The Preface to the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-2)

This sermon was preached on 11/11/2010

It is often assumed that the text of the ten commandments begins with the first commandment. Such an assumption fails to take account of the preface, and it is important to pay heed to the preface because it provided the context in which the ten commandments were given to Israel. The preface contained the motivating factors for an ongoing commitment of obedience to the ten commandments. There were three such factors: (1) a personal understanding of God; (2) a particular activity of God on their behalf; and (3) a reminder of what and where they used to be. The personal understanding of God was found in the clause ‘I am the LORD your God’; the particular activity was stated in the clause ‘who brought you out of the land of Egypt’; and the reminder of their previous state was described in the phrase, ‘out of the house of bondage.’

1. The personal understanding of God

There are many names of the God of Israel found in the Bible. Sometimes he is called by terms drawn from the natural world such as rock and fountain. At other times, he is entitled by a focus on a particular attribute as Holy One or God Almighty. Or his name may be a combination of attributes and titles such as everlasting God. In the prologue to the Decalogue, God mentions his personal name – Yahweh (LORD), the God of Israel.

The name Yahweh is connected to the verb ‘to be’. One detail that is connected to this name is that the Lord possesses the power of self-existence – since he always is, then he cannot have come into existence. So he is eternally the Lord, existing before anything else appeared. And if he always exists, then he is never in need of improving, otherwise he would have existed in an inferior way. So the God of Israel is ‘infinite, eternal and unchangeable.’ Right away we can see that he is greater than all of the pagan gods and why a knowledge of who he is will stimulate agreement with his requirements.

One of the best ways to think of God’s existence is that of his presence. Where will he be? He is everywhere simultaneously. Therefore, before he details his commandments, he informs the Israelites that he will be present wherever they are and will observe whether or not they keep his requirements. Their lives will always be lived out in his presence.

In addition, as far as his people are concerned, his presence will involve his sanctity. When he appeared to Moses in Exodus 3, on the occasion when he told Moses about the divine name Yahweh, he also informed Moses that he was in the presence of total holiness and he had to remove his shoes in recognition. The Israelites had to remember that they were called to live life in the presence of a continuously holy God.

Another aspect of God’s presence was his determination to remain faithful to his sworn promises. He had made promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob regarding their descendants, revealing that his desire was to give them the land of Canaan as their inheritance. This was why he had rescued them from Egypt. As they looked ahead, they could anticipate enjoying the working-out of these divine promises and therefore would deduce that obedience to his commandments was the framework within which they would experience his promises.

The God of Israel in his own being was very different from pagan gods. He is the eternal, self-existing, omnipresent, holy and covenant-keeping God.

2. Activity of God on their behalf

We would not have been surprised if the Lord had drawn attention to his work of creation in the prologue. After all, only he created the universe – the non-existent pagan gods could not create anything. A reference to his work of creation would have reminded the Israelites of his divine power and wisdom. Yet there was a sense in which they shared that divine action with every other creature. Instead, when he comes to list his covenant stipulations, the Lord details an event which was unique to them as a people, an action that he did for them exclusively – the deliverance from Egypt.

Egypt was the most powerful nation in the world at that time. There was not another nation that could defeat it and set Israel free, even if such a nation had wanted to do so. God alone could rescue them from the land of Egypt. How did he do it?

First of all, the Lord rescued them according to a plan. If God had wanted to do so, he could have performed the entire rescue mission in one day. Yet he chose to follow the process of the ten plagues. There were additional reasons for him following this plan, such as defeating the evil powers that lay behind the gods of Egypt or making it clear to the Egyptians that he was far superior to their gods. The God who worked according to his plan then had revealed to them his plan for their lives. It would have been hard for them not to notice the repetition of the number ‘ten’.

Second, the Lord rescued them with his power. His power is revealed in many ways, including the ten plagues and the parting of the Red Sea. The Israelites had seen great displays of his power and should have deduced that his power would be available for them in order to keep his ten requirements.

Third, the Lord rescued them through the blood of the Passover lamb. The placing of that blood on the doorposts ensured their safety as they prepared to leave Egypt. They knew that a sacrifice was needed in order to begin their journey and they would soon discover that sacrifices were needed all along the way in addition to their obedience to the ten requirements.

Fourth, the Lord rescued them as a people. They were one unit in a sense. Their identity as the people of God came from a common redemption – even those born outside of Egypt traced their origins to the rescue from Egypt. All of them looked back to what happened there as if they had been personally involved. Therefore, they would realise that corporate obedience to the ten commandments was required.

3. A reminder of what they used to be

The Lord also stated that they had been in the house of bondage. In Egypt they had been slaves, suffering under very hard and demanding taskmasters. The Israelites were without liberty. Yet now they had been set free. But what would true freedom look like? The answer is given in the ten requirements. In order to live a life of liberty, they would need to obey their God continually in these ten areas of life. James informs his readers that this would be the way to blessing: ‘But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing’ (Jas. 1:25). He also points out that this will be the standard on the day of judgement: ‘For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty’ (Jas. 2:11-12).

ApplicationFirst, we deal with the same sovereign God. The Father is Yahweh, the Son is Yahweh, the Spirit is Yahweh. We serve them aware of their sacred presence and profound promises.

Second, we have been redeemed from great power than Egypt – we have been delivered from the powers of darkness. Yet we too have been rescued by a plan, by power, by blood and as a people.

Third, the path of spiritual freedom is obedience to God’s commandments. Jesus sets us free in order for us to obey him.