The Lord Spoke With You Face to Face

This meditation is based on a passage for March 4, 2011 in the Daily Lectionary Year 1 from the Book of Common Worship for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (1993).

Text: Deuteronomy 5:1-22

Reflection and Question: Unlike the giving of the Ten Commandments to Moses in Exodus, this version of God’s establishment of the law has Moses convene all the people so that God can speak to the whole assembly. It is so striking to me that the Ten Commandments are, on the whole, prohibitions of behaviors that rip the relationship with God or neighbor apart. And those are strictly prohibited. This leaves a universe of possibilities for imaginative means of solidly forging our bonds with God and neighbor. Having obeyed these Commandments, how else do you love God and your neighbor?

Prayer: Immortal God, we tremble at Your awesome power and Your gigantic love for us as You entrust to us these Ten Commandments upon which we can build the peaceable kingdom. Open our hearts to their applicability in our time and world. Amen.