Posts Tagged: Exodus 20:1-2
“The Ten Commandments: Escape from What Enslaves Me”
A couple of years ago, I encountered a fresh approach to the Ten Commandments, and some interesting thoughts and observations concerning the Ten Commandments. Have a look at http://www.loyolapress.com/assets/Bookcovers/80499_god-delivers.swf (accessed 2-1-2015).
Commenting on Exodus 20:1-2, the retreat master writes the following:
“The passage begins God’s proclamation of the Ten Commandments to the Israelites. The Commandments offered the People of God freedom from all the things that might enslave their souls. The culture and world that we live in is not so very different from that of the Israelites. It too is besieged by violence, war, clashing ideologies, and a consumer culture that holds little of value save for the bottom line. God desires us to be free from all that would enslave our hearts and souls. God wants our full attention. The Commandments offer us a way to focus our energies on God.”
And then, the retreat master asks some wonderfully troubling questions over which to ponder.
“From what things does my spirit want to escape?”
“How can God’s commandments help me to escape from things that seek to enslave me?”
The retreat ends with the following prayer:
“God of freedom, help me find my way through all that distracts me from the freedom you desire for me.”
I had always thought of the Ten Commandments as being a reasonable set of expectations which God placed on the Israelites, after he had sprung them from slavery. And so they are! The Ten are also the road map for getting to the Promised Land, and enjoying the Promised Land once they got there. The Ten Commandments are probably also the path for not going back to Egypt.
DOWN TO EARTH BELIEVER
- DTEB, “Getting Christ and Ourselves Back in Focus” November 11, 2024“Col. 3:1 ¶ If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Col. 3:2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. Col. 3:3 For you have died, and your life is hidden […]
- “Search Me!” October 27, 2024“Psa. 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! 24 And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” (Psalm 139:23-24, English Standard Version) I am participating in a Bible study, and this is a prayer […]
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- “God is in the Details” October 11, 2024“The devil is in the details.” (A general saying, often quoted by lawyers, reporters, and negotiators.) “God is in the details.” (Me, almost certainly not original.) “Luke 12:7 Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.” (Jesus) God does not micromanage, but God […]
- “Grandma’s Pump” October 8, 2024When I was a little critter, I would stay at my grandma’s house for a night or two sometimes. I liked this for a lot for many reasons. One thing I liked about staying with her was that Grandma’s house was much more technologically advanced than ours was. For one thing, she had indoor water—sort […]
- “Wearing the #14 Wrong-Side-Out” October 5, 2024Pete Rose, #14, is dead. Many of the old guys with whom I play softball watched him play and appreciated him greatly. I do as well. He was one of the greatest players who ever played the game. Yes, he admitted (eventually) to betting on baseball. But many of us still regard him as one […]
- “Passing Along the Love (and a Link)” October 4, 2024Several years ago, a friend of mine put me onto a daily meditation by Richard Rohr and friends. I don’t read them all the time, but I probably should. They are good! I thought that today’s writing was especially good, and I also figured that this would be a good way to post something. I […]
- “Witnessing Versus Being Witnesses” September 19, 2024“Acts 1:1 In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, Acts 1:2 until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. Acts 1:3 He presented himself alive to them after […]
- “A Bathroom Prayer for Hurting Hands” September 11, 2024A week ago Sunday, my hands were hurting so badly at church that I went to the bathroom to run hot water over my hands. Arthritis perhaps, or carpal tunnel, or general orneriness—I don’t know why my hands hurt, but they do. They have for years. So, while I was running hot water over my […]
- “Waiting and Seeking” September 10, 2024“Lam. 3:19 ¶ Remember my affliction and my wanderings, the wormwood and the gall! Lam. 3:20 My soul continually remembers it and is bowed down within me. Lam. 3:21 But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: Lam. 3:22 ¶ The steadfast love of the LORD […]
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