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The Fourth Commandment
Deuteronomy 5.12-15
Good News Translation (GNT)
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12 "'Observe the Sabbath and keep it holy, as I,
the Lord your God, have commanded you.
13 You have six days in which to do your work,
14 but the seventh day is a day of rest dedicated
to me. On that day no one is to work - neither
you, your children, your slaves, your animals,
nor the foreigners who live in your country.
Your slaves must rest just as you do.
15 Remember that you were slaves in Egypt, and
that I, the Lord your God, rescued you by my
great power and strength. That is why I
command you to observe the Sabbath.
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Taken from 'word-on-the-web' supplied by the
Scripture Union
The Fourth Commandment
Deuteronomy 5.12-15
The 'Ten Commandments' are a very familiar passage and is often thought of as a list of don'ts.
They are actually the founding principles of God's covenant with Israel based on love and mutual trust.
If every individual today were to take these responsibilities as seriously as they take their 'rights', think of the transformation this would make to the societies in which we live!
The God who commands is first of all the one who delivers.
The experience of God's salvation gives enough evidence that he can be trusted.
The commands come from the God who has conclusively shown that he is on their side.
Therefore these laws are both good in themselves (for God is good), and for the good of his people because he has their welfare at heart.
That makes all the difference in the world as to how they should be read.
Having escaped the slavery of Egypt the people need to be protected from new and worse slaveries from both outside and inside.
Slavery happens when we lose sight of God and are tempted to accept inferior substitutes.
These can never satisfy, but rather will lead us further away.
Only as the Lord is held in clear focus will a correct perspective be maintained.
That requires care over whom and how you worship, and the importance of making time to do so.
We need, on at least one day a week, to remember that God is God and we are not - and we are not indispensable, but only recipients of grace.
Paradoxically, when God is given his place other people matter more, not less.
Reverence for God leads naturally to respect for others, made in the image of God.
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