,” than they were to say, “Do NOT be mean.”

            They were more likely to say, “Share your toys,” rather than, “Do not be selfish and keep all the toys to yourself.”

            They probably said, “Look both ways before you cross the street,” rather than, “Hey, do NOT stroll out into traffic.”

            My mother always told me to “Drive safe,” rather than, “Do not speed.” Although, there were times when she added that extra negative admonition.

            Our brains are wired to respond better to the more positive approach to teaching.

            So then, why did God employ so much negative language when delivering this first set of commandments? Let us consider the context.

            We heard last week that the Children of Israel were wandering in the wilderness after they had been released from captivity in Egypt. (Exodus 17) They had run out of food and water … twice … and they were not happy about it. God had provided for them all along the way, yet they still grumbled and complained. They directed their grievances and disputes at poor Moses, a guy who had never wanted the job in the first place.

            It stands to reason that if the people were grumbling and complaining about Moses, they were likely grumbling and complaining amongst themselves. And they were. In the intervening chapters since last week’s passage, we learn that Moses sat and listened to their disputes ALL DAY … from morning until night. Finally, Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, told him, “You need help.” So, Moses and Aaron appointed dozens of judges to hear and settle the disputes among the people.

            When the people reached the area of Sinai, God appeared to Moses and told him to assemble the people around the base of the mountain so that they could witness God’s Presence. Moses did as he was instructed, and that is where we picked up our story this morning. God appeared to Moses in power and smoke and delivered these Ten Words to govern the people.

            Let me assure you … I am not going to do a detailed exploration of the Ten Words, the Ten Commandments. There are plenty of books available to you if you choose to do that. We will look at them from a more general perspective.

            The Ten Words are all about covenant. They begin with God reestablishing and reinforcing the covenant between God and the people. The covenant that God established with Abraham was centuries old, but the Children of Israel had been in captivity in Egypt for over four hundred years. And what is more, the ancient Egyptians had a pantheon of gods and goddesses that numbered in excess of two thousand!

            The Children of Israel had spent generations living among people that worshipped more gods and goddesses than they could keep track of. They likely lived and served among statues and other depictions of gods and demigods. It is probably also the case that some of them worshipped those Egyptian gods as well. Who knows … perhaps some little statues had made their way with them as they fled.

            So, clearly Yahweh had to establish a place of preeminence among that pantheon of gods. “I am the Lord, your God. You shall have no other gods before me, or above me, or beside me. I am the God that created heaven and earth. I am the God that gave you life. I am the God that delivered you out of captivity. I am the God that has provided for you all along the way. I AM YOUR GOD. Period.”

            “What is more, you will NOT make any statues or idols to depict me. That is human hubris … arrogance. I cannot be contained in an image or an object. Do not even try. Because, if you do that, people may begin to worship that object as if it was ME. That will corrupt the faith. That will damage our covenant.”

            “And one more thing … do NOT use my name in any vain manner. Do not use it like it is some magic word. Do not use it to make your argument or to prove a point. And certainly do not use it as a form of pointless profanity.”

            Those first three Words … Commandments … established the place and authority of God in our lives. They then set the foundation for the remaining words which were about establishing and reinforcing covenant among the people. The rest of the words are intended to create community. They are a way of living, words that would assure the peace, strength, and stability of the family and the community.

            Now, I began my message by talking about how we do not like to be told, “NO!” But we also know that sometimes “NO” is necessary.

            Have you ever seen a family go into a restaurant, or other setting, and tell their two-year-old child to “behave.” What does a two-year-old know about the word behave? Those are just nice mouth sounds coming out of mommy and daddy’s mouths.

            In the same way, Yahweh could not simply say to the People, “Now behave yourselves. Be nice to one another.” God had tried that, and it had not worked out so well. God had to tell them what behaving looked like.

            “As you make your journey toward the Promised Land, you have to work together. Honor your parents because family is the bedrock, the foundation of this community. Everything that we do honors and supports family relationships. Your parents need you and you need them.

            “If you get angry with someone, do NOT murder them. One would think that would be obvious, but let me be clear … do NOT murder.

            “Do NOT betray your marriage vows. Nothing erodes trust and relationships faster than that.

            “Do NOT look at your neighbor’s oxcart or oxen and think ‘Hey, that would make MY trek through the wilderness easier. I will steal it for myself. In fact, do not steal anything. That is a sin against me and against them.

            “Do not look at your neighbors and think, ‘Hey, they have more manna than I do. Or, hey, he has a better wagon than I do. Or, hey, his wife has given him more sons than I have. Even thinking in that way may lead you to act upon those thoughts.

            “And, if anyone does bring you before one of the judges of the people because of a dispute, do NOT testify falsely. Even more, do NOT bring false charges against another. False testimony is akin to stealing and even murder if you destroy another’s reputation or take away their livelihood.”

            “If you live in this way, if you follow these words your relationships will be strong and will endure any hardships. Remember, I am YOUR God, and you are MY people. May these Words guide your lives.”

            There has been a school of thought that the original Words were offered in the positive. However, research has completely debunked that supposition. There is no evidence that Yahweh said, “Behave and share.” Sometimes “Do NOT do that!” is necessary. God needed to give them concrete rules to govern their lives.

            So then, where and when do we get to hear, “Thou SHALL”?

            Well, if you turn the page in your pew Bibles, you will find that the reason that Moses spent so much time with God on Mount Sinai is because the next eleven chapters are law, after law, after law concerning: the altar, slaves, violence, property, restitution of property, religious laws, justice for all, Sabbath, annual festivals, and offerings, and so on. Far too many to include on two stone tablets.

            For us, we hear the “Thou SHALL …” generations later from the mouth of Jesus Christ.

            We have talked about the ways that the People of God struggled to live according to the ways that the Pharisees and rabbis had interpreted the Law of God. We have heard how the laws ballooned to over six hundred rules and restrictions. And we have heard that Jesus did not come to abolish the Law, but rather to fulfill it.

            Jesus says to us, “Let me give you the essence, the Truth of God’s Way of living. Love. Love the Lord Your God with all your heart, your strength, and your soul. Then love your neighbor as yourself. It is all about covenant. It is all about community. You were created … called into being … by and through God’s love. That is what and who you are. You ARE God’s love, just as I AM God’s Love. So … you love. Love God who made you and sustains you. Love yourselves because you are God’s Beloved Child. And then love your neighbors because they too are God’s Beloved. That is it … Love.”

            Just like my mother told me every time that I left the house, “Drive safe,” every word from God and from Jesus Christ is, “Love.” “You SHALL Love.” Amen.

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