Friday, March 22: Exodus 20– Ten Commands…

As I was reading through the commands God gave to the Israelites, I started thinking how selectively we apply them…

No other gods, no idols or graven images and no misuse of God’s name. Somehow the third one isn’t carried in the same esteem as the first two. Is it revered as the command suggests?

Next comes Sabbath… virtually non-existent in our 24/7/365 world.

Honoring parents and then a quick flash of ‘do nots’….murder, adultery, stealing, false testimony, coveting. Certainly adultery is not applied as stringently as murder. And coveting… it seems to me like most TV ads are designed to cause us to covet! I checked on the definition of covet. Here’s what I found:

Covet refers to an "inordinate, ungoverned, selfish desire". Israel was not to "desire" (Deut. 7:25; ASV, RSV, "covet") the gold adorning idols, to lust after prostitutes (Proverbs 6:25), or to covet fields (Micah 2:2; cf. Exodus 34:24). Achan's sin at Jericho was that he desired the spoil (Joshua 7:21). … (From: Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament)

My thoughts went from ‘us’ to ‘me’ and my selective application of these commands.

Lord, my thoughts convict me. I am far less pure before You than I often like to think. I am without merit before You. My only plea is the Blood of my Savior and the Robe of Righteousness He gave me.

In Christ my solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand!

Amen.