A Covenant Nation
Exodus 20:1-17
Tony’s Overview Video
How to Use
Preparing to teach
- Read the Bible Lesson by Tony Cartledge in this month’s issue of the Nurturing Faith Journal
- Watch Tony’s Video for this session
- Select either the Adult or Youth teaching guide and follow the directions
Click to read the Bible Lesson by Tony Cartledge
Key Verse: Exodus 20:2-3 –
I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; you shall have no other gods before me.
Do you ever get the feeling, living in this anything-goes society, of treading water in a sea of moral chaos? That can leave us looking for a firmly anchored buoy to keep us afloat, or a sturdy boat to carry us ashore.
Unfortunately, such yearning can go too far when they lead to a rigid religious fundamentalism. As we long for direction amid the confusing disorder of our lives, fundamentalism offers the promise of certainty and firm answers (whether right or wrong), and many people turn to it simply because anything is better than chaos.
God, however, offers something better than a list of legalistic propositions. We can live in relationship with the author of the universe and the maker of our hearts. Exodus 19-20 describes the inauguration of a covenant between God and Israel – one that can speak to Christians, too.
Worship God alone (v. 1-3)
The Decalogue (a Latin term meaning “Ten Words”) constitutes the best known and most central part of the law that governed Israel’s self-understanding. Reportedly first given at Sinai as part of a covenant ceremony, they appear again, in slightly different form, in Deut. 5:6-21. [DD] The commandments fall into two obvious sections: four commands describing a proper relationship with God followed by six precepts describing a healthy relationship with other persons. Sound relations with other people grow from a vital connection with God
Yahweh’s message began with self-revelation: “I am Yahweh,” the name God had revealed to Moses (Exodus 3:13-15). “Yahweh” is probably derived from the Hebrew verb of being (hayah), and may mean something like “the one who is,” or “the one who causes to be.”
“I am Yahweh” was a reminder of “who brought you out of the land of Egypt.” The people owed their lives to Yahweh’s deliverance, so it was appropriate for God to insist “you shall have no other gods before me” (v. 3). Israel lived in a highly polytheistic world, and did not yet understand that Yahweh was the only God: true monotheism emerges most clearly with the eighth century prophets. The commandment did not speak to whether other gods exist, for they were real to the people: the commandment was to worship only Yahweh.
Worship God rightly (vv. 4-11)
Commands two, three, and four described how Israel was and was not to worship God. The original commands were probably shorter than the version we have preserved in scripture. Later expansions suggest that Israel had some difficulty in understanding and obeying the commandments. The most amplified commands are probably the ones that gave Israel the most trouble.
The second command probably began “You shall not make any shaped image.” Other peoples bowed down to human-formed idols of their gods, but Israel was to accept and worship Yahweh as mysterious, wonderful, and invisible to the eyes. [DD]
The temptation to worship idols was so constant and pervasive that later scribes added a heated commentary about Yahweh’s punishment of the disobedient (“those who reject me”) to the third and fourth generation, and the promise of blessing for the righteous (“those who love me”) to the thousandth generation. [DD]
While each person is responsible for his or her own sin, there is no question that the dysfunction of abusive or incompetent parents passes from generation to generation. Still, whatever sinful or inept tendencies we inherit or absorb, we can choose to live in a right relationship with God. [DD]
The third command insists that we avoid misusing God’s name and show proper respect (v. 7). It is sad to think of children who grow up thinking God’s last name is “Damn,” or that “Jesus Christ!” means something bad has happened. The trendy use of “Oh My God” (OMG!) in response to everything from cute puppies to bad hair shows similar disrespect. [DD]
The main intent of the command relates to invoking God’s name to support a false statement or oath. Promoting racist and sexist attitudes or misguided ethics by claiming God’s endorsement also violates the spirit of the third commandment.
The heart of the fourth command is v. 8: “Remember the Sabbath day, and keep it holy.” Verses 9-11 are a later addition from priestly writers who wanted to clarify the command and extend it everyone, including servants, immigrants, and cattle! They believed God was best honored when all took time for rest and giving thanks. Could this be the most neglected commandment in our day?
Treat others well (vv. 12-17)
The last six commandments find their roots in the first four, and all of them find their foundation in the opening statement: “I am Yahweh, your God.” The way we live with others is firmly grounded in the way we live with God. [DD]
Relationships with others begin with our family. As Yahweh is the author of all life, parents are the specific channel through which we come to be. Thus, a directive relating to family properly serves as the bridge between the commandments dealing with our relationship to God and those relating to others.
It is also fitting that honoring parents should stand next to the first four commandments, because it is from them that we gain our first understanding of God – for good or bad. The commandment does not demand blind obedience to misguided parents, but counsels a show of respect to our progenitors, even when we disagree with them.
The command was directed mainly toward adult children, who bore responsibility for their parents’ care when they grew old and infirm. The ancient world had no hospitals, assisted living facilities, or government assistance programs. Aged parents depended on their adult children for shelter and care. Honoring one’s parents by providing such care was both appropriate and essential. [DD]
The reader will note that “mother” is shown the same respect as “father.” The ancient Near East was a very male dominated world, but here the woman is given proper recognition of her essential role in society, deserving of equal honor.
This command was also expanded by later writers, to the point that Paul called it “the first commandment with promise” (Eph. 6:2). “Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your god is giving you” reflects the Deuteronomistic promise that faithful obedience leads to success in life.
Honoring others (vv. 13-17)
The last five commandments grow from the foundation established by a right relationship to God and to family.
The sixth command is straightforward: don’t kill people (v. 13). [DD] The word used (shaqer) evolved over time, ranging from the early technical meaning of a murder associated with a blood feud to intentional killing, then to a more general meaning that included manslaughter, or unintentional killing. In context, it described killing within the covenant community and with wrongful intent.
Why is it wrong to kill? Because it is God who gives life, and it is not our place to take it away. We are not free to use and abuse life at will. [DD]
We are not to commit adultery, according to the seventh command (v. 14). The word refers to a married person engaging in sex with someone other than his or her spouse. The precious gift of sexuality is an important part of who we are as individuals and as partners in a marriage. We are not at liberty to violate that, and cannot do so without consequences to ourselves and to others. [DD]
It is wrong for us to steal (v. 15, number eight) because it is God who gives all things, including the ability to earn an income or to receive an inheritance. Thievery does not acknowledge either God or the other person. It results in a destruction of trust even more significant than the loss of one’s goods. Blessings rightly come from God and from the proper use of our God-given abilities – not from taking what belongs to another.
It is wrong to bear false witness against our neighbor because in doing so we are stealing their good reputation and bringing them harm (v. 16, number nine). Bearing false witness violates the integrity of relationships as established by Yahweh. God, the eternal truth, has created us in God’s own image. Lying about others – whether in court or in everyday conversation –causes harm to other persons who are also made in God’s image.
The final command deals with the compromise of one’s own character through obsessive desire for what belongs to another. The problem with lust is that it opens the door to breaking any one of the other commandments – or all of them. The specific expansions added to the tenth commandment (“your neighbor’s house . . . your neighbor’s wife, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor”) are clear indicators that this was a problem area for Israel. Few would deny that envy is a constant obstacle for us, as well.
Christian believers do not live under God’s covenant with Israel, but the truths inherent in the Decalogue were embodied in Jesus’ core teachings – if we truly love God and love others, following the commandments will be a natural result.
Adult Teaching Resources
Download the PDF of teaching resources for this lesson.
This PDF contains the Teaching Guide, Digging Deeper, and Hardest Question pages.
Read Scripture online: Exodus 20:1-17
Youth Teaching Resources
Parent Prep
“Because I said so!” It’s only effective because the parent is the authority. There’s no way a child ends an argument by saying this back to their parents. Many consider the 10 Commandments God’s “Because I said so!” God said it, it must be so. End of argument. But what was God trying to do with these commandments? Weren’t these the basis of continuing a covenant and living into a new part of God’s relationship with the people of Israel. When you yell out “Because I said so!”, are you trying to build your relationship with your students, or are you trying to win an argument? What might be a better way to go than “I said so”? What might strengthen your relationship with your student?
Additional Links/Resources
Read Scripture online: Exodus 20:1-17
Download the PDF for youth teaching resources using the button below. This PDF contains the Teaching Guide for this lesson:
Video
Encourage youth to check out this video ahead of the lesson.
“Oliver Wood Explaining Quidditch” from Harry Potter and Philosopher’s Stone
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