Do Not Murder, Deuteronomy 5:17

Do Not Murder

Deuteronomy 5:17 You shall not murder.

You may think, what is there to say about this verse? Everyone know and believes that... This is not the case. What is murder? Is killing murder? What if you shoot someone in self-defense, how about if they killed one of your family members, killed someone in a war, ran them over with a car? Utilized capital punishment? Is it right to put someone to death if they rape someone? I heard a man say that if someone tortures an animal, they should the death penalty. It is not so cut and dry.

We cannot cover every area in one post. First of all, I do not know all the answers, nor does anyone else. I believe that this "murder" is a purposed taking of another's life, an action planned and carried out outside of the justice system and war. Now I caution people who want to join the armed forces... remember you are taking a persons life without your decision. If they are not saved, you cease their possibility of turning to Christ. The same goes for police, killing in self-defense, or to protect others... each one must consider these areas of decision.

Christ expanded on this commandment in the Sermon on the Mount. He said, if you call someone a fool, you are in danger of the fires of hell; if you are angry with someone, you are subject to judgement. Later, John says that if you hate your brother, you are a murderer! We minimize these teachings, but we should join them to help in understanding the meaning of this commandment: you shall not kill.

K and A, Jesus says he gave you a new command; love one another. He also told you to not hate, rather if someone strikes you, do not strike back, allow them to do it again?! The Lord say that it is his duty to avenge. You are to leave it go and allow room for his wrath to commence. Be assured, God will repay. I doubt if you will actually murder someone physically... but be careful not to destroy someone's spirit... as a teacher, as a aunt, as mother that can happen. I do not think hurting someone's feeling is murder (unless extreme), but we must always be sensitive to how our words hurt. Show love and build others up, that's what God desires.

~Dad

Honor Your Parents, Deuteronomy 5:16

Honor Your Parents

Deuteronomy 5:16 Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

I don't know why, but until this year I had always looked at this commandment as a child's rule. But, it is not just for them. In fact, I believe it is more for the adult. Sure, Paul tells children, "obey your parents," but here God is telling the people of Israel to honor their parents. This goes well beyond childhood... Selah. (think for awhile about how you can make that happen)

K and A, as you may know, I took Grandpa out and rode with him on the tractor to allow him to mow lawn while blind... It took a year of convincing, but he finally agreed to go. Contrary to his first rejection, he enjoyed it! That is honoring your parents. About a month ago, Grandma needed to go get a test done at the doctors in Newport, and it would take 1-1/2 hours. I wanted to go help a friend clean up their house, because they were soon moving... I told the friend that as much as I wanted to be there early, I would need to take my mom to the doctor's. What the friend didn't know was that My Mom decided to take herself after I said I was busy... I changed my mind and took her. That is honoring your parents.

You see, honoring your parents goes on after you grow up. In fact, it continues even after they die... you honor them for as long as you live and you teach your children to honor them as well. Be careful how you speak about your parents in front of your own children. Honor them before everyone.

~Dad

Observe The Sabbath V: God Has Commanded, Deuteronomy 5:14c

Observe The Sabbath V: God Has Commanded

Deuteronomy 5:14c  Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that Lord your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the Lord your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day.

This exhortation by God has me slightly confused. What does coming out of Egypt have to do with observing the Sabbath? I believe what God is saying here is that he did a wonderful amazing act in their lives, and that this gives him the right to set the rules. He delivered them from slavery, so they now owe him their devotion. If God says this particular day is holy and dedicated to him, then they must respect him and follow his decree. They owe him their lives.

K and A, you too were delivered from slavery. You owe God your very life and devotion. In general, whatever he commands you are to do. I believe the Sundays, the Sabbath, are to be considered holy. Do not try to see how much you can do and not call it work for you or for others. Live in such a way that your conscience is clear. This need not be a burden. Will it be tougher than not respecting God on this day? Certainly. This is because the rest of the church and society ignores this commandment. I am asking you to be different and follow the teaching of the Word. Read and study it for yourself and I believe you will find out for yourself that the Sabbath is to be holy.

~Dad

Observe The Sabbath IV: No One Is To Work, Deuteronomy 5:14b

Observe The Sabbath IV: No One Is To Work

Deuteronomy 5:14b On it you shall not do any work, neither you nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your ox, your donkey, nor any of your animals, nor the aliens within your gates, so that you manservants and maidservants may rest, as you do.

This is straight forward: Do not do any work on the Sabbath, Not you, not your children, and not those who work for you. God even went as far as to say that those living among you must not work. That is pretty comprehensive: no one is to be working even if they aren't Israelites and not even your animals.

But what is considered work? Jesus helped to clarify that for some who were polluting God's Law. He basically said, look, David did what was unlawful when it was a necessity, and my disciples did as well. He also said, if someone else is in great need, it is proper to help them.

K and A, I believe my generation has polluted many things in the Scriptures, and I believe your generation has embraced what we have taught. K you have not had tight upbringing on this subject... I ask you to reconsider and read what the Bible has to say on the subject, not what you see good people do. What I am teaching you is not some new and strange teaching. It wasn't until the 70's that stores began to be open on Sunday. It was then that church people started to go out to eat and soon after go to the stores themselves. Did you know there are states that restrict Sunday sales on some items, like cars, yet today!

You say, but that was nearly 50 years ago... so its been nearly 2000 years since Christ spoke on the subject, and we are just now figuring out what he meant by it... are we that narcissistic to think we are now somehow more enlightened?! 

Daughters, stick to this... God said, do not do any work or have others do it for you. Jesus clarified God's command and said of course you should help those in need, including yourself. I say, follow their decrees and consider doing nothing that can be done another day. Pulling weeds, mowing lawn, changing oil, washing the car, going out to eat - making others work, etc... I even caution you on travelling on Sundays and  going to sporting events. We do a lot of things and then call them good so we can say, Jesus said we can do good on the Sabbath! Don't make excuses to see what you can get away with. Live in a way that seek to satisfy God and his Word.

~Dad

Note: 2 examples of  a warped church

We had a pastor who preached you can do anything on Sunday that you do any other day! Now one of our attendees often doesn't come in the summer, because he has to bale hay... he never did before that sermon. I know that first hand. It is sad.

The same pastor skipped church to attend a college football game for his nephew... family time is necessary he said.

These are not just examples of breaking the Sabbath, but they show how the church is affected by those in leadership and are given a reasons to make excuses for themselves of why not to keep the Sabbath.

Observe The Sabbath III: To The Lord, Deuteronomy 5:14

Observe The Sabbath III, To The Lord

Deuteronomy 5:14a but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God.

We need to remember that the Sabbath - the day of rest, is not just for our benefit. It says here that the it is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. I do not remember hearing it posed that way before. Normally, I hear it, wait let me correct that, I never hear it taught any more, rather I have heard it preached in the past... onward, I have heard it taught in the past in light of how beneficial it is for us to observe the Sabbath. It gives us a day to recuperate for the week's work, it is good for our bodies and minds. It is good for us spiritually, a time for people to worship together. It builds families and friends. We can visit and spend time with each other. There are numerous benefits for us, But how does it benefit God? How does our observance of the Sabbath bring God honor?

Keep in mind that these posts that I write are not comprehensive... they are ideas and thoughts on the scripture we are covering interpreted from what I have learned over the years, my best thought at the time I write them...

We honor God through obedience to him. Observing the Sabbath is one way we do that. It is a way that we show we truly love him. At creation, God established the Sabbath. On that day he ceased from his work. When the people of Israel received the manna from heaven, God did not send them any on the Sabbath. They were to gather extra the sixth day, so they had enough for the Sabbath day. Bake and prepare what you want they day before for tomorrow is a day of rest.

K and A, you bring honor to the Lord when you observe the Sabbath. You show your respect for him when you respect the day he sanctified and made holy... it is a day for him. Yes, it benefits you, but following the Sabbath honors him! Show your love by keeping the day holy.

~Dad

Observe The Sabbath II: Work Is Good, Deuteronomy 5:13

Observe The Sabbath II: Work Is Good

Deuteronomy 5:13 Six days shall you labor and do all you work

Saturdays, the first full day of the weekend, time to get out the boat and head to the lake, time to sit by the pool and relax, time to kick back. No, the Bible says that six days shall you work! I heard that in a sermon over 20 years ago and it still rings in my ear. Looking back, I am sure that was not the point of the sermon, but I took it to heart. Now, God doesn't expect us to work all the time. First of all there is the Sabbath, but more than that, we see in the life of the OT Hebrew, God created all kinds of holidays and sabbaths where they rejoiced, relaxed, and ate together. Yet, when God set down the laws of the Israel, he reiterated a work standard that he began at creation.

K and A, God is constantly at work in you life, and you are created in his image. God values work, for work is a good thing. It has many beneficial elements in relation to health. This is true physically, emotionally, and even spiritually. God desires to complete his work in you. Completing a task produces great satisfaction and self-worth. When God was finished creating, the Bible says that he saw all he had made and it was very good. A job, well done, does the same for us. Daughters, keep busy, be that Proverbs 31 woman. In doing so, you will avoid many of the pit falls and evils in life. Work is good for you!

~Dad

Observe The Sabbath, Deuteronomy 5:12

Ibserve The Sabbath

Deuteronomy 5:12 Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the Lord your God has commanded you.

This a commandment with which most do not agree, nor do they follow. I think most American Christians only believe in nine commandments, but to them the fourth one is not applicable for today. Some believe Jesus did away with it in the NT. Others believe everyday is to be holy unto the Lord, so the Sabbath is like another day. There is thought that you can make any day a Sabbath, not just a specific day that everyone follows. It is rare to find someone who lives it out.

To keep something holy, is to keep it separated from the sinful ways of the world and dedicated to God. That concept is good for every day but the Sabbath day is not just to be holy, it is to be a sabbath. A sabbath is a resting time, a time of no work, a period of time in which we cut out our efforts to advance our plans and agendas and only do things that have to be done. I believe Jesus clarified that with the Pharisees.

K and A, the sabbath principle was established at creation. The Lord reiterated it with the people of Israel on Mount Sinai. Jesus helped clarify some points with the Pharisees. Jesus said he is Lord of the Sabbath, but I believe many are acting today as if they are. I doubt that I have it all understood exactly as God designed it. I know it is hard to keep this commandment when the church chooses to ignore it. I challenge you to read Genesis and NT passages, and then choose to honor the day as God designed it; a day of no work. I believe it will deepen your walk with him!

~Dad