Title: The Eternal Covenant for All Generations: The Ten Commandments
The 10 commandments were established during the Sinaitic Covenant, around 1446BC. Many people believe that 10 commandments only belong to the Old Testament. However, Book 7 describes the 10 commandments as the eternal covenant.
Eternal has a meaning of ‘until eternity’. From Mount Sinai to the day we are in Heaven, we need to ratify this covenant.
Why was the 10 commandments an Eternal Covenant? How can we keep the 10 commandments today and in heaven? And book 7 further states that, the 10 commandments is an eternal covenant, for all generations.
Deu 32:7, consider the years of all generations. It meant for the Israelites from the past, even from Adam in 4114BC, to us today in year 2023 and to the believers in the future.
How can the 10 commandments, be relevant to all the generations from Adam, to us today, in year 2023?
Let us look at Deu 29:14-15 “Now it is not with you alone that I am making this covenant and this oath, but both with those who stand here with us today in the presence of the Lord our God, and with those who are not with us here today. Moses told the Israelites at Land of Moab, just before crossing into the land of Canaan. God established the Sinaitic Covenant, not only to the Israelites who are there, but also those who are not there. The verse clarifies the Sinaitic covenant extends even to those who are not in Mt Sinai, including you and me.
When was 10 Commandments given?
Israelites were living in Egypt as slaves. Egypt is a land of idol worshipping. There was no 7 days week and no Sabbath. There were lawlessness everywhere. It is just like us before we believe in Christ. We were slaves to the world. As Israelites departed Egypt during Exodus, at Mount Sinai, Moses went up 8 times to Mt Sinai. Sinaitic covenant was ratified during Moses’ 8 ascent. The Sinaitic Covenant is unique, as it is the first covenant that was where God spoke directly to the people, made with the nation and it was also the first covenant in writing.
As Israelites received the Sinaitic Covenant and the 10 commandments, Israelites transformed from slaves to covenantal people, God’s People. Just before entering the land of Canaan, Moses expounded the 10 commandments and the law in the book of Deuteronomy. The 10 commandments is not only for the Israelites to be kept at the wilderness. It is for the Israelites to keep the law in the land of Canaan. We know that Canaan is the spiritual heaven. Today, we also need to keep the 10 commandments during the wilderness journey, and also when we enter and live in the kingdom of heaven.
How was 10 Commandments given?
1st ascent: God proposed the covenant: Will you be my people-will you worship me? (Exo 19:5)
2nd ascent: Consecrate yourself for 3 days and set boundary (Exo 19:10-12)
3rd ascent: Consecrate yourself and do not cross the boundary, priest to consecrate themselves (Exo 19:21-22)
4th ascent: 10 Commandments and the law proclaimed (Exo 24:3)
5th ascent: Covenant was ratified (Exo 24:9-11)
6th ascent: 10 commandments on stone tablet given after Moses fasted for 40 days (Exo 24:12)
7th ascent: 40 days intercessory prayer after the Golden calf incident
8th ascent: 40 days of fasting & prayer, and 2nd 10 commandments on the stone tablets that was carved by Moses was given
From Matt 22:36-40, we can see that the 10 commandments can be summarized into : love God, love others as ourselves and upon these 2 commandments, hang the whole law.
The first 4 commandments is about loving God, it also teaches us how we should worship God. The 5th to 10th commandments, is about loving our neighbours as ourselves. By obeying the 10 commandments, we are completing the spiritual cross. Loving God and Loving others is a spiritual cross that we should carry (Matt 16:24).
If we look at HOR book 7 preface, page 20, it is clearly written that the 10 commandments are the essence of OT and NT.
The Ten commandments are where the 66 books of bible are summed up. The core message of all scriptures, pivots around the Ten Commandments. The deeper we understand the Ten Commandments, the clearer we will see who Jesus is, and experience in our whole bodies in the depth of God’s love.
Blessings of keeping the 10 Commandments: –
- God will bless their livelihoods (Deu 11:14-15)
- God will bless them to multiply greatly (Deu 6:3)
- God will bless them with longevity (Deu 11:21)
- God will bless them to dispossess great nations (Deu 11:23)
- God will bless them with victory so that no one could stand against them (Deu 11:25)
As year 2023 is coming to an end, let us ask God’s help for us to close the account of 2023. Let us repent for our sins and our disobedience and unbelief. By keeping the 10 Commandments, may our family, our life, our work and business, be greatly blessed and may God help us to conclude this year and begin year 2024 together with God.
The Lord's Covenant Church Malaysia 