The Ten Commandments: The Seventh Commandment

THE DECALOGUE:
A SUMMARY OF GOD'S PRECEPTS FOR GOD'S PEOPLE

The Seventh Commandment:
On Fidelity (Exod 20:14)
pdf
Dr. Paul Manuel

(There are different divisions of the Commandments in different traditions: In Protestantism (for the most part), v. 2 is the introduction and v. 3 is the first command. In Judaism, vv. 2-3 together are the first command. In Roman Catholicism and Lutheranism, vv. 2-6 are the first command, and v. 17 contains two commands. This study follows the primary Protestant division, recognizing that v. 2 is declarative and v. 3 contains the first imperative.)

When I am preaching, if I use a word that may not be familiar to people, I try to include a definition. When I am teaching, if I use a word that may not be familiar to people, I may ask someone in the class to define it. Such clarification is especially important when the word in question is central to the point.

A third-grade SS teacher was uneasy about her lesson on the seventh commandment, "Thou shalt not commit adultery." How should she explain it to the children? She decided simply to ask, "Can anyone tell me what adultery means." As she expected, there were several blank looks, and she wondered how best to proceed. Then a young sage raised his hand and answered the question quite matter-of-factly, "Adultery—Are you ready for this?—is when a kid lies about his age."

Oh, if it were only as simple as that! Alas, adultery is far more serious, for it rends the fabric of the marriage union. Adultery may include lying, but the deception is usually about more than one's age. The priority God assigns to this relationship is evident in the place He accords this requirement. He includes a command On Fidelity, in The Decalogue: [this] Summary of God's Precepts for God's People.

From the beginning of recorded history, marriage has played an important role, and God defined what He intended when He instituted that relationship. In God's design, marriage is the union of one man and one woman.¹

Gen 2:18 The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him."² . . .22 Then the LORD God made a woman... and he brought her to the man.... 24 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.

Jesus reiterates this design.³

Matt 19:4 "...at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female,' 5 and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'? 6 So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate."

While the pattern has remained unchanged since the beginning, man has attempted
to modify it in at least three ways, adjusting the original design to satisfy his own desires, and God has responded variously to these modifications.

The Ten Commandments: The Sixth Commandment

THE DECALOGUE:
A SUMMARY OF GOD'S PRECEPTS FOR GOD'S PEOPLE

The Sixth Commandment:
On Hostility (Exod 20:13)
pdf
Dr. Paul Manuel

(There are different divisions of the Commandments in different traditions: In Protestantism (for the most part), v. 2 is the introduction and v. 3 is the first command. In Judaism, vv. 2-3 together are the first command. In Roman Catholicism and Lutheranism, vv. 2-6 are the first command, and v. 17 contains two commands. This study follows the primary Protestant division, recognizing that v. 2 is declarative and v. 3 contains the first imperative.)

When a person gets caught speeding, he can try to deny the fact, but sometimes the evidence against him is too compelling, in which case he must resign himself to the inevitable ticket... unless...

A fellow bought a new Mercedes and was on the interstate for a nice evening drive. The top was down, the wind was blowing through his hair, and he decided to open her up. As the needle jumped to 80 mph, he noticed a flashing red and blue light behind him. "There is no way that cop car can catch a Mercedes," he said to himself as he floored the accelerator. The needle hit 90, 100, 110, and finally 120, but the lights were still behind him. "What am I doing?" he thought, and pulled over. The officer came up to him, took his license without a word, and examined it and the car. "I've had a tough shift, and this is my last traffic stop. I don't feel like more paperwork, so if you can give me an excuse for your driving that I haven't heard before, you can go!" "Last week, my wife ran off with a cop," the man replied. "I was afraid you were that cop... and were trying to give her back!"

For traffic violations, a person may be able to talk his way out of the consequences. For more serious violations, no excuse may suffice. That is especially so with God and the sixth commandment, On Hostility.

Of the various commands in the Decalogue that also have parallels in the general expectations God has for everyone, this prohibition unfortunately seems to have needed the most reinforcement.¹ From discrete acts, such as Cain's killing Abel,² to rampant patterns in Israel and Judah,³ God had consistently and persistently condemned all such behavior,⁴ yet this continued to be a problem in Ancient Near East society, as it is today. The commandment reads simply...

Exod 20:13 1= Deut 5:171 You shall not murder.

This is a very concise statement: only four words in English, just two words in Hebrew. In part because of its brevity, in part because of the ambiguity of the KJV's, "Thou shalt not kill," people have often misunderstood this command and have applied it to situations beyond the scope of what God intended. By looking at passages that address this or similar instances, we can identify more precisely...

The Ten Commandments: The Fifth Commandment

THE DECALOGUE:
A SUMMARY OF GOD'S PRECEPTS FOR GOD'S PEOPLE

The Fifth Commandment:
On Family (Exod 20:12)
pdf
Dr. Paul Manuel—2006

(There are different divisions of the Commandments in different traditions: In Protestantism (for the most part), v. 2 is the introduction and v. 3 is the first command. In Judaism, vv. 2-3 together are the first command. In Roman Catholicism and Lutheranism, vv. 2-6 are the first command, and v. 17 contains two commands. This study follows the primary Protestant division, recognizing that v. 2 is declarative and v. 3 contains the first imperative.)

God has set us in families so that, having entered the world, we will have the guidance necessary to understand how we should live in the world. He has also
given us His word to teach us, although our understanding of that may be slightly different from what He intends.

A third-grade SS class was reviewing the Ten Commandments. The teacher asked Johnny, "If your mother told your brother not to pull the dog's tail, but he did it anyway, which commandment would he be breaking?" Johnny thought a bit. Obviously the teacher expected him to know the answer. Then it dawned on him. "I don't know the number," Johnny answered, "but it says... 'What God has joined together let no man pull apart."

God has set us in families and has given parents the task of providing guidance for their children. In turn, He expects those children to follow their parents' direction, as He indicates in the fifth commandment of the Decalogue, On Family.

During the final years of Israel's sojourn in Egypt, Pharaoh's enslavement of the population and his policy of male infanticide put a great strain on the family, causing alarm in many households.¹ Some people probably wondered if the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had forgotten them.² The Lord's protection of the family during the final plague, which affected firstborn males, and the people's miraculous release from Egypt, assured them that He had not forgotten them. Several weeks later, when they reach Sinai and God establishes His covenant with them, He affirms His concern for their home life with specific provisions, one of which even appears in the ten-precept summary.³

I mentioned before that the fourth commandment, On Tranquility, is one of the few in this list that God words positively, as something His people should actively pursue rather than something they should carefully avoid. The fifth commandment, On Family, is the only other one that is "thou shalt" rather than "thou shalt not."⁴ Please turn to...

Exod 20:12 Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.

Deut 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.

The Ten Commandments: The Fourth Commandment

THE DECALOGUE:
A SUMMARY OF GOD'S PRECEPTS FOR GOD'S PEOPLE

The Fourth Commandment:
On Tranquility (Exod 20:8-11)
pdf
Dr. Paul Manuel—2005

(There are different divisions of the Commandments in different traditions: In Protestantism (for the most part), v. 2 is the introduction and v. 3 is the first command. In Judaism, vv. 2-3 together are the first command. In Roman Catholicism and Lutheranism, vv. 2-6 are the first command, and v. 17 contains two commands. This study follows the primary Protestant division, recognizing that v. 2 is declarative and v. 3 contains the first imperative.)

You have an advantage in life of which others are often unaware, a stabilizing factor that enables you to keep things in perspective. It is not a secret, but other people miss it simply because they focus on what seems to be a problem.

Two bowling teams, one made up of blondes and the other of brunettes, chartered a double-decker bus for a weekend tournament. The blonde team was riding on the top level and the brunette team was on the bottom. The brunette team was hooting and hollering and having a great time when one of them suddenly realized she didn't hear anything from the blondes upstairs. She decided to go up and investigate. Reaching the top of the stairs, she found the blondes frozen in fear. All of them were clutching the seats in front of them and staring straight ahead at the road. "What's going on up here?" the brunette asked. "We're having such a great time downstairs." "Yeah," exclaimed one of the blondes... "but you have a driver!"

You have an advantage in life of which others are often unaware, a stabilizing factor that enables you to keep things in perspective. That advantage is ultimately God, but for Seventh Day Baptists, it includes something else as well.

Most of the commandments in the Decalogue parallel what God expects from all people not just Israelites, what theologians call general revelation. Consequently, these commands also appear elsewhere in scripture (Manuel 2011). Many of them appear in extra-biblical law, as well, like the Code of Hammurabi, demonstrating that non-Israelites recognized and accepted them. One of these ten precepts, however, does not appear in any biblical or extra-biblical address to gentile nations (so also Craigie 1976:157)¹ God reserves it for Israel and for other individuals who may choose to adopt it. That command is the fourth in this list, the one On Tranquility.²

Exod 20:8 Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates.

Deut 5:12 Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the LORD your God has commanded you. 13 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 14 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. 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 or any of your animals, nor the alien within your gates, so that your manservant and maidservant may rest, as you do.

Most of the other commands in this list begin on a negative note: "Thou shalt not...." This command begins on a positive note: Thou shalt....³ They are to "Remember the Sabbath day" (see n. 27).⁴ What precisely are they to remember? ...Because many of these commands were accepted universal norms of moral behavior, the Israelites were probably familiar with them even before the exodus. Their newly-won freedom, though, made it possible for them to experience what was not available to them as slaves in Egypt, a day of rest from their labor. Moses tells the people in...

The Ten Commandments: The Third Commandment

THE DECALOGUE:
A SUMMARY OF GOD'S PRECEPTS FOR GOD'S PEOPLE

The Third Commandment:
On Profanity (Exod 20:7)
pdf
Dr. Paul Manuel—2005

(There are different divisions of the Commandments in different traditions: In Protestantism (for the most part), v. 2 is the introduction and v. 3 is the first command. In Judaism, vv. 2-3 together are the first command. In Roman Catholicism and Lutheranism, vv. 2-6 are the first command, and v. 17 contains two commands. This study follows the primary Protestant division, recognizing that v. 2 is declarative and v. 3 contains the first imperative.)

Has your mouth ever forged ahead before your mind has had a chance to catch up? Have you ever said something stupid and immediately regretted that you could not take it back? While there are some circumstances in which the price of speaking without thinking is not too high, when you have been pulled over for speeding is not one of them. Decide now that, in your flustered state, these are things you will not say to the policeman.

Sorry, Officer, I didn't realize my radar detector wasn't plugged in.

Hey, you must've been doin' about 125 mph to keep up with me!

You're not gonna check the trunk, are you?

Gee, that's terrific. The last officer only gave me a warning, too.
I was trying to keep up with traffic. Yes, I know there was no other car around...that's how far ahead of me they were.

Just as such things should not proceed from your mouth when a policeman is listening, so there are things that should not proceed from your mouth when God is listening...which is all the time. In our series about The Decalogue, the third commandment, On Profanity, deals with this issue.

At Mount Sinai, when God gave Israel the law, He covered a wide range of subjects, from business practices to judicial proceedings, from dietary regulations to holiday celebrations. The ten-point summary of that law we call the Decalogue, and it covers a variety of topics as well as a number of settings.

• The first command deals with establishing the right priority in worship: God's people are to hold Him as their only object of devotion.
• The second command deals with exhibiting the right priority in actions: God's people are to have no involvement with the images of other gods.
• The third commandment deals with expressing the right priority in speech: God's people are to revere His very name.

The Ten Commandments: The Second Commandment

THE DECALOGUE:
A SUMMARY OF GOD'S PRECEPTS FOR GOD'S PEOPLE

The Second Commandment:
On Idolatry (Exod 20:4-6)
pdf
Dr. Paul Manuel—2005

(There are different divisions of the Commandments in different traditions: In Protestantism (for the most part), v. 2 is the introduction and v. 3 is the first command. In Judaism, vv. 2-3 together are the first command. In Roman Catholicism and Lutheranism, vv. 2-6 are the first command, and v. 17 contains two commands. This study follows the primary Protestant division, recognizing that v. 2 is declarative and v. 3 contains the first imperative.)

When we encounter a problem, especially if it is something we know is wrong, it is important that we not simply give in or give up, but that we take a stand.

A Pastor went to his church office on Monday morning and discovered a dead mule in the churchyard. He called the police. Since there did not appear to be any foul play, the police referred the pastor to the health department. A department representative said that since there was no immediate health threat, he should call the sanitation department. The manager from that department said he could not pick up the mule without authorization from the mayor. The pastor felt he was getting the run around, and the latest dodge did not look promising. The mayor had a temper and was generally hard to deal with, but the pastor called him anyway. The mayor did not disappoint. He immediately began to rant and rave at the pastor, finally asking, "Why did you call me any way? Isn't it your job to bury the dead?" The pastor paused for a moment, then said, "Yes, Mayor, it is my job to bury the dead. . . but first I like to notify the next of kin!"

When we encounter a problem, it is important that we not simply give in or give up. When the Israelites enter Canaan, they will encounter a pagan culture that serves other gods, and they will be tempted to give up or give in, but they will have to take a stand, especially On Idolatry.

When the Lord chose Israel as the people through whom He would manifest His glory, the biggest challenge was not the opposition of other nations. Egypt, one of the greatest empires in the Ancient Near East, had already proven to be no match for Him. The biggest challenge was the competition of other gods. It did not matter that the ability other nations had to harm Israel was real and the ability other gods had to help Israel was illusionary. If the people believed another god had power, then what was illusionary became reality for them.

The Ten Commandments: The First Commandment

THE DECALOGUE:
A SUMMARY OF GOD'S PRECEPTS FOR GOD'S PEOPLE

The First Commandment:
On Rivalry (Exod 20:3)
pdf
Dr. Paul Manuel—2005

(There are different divisions of the Commandments in different traditions: In Protestantism (for the most part), v. 2 is the introduction and v. 3 is the first command. In Judaism, vv. 2-3 together are the first command. In Roman Catholicism and Lutheranism, vv. 2-6 are the first command, and v. 17 contains two commands. This study follows the primary Protestant division, recognizing that v. 2 is declarative and v. 3 contains the first imperative.)

If I asked you to list the Ten Commandments, you could probably get most of them. Of course, they are not the only commands in scripture, and it is not always easy to keep these separate from the others.

A SS teacher was about to start a series of lessons on the Ten Commandments with her primary students and wondered how familiar these precepts might already be to the children. "What is the first commandment?" she asked. One student raised her hand and said, "Love the Lord, your God." "That is a command," the teacher replied, "and a very important one, but it's not the first one on this list." The children offered others candidates: "Love your neighbor. Don't lie. Brush your teeth." "These are all good commands," the teacher said, "but what is the first command?" The children were stumped. At this point, the teacher had spent more time than she had planned on the question and was about to move on when one little boy brightened and raised his hand confidently. Heaving a sigh of relief, the teacher said, "Yes, Michael, what's the answer?" "The first commandment...was when Eve told Adam to eat the apple."

Actually, the first command was when God told both of them not to eat the fruit,¹ but you can tell which part of the story made the most impression on this little boy.

Well, God wants to make an impression on the Israelites. So, in Exod 20, after a brief preamble and prologue to the covenant in v. 2, God turns immediately to the precepts of the covenant, beginning in v. 3 with a call to loyalty.

Exod 20:3 [= Deut 5:7] You shall have no other gods before me.

This command is a not-so-subtle comment On Rivalry, because it contains the tacit admission that there is competition for the Israelites' devotion. Although He could certainly dismiss them as irrelevant...

The Ten Commandments: Preamble, Part 2

THE DECALOGUE: 
A SUMMARY OF GOD'S PRECEPTS FOR GOD'S PEOPLE

On Identity, Part 2 (Exod 20:2) 
 pdf

Dr. Paul Manuel—2005

“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery."

When someone gives us a gift, we may not appreciate it immediately. Only after a while, do we grasp its true value.

A wealthy son wanted to get something special for his mother, who was widowed and living alone. He went to a pet store and asked the proprietor to recommend an animal that would be a good companion, adding that money was no object. After asking about the woman's interests, and discovering that she went to church regularly, the storeowner suggested a rare parrot. "It's $50,000, but it can recite the Ten Commandments, the Beatitudes, and several other biblical passages." "I'll take it," the son said. "Can you ship it? I'd like to surprise her." The storeowner assured him that the bird would arrive the next day in fine condition. So, the son went home to await his mother's call. Sure enough, the next day, his mother called. "Thank you so much for the bird," she said... "It was delicious."

When someone gives us a gift, we may not appreciate it fully, right away. It was probably that way when God gave the Israelites the law. ¹

Last week, we began our new series on the Decalogue by noting that, despite the important role the Ten Commandments have played in our western legal tradition, some people would like to minimize their influence as well as their prominence. While they may appeal to social diversity as justification for this change, the stronger motivation is moral drift, as our culture is less and less concerned about meeting God's standard. If as Christians we want to stem the tide and help society maintain its ethical moorings, then we must be clear about what God has said, and He has established clear expectations in The Decalogue: A Summary of God's Precepts for God's People.

After freeing Israel from slavery in Egypt, God brings the people to Mt. Sinai, where He makes a covenant with them. It is a contract that He seems to pattern after an Ancient Near East suzerainty treaty, which spells out the relationship between a ruler (a suzerain) and his vassal(s). The preamble of that document introduces the dominant party, the suzerain, which is what God does in the opening words of...

Exod 20:2a I am the LORD your God....

He says to the Israelites that they should recognize who He is and that....

I. Because of God's identity, He demands the devotion of His people (v. 2a).

By referring to His actual name—represented in this verse as LORD, in all capital letters—He distinguishes Himself from other deities the Israelites will encounter, detestable gods whose worshipers "do all kinds of detestable things" (Deut 12:31b). It is not so with Israel's God, who says...

The Ten Commandments: Preamble, Part 1

THE DECALOGUE: 
A SUMMARY OF GOD'S PRECEPTS FOR GOD'S PEOPLE

On Identity, Part 1 (Exod 20:2) 
pdf

Dr. Paul Manuel—2005

“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery."

Many people try to avoid or ignore God. They go through life as if He does not exist or does not care or does not matter.. . until they are in trouble and need His
help.

Two men were adrift on a raft in the open sea, and it looked bad for them. For hours, they had seen nothing on the horizon in any direction. Finally, one of them was so desperate that he began to pray: "O Lord, I've broken most of the Ten Commandments, and I've got some pretty bad habits—I curse, I steal, I treat people like dirt. But if you'll spare my life now, I promise that I'll change. I'll stop cursing, I'll never steal, I'll..." "Wait!" his friend interrupted. Don't go too far.... I think I see a ship."

Today, we start a new series on the Decalogue or Ten Commandments.¹ This selective summary² of the 613 commands God gave His people at Sinai³ has become enshrined, not only in Israelite law, but, in our own western legal tradition. The recent court battles over whether or not displaying them on government property is legal, raises the question of how firmly linked they are or should be to our way of life. This was not an issue the founding fathers anticipated, so why are the Ten Commandments up for debate now? The first reason this issue arises is social diversity. The population has come to represent many different cultures with different traditions and, in some cases, different values. Homogeneity, at least in our general view of the world, has given way to heterogeneity, and our government, including its offices, should represent that change-so the argument goes. Consequently, if the Bible appears in our courthouses, and we insist upon keeping it, so should other holy books, like the Koran. The problem with that argument is that our legal system has no historical or contemporary connection to the Koran or to any other holy book except the Bible. The second reason this issue arises, which should be more troublesome to us, is moral drift. As our society becomes less connected to the Bible, it becomes more tolerant of behavior condemned in the Bible. Left unaddressed, that behavior does not stay 'out there' somewhere; it eventually comes knocking on the church's door. The drift is, perhaps, most evident in changing attitudes toward sexual mores. In the past, the chief concern was marital infidelity. As that became less onerous, concern shifted to the rising divorce rate. That peaked in the 70s, not because morality improved but because more people decided to live together outside of wedlock. Concern has shifted yet again to the acceptability of homosexuality. This has become an issue for the church with the push to allow same-sex marriage and gay clergy. What can you do to stem the tide and help society maintain its ethical moorings? One way is to be clear about what God has said.

The last few weeks for Israel have been among the most eventful in the nation's brief history. The flight from Pharaoh's army, the trek into the wilderness, the quest for food and water, the attack by Amalek—these incidents have exacted a toll from the people, causing many to wonder if leaving Egypt was the right thing to do. Of course, there were other events as well: the plagues against the Egyptians, the escape from slavery, the drowning of Pharaoh's army, the provision of manna from heaven and water from a rock, the victory over Amalek—these incidents were repeated demonstrations of God's miraculous power on the Israelites' behalf. Is the reason for all this activity simply to start the people on their journey back to Canaan, whence their ancestors came? If so, then God can now let the Israelites finish the trip on their own. The most dangerous part is over, and it is fewer than 200 (perhaps only 65) miles to the southern border of the Promised Land.⁴ The people can be there in three weeks, maybe sooner.

Guardian angels

GUARDIAN ANGELS

Paul Manuel — 2002
pdf

[While Paul was in Madison, WI, doing graduate work at UW, he attended our church and taught the adult bible study. From time to time he would solicit questions from the class, do the requisite study, and bring back an answer based on his study of scripture. This is an example of that. An older member of the class had asked whether each one of us has a "guardian angel."]

We saw in our general study of angels that the beliefs of our society—what angels look like and what they spend their time doing—rarely match what the Bible teaches. One other popular notion suggests that we each have a guardian angel who protects us from danger. This week we will consider what scripture says about the interaction divine messengers have had with human beings that has promoted this idea.

I. Angels act on behalf of groups.

A. Nations: Daniel speaks about an angel ("prince") in connection with several countries.¹

1. Israel has an angelic prince.

• Michael (Dan 10:21b; 12:1)²

• Dan 10:21b No one supports me against them except Michael, your prince.

• Dan 12:1 "At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time Your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered.

2. Persia has an angelic prince.

• Unnamed (Dan 10:12-13)

• Dan 10:12 Then he continued, "Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. 13 But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia.

3. Greece has an angelic prince.

• Unnamed (Dan 10:20b)

• Dan 10:20b Soon I will return to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I go, the prince of Greece will come.

B. Congregations: John speaks about an angel in connection with several churches.

Each church may have had an angelic representative.³

• Unnamed (Rev 1:20b)

• Rev 1:20b The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches....

II. Angels act on behalf of individuals.

Righteous:⁴ On several occasions God sends an angel to help one of His people in distress.

1. Lot had two angelic guardians.

Spiritualism

NECROMANCY
2002
pdf

Necromancy (attempting to contact the dead) was a common practice in religions of the Ancient Near East. God strictly and repeatedly prohibited His people from seeking mediums or spiritists, those who trafficked in ghosts and spirits.

Lev 19:31 Do not turn to mediums or spiritists; do not seek them out to be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God.

So strongly does God despise such activity that He prescribed the death penalty for those guilty of it.

Lev 20:6 As for the person who turns to mediums and to spiritists, to play the harlot after them, I will also set My face against that person and will cut him off from among his people.... 27 Now a man or a woman who is a medium or a spiritist shall surely be put to death. They shall be stoned with stones, their bloodguiltiness is upon them.

To underscore the seriousness of this offense, God groups it with other practices He despises, including child sacrifice and witchcraft.

Deut 18:10 There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, 11 or one who casts a spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. 12 For whoever does these things is detestable to the LORD; and because of these detestable things the LORD your God will drive them out before you. 13 You shall be blameless before the LORD your God.

Christmas Devotional: "And it came to pass..."

BUSINESS AS USUAL

Luke 2:1-20

pdf

Several years ago, Linda and I were doing graduate studies at a small Christian school in Jerusalem, Israel. As November turned into December, she remarked that it did not "feel" like Christmas, and for us it was indeed a very different holiday than we had spent before. Circumstances made trimming our own tree impractical. Our lean financial situation, coupled with final exams right to the last minute, meant that we would not exchange presents. The most obvious contrast to previous seasons, however, was that in Israel the merchant community was not geared up for its biggest push of the year, so the streets and shop windows were not creating an atmosphere of expectation. Oh, there were special activities and decorations in our school and in many churches, but for the vast majority of us in Israel, it was "business as usual." Although we certainly missed our family and friends, those different circumstances enabled us to catch a fresh glimpse of the birth of Jesus.

It is this concept of "business as usual" that we often miss in the States. I am not suggesting that our preparation is bad or that the commercialism surrounding Christmas does not in some way focus public attention on the event the holiday commemorates. There is little doubt, though, that the build-up here does obscure to some extent what God has done in history by sending his son, for in those days it was, after all, "business as usual."

• The emperor, Caesar Augustus, in his on-going efforts to streamline Roman administration, ordered an empire-wide census, probably with an eye toward taxation (Luke 2:1).
• The governor, Herod, after finally realizing his political aspirations, was beginning to reap the fruit of the political intrigue he had sown earlier and was extremely suspicious of anyone he thought might usurp his position (Matt 2:3).
• The common people, those not traveling to their home towns for the census, were engaged in their normal occupations, like the shepherds tending their flocks (Luke 2:8).

Christmas Devotional: Born of God

It Is Your Choice

John 1:12-13

pdf

Many of you are familiar enough with the nativity passages and the Christmas carols at this time of year, that you need not refer to a Bible or a hymnal. Still, no matter how familiar you are, you come to this season with another year's worth of experience and reflection that may enable you to appreciate some element of your celebration in a new way.

As I was reading the opening chapter in John's gospel, the contrast he makes in vv. 12-13 struck me with renewed force.

To all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

When you were born the first time, you had no choice, no say in the matter; no one asked: "Would you like to be born?" Your parents made that decision for you. John says here that it is different the second time. God gives you a choice as to whether or not you will to be born again. He presents the opportunity, but it is not a decision He makes for you. He will not force anyone into His realm who will not go. It is your choice.

The idea of a second birth is not reincarnation, where you get to do this life over again in the hope that you will do a better job. You only get one shot. As the author of Hebrews writes, "man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment" (Heb 9:27).

The second birth is a metaphor of what happens when a person turns to God; but it is a good metaphor, because it illustrates the kind of change that decision involves.

Christmas Devotional: "The true light that gives light..."

Let There Be Light

John 1:4,9

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Light is a prominent theme in scripture, one that first appears during the creation account. God introduced light into the physical realm untold millennia ago, and the record of that event is very impressive, perhaps because the account is so understated: "God said, "Let there be light," and there was light" (Gen 1:3). He did not have to build a generator, or connect to the local electric utility, or even flip a switch. The description is even shorter in Hebrew: "God said, 'Light be!' and light was."

This dramatic change from the darkness that existed previously, brought a host of benefits, some of which we have only recently discovered:

• Photosynthesis uses light to foster growth in plants.
• Photo-catalysis uses light and hydrogen to produce energy.
• Phototherapy uses light to treat medical and mental disorders. The list goes on. Evidently, God knew that light would be good for us.

How different the world would be had God skipped that step in the creative process or—worse—if suddenly you found yourself without it. Light has so many positive associations:

• Light connotes guidance: Turning on the light before you enter a room enables you to avoid things in your path that might otherwise make you stumble.
• Light connotes safety: A well-illuminated parking lot dispels the apprehension and fear you feel of what might be lurking.
• Light connotes hospitality: The end of the Motel 6 commercial—"We'll leave the light on for you"—hints that you will be welcome there. Life without light would be unpleasant, to say the least.

In addition to physical light, God also provides spiritual light, and life would be quite different if suddenly you found yourself without it. In a figurative sense, life without God is like being in darkness, lacking those positive associations.

What difference did Pentecost make?

The Holy Spirit's Ministry in the Old Testament

The primary activity of Holy Spirit— at least as scripture portrays it— is in the lives of believers. In fact, Paul says "that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you" (1 Cor 3:16). Theologians disagree, however, as to whether or not that has always been the case, especially for believers who lived before Pentecost.¹ Was the Holy Spirit's role in the lives of believers different in the Old Testament (OT) and the New Testament (NT)? Do we have any advantage over OT saints because of a change in the Spirit's ministry?

1. The Common View: He had a different ministry.

A. Some Christians think that the length of the Holy Spirit's ministry changed: He came temporarily "upon" believers before Pentecost and dwelt permanently "in" believers after Pentecost.² Proponents of this view base their understanding on two factors.

1. NT passages suggest he had not yet come.³

• The Spirit was not given to believers before Pentecost.⁴

John 7:37 On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." 39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.⁵

• The Spirit was not dwelling in believers before Pentecost.

John 14:17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.⁶

2. OT passages suggest his ministry was limited.

• The Spirit was with Saul temporarily, until he sinned.⁷

1 Sam 10:6 The Spirit of the LORD will come upon you in power, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be changed into a different person.... 10 When they arrived at Gibeah, a procession of prophets met him; the Spirit of God came upon him in power, and he joined in their prophesying.

Cf. 1 Sam 16:14 Now the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him.

• The Spirit was with Balaam provisionally, for a specific task.⁸

Num 24:2 When Balaam looked out and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came upon him 3 and he uttered his oracle: "The oracle of Balaam son of Beor, the oracle of one whose eye sees clearly, 4 the oracle of one who hears the words of God, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened:

B. Other Christians think that the breadth of the Holy Spirit's ministry changed: He worked nationally with Israel before Pentecost and internationally with all after Pentecost.⁹ Proponents of this view base their understanding on two factors.

1. OT passages describe his work among Jews, with no mention of gentiles.

• The Spirit was with Israel since the exodus.¹⁰

Hag 2:5 'This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.'

2. NT passages describe his work among gentiles, as well as Jews.

• The Spirit has been with "all people" since Pentecost.

Acts 2:16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 17 "In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams."¹¹

Cf. Acts 10:44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles.¹²

II. A Better View: He had the same ministry.