God's character and the Ten Commandments

[JesusFollowerForever]

God's character and the Ten Commandments are deeply intertwined, as the commandments reflect His nature and expectations for His people. The commandments are not merely a set of rules but a moral and spiritual framework that reveals who God is and how humanity is to live in relationship with Him and each other.

First and foremost, God is holy, and the Ten Commandments emphasize this holiness. In Exodus 20:3, God commands, "You shall have no other gods before Me." This establishes the foundational truth that God alone is to be worshipped and revered. He is distinct and His holiness demands exclusive devotion. This is further emphasized in Exodus 20:4-6, where God warns against idolatry, saying, "You shall not make for yourself a carved image...for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God." God’s holiness is not something to be shared with idols or false gods, and this commandment speaks to His desire for purity in worship.

God’s holiness also extends to His moral nature, and the Ten Commandments reflect the standard He sets for His people’s behaviour. For instance, Exodus 20:13 says, "You shall not murder," which highlights the sanctity of human life. Life is a gift from God, and the commandment reflects His justice in protecting that life. Similarly, Exodus 20:14, "You shall not commit adultery," upholds the sanctity of marriage and the relationships that are integral to human society. God’s character is reflected in these commandments as He desires righteousness and faithfulness in the lives of His people.

God is just, and this justice is reflected throughout the commandments. The commandments promote fairness and equity in the treatment of others, emphasizing the need for honesty and integrity. For example, in Exodus 20:15, "You shall not steal," God protects the rights of individuals to their property and their work. Justice, in God’s eyes, is not only about punishing wrongs but also about upholding what is right and ensuring that every person is treated with dignity.

Alongside justice, God is love. Jesus Himself summarized the law as being based on love when He was asked about the greatest commandment. In Matthew 22:37-40, Jesus replied, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind." This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." This encapsulates the heart of the Ten Commandments, which not only show love for God but also emphasize love and respect for others. For instance, in Exodus 20:12, "Honor your father and your mother," the commandment speaks to the importance of love and respect within the family unit, which is foundational for a stable and loving society. Similarly, Exodus 20:16 commands, "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor," calling for truth and fairness in dealings with others, which is an expression of love and respect for their dignity.

God is faithful, and He expects His people to reflect that same faithfulness. In the Ten Commandments, we see this in the way God establishes the covenant and calls His people to remain faithful to it. In Exodus 20:5-6, God refers to Himself as a "jealous" God, protecting the covenant He has made with His people. This is not jealousy in the sense of selfishness, but a divine passion for the loyalty and faithfulness of His people. He desires His people to remain true to Him, just as He remains faithful to them. In contrast, idolatry or dishonouring His name would be an act of unfaithfulness, as seen in the commandment against using God's name in vain (Exodus 20:7).

God is a covenant-keeping God. The Ten Commandments is the covenant between God and Israel.
Deuteronomy 4:13;"So He declared to you His covenant which He commanded you to perform, the Ten Commandments; and He wrote them on two tablets of stone."
In Exodus 19:5-6, God says to the Israelites, "Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people." This covenant relationship reflects God's desire to be in a close, personal relationship with His people. The Ten Commandments serve as guidelines for living in a way that honours this relationship. They reflect God’s holiness, His justice, His love, and His faithfulness, and they call His people to live in response to these qualities in their daily lives.

In conclusion, the Ten Commandments are not merely a list of prohibitions but a reflection of God’s character. They reveal His holiness and demand that His people live in a way that honours His purity. They emphasize His justice, ensuring that fairness, truth, and respect for life are central to human conduct. They reflect His love, both for Himself and for others, and call for a life of reverence, respect, and integrity. They also reveal God's faithfulness, showing His desire for His people to remain loyal and true to Him. Ultimately, the Ten Commandments are a blueprint for living in a way that aligns with God's character and purposes for His creation.

However, while the commandments provide us with a glimpse of God’s character, it is important to acknowledge that we cannot fully fathom the true nature of God. His ways and understanding are beyond human comprehension. In the book of Job, we see this profound reality. Job, after enduring great suffering and questioning God’s justice, is confronted by God Himself. In Job 38:4-5, God asks, "Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements? Surely you know!" This passage highlights how limited our understanding is in comparison to God's infinite wisdom and power.

Later, in Job 42:3, Job acknowledges, "You asked, ‘Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know." Here, Job admits his inability to fully grasp the depth of God's wisdom and nature. Similarly, in Job 42:5-6, Job responds, "I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You. Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes." Job recognizes that even his best attempts to understand God are limited by his human perspective.

These verses from Job remind us that while the Ten Commandments give us an essential understanding of God's nature, His true essence is far beyond our complete understanding. We are finite beings trying to comprehend the infinite, and as much as we can know of Him, there will always be aspects of His character that remain beyond our grasp. This should lead us to a place of humility and awe before Him, acknowledging His greatness and the mystery of His ways, while trusting in His goodness, justice, love, and holiness.


Peace

 

[DamianWarS]

God's character and the Ten Commandments are deeply intertwined, as the commandments reflect His nature and expectations for His people. The commandments are not merely a set of rules but a moral and spiritual framework that reveals who God is and how humanity is to live in relationship with Him and each other.

I don't see the 10 acting as a base moral framework, instead scripture reveals more foundational moral constructs that even the 10 are based on.

For example Christ tells us the two greatest commadments (Mat 22:36-40) and then says "All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments". This shows us that not just the 10, but "all the law and the prophets" are based on this moral framework/construct that scripture identifies as "Christ's law/Law of Christ" or the "Royal Law" (Gal 6:2, 1 Cor 9:22, Jam 2:8)

This isn't the first time of course either. Mat 5 also calls out 2 of the 10 (murder v21 and adultery v27) showing that the letter of the law although may legally justify a person does not address matters of the heart and Christ offers a deeper motivation that is consistent with Christ's law. Gal 5:14 "For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" or Mat 12:12 "it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath" touch on the same values.

These are but a few examples that show a narrative where this goodness/love is more foundation and what the law is based and Christ identifies as independent mechanisms of lawful action. So by being practitioners of this goodness we keep law.

I get the 10 present themselves as foundational under Moses, but Christ reveals an even deeper motivation that the law itself is based on which is Christ's law. This can be deduced even by looking at the 10 in a vacuum since although they are agreeable their morality is based on avoidance of sin in the "do not" but does not address the heart. It's pretty easy to not murder my neighbour, not sleep with his wife, not steel or even not lie and not covet his things but that certainly doesn't cover all moral conduct with my neighbour and I can still be a pretty lousy neighbour. For example I can do all these things and still hate him. It is a whole different matter when I am no longer driven by what not to do to him to cause harm and instead be driven by what to do for him to love him. The 10 do not address this deeper motivation, but Christ law does even if Christ's law has similar products.

We can also logically look at laws like the 4th which have a physical perspective with physical rest and physical ceasing labour. We know instinctly/implicitly these point to spiritual values and not merely the physical even though it is left unpacked. so they must be based on more foundation values and they cannot be foundational themselves. At the very least the 4th itself is explicitly in remembrance of the 7th day so the 4th cannot be a moral framework but rather the 7th day is the framework that the 4th is based on.

The law points to Christ and Christ magnifies the law. That magnification shows us a deeper value that the law is based on that the surface letter doesn't address. The new and the old are based on the same moral construct which is of God and is unchanging, but it revealed in a different way and what Christ reveals is more foundational than the old and Christ's law is shows as a better way of lawful practice.

 

[Bob S]

God's character and the Ten Commandments are deeply intertwined, as the commandments reflect His nature and expectations for His people. The commandments are not merely a set of rules but a moral and spiritual framework that reveals who God is and how humanity is to live in relationship with Him and each other.

How could a bunch of thou shalt nots reflect the nature of God? You tell us God is Love, I agree, but tell us where in the old covenant ten commandments is there anything about love.

The ten were to be the guide for the Israelite nation. The Holy Spirit is the guide for all mankind. See 2Cor3:6-11