Other Ways to See

 

 

A Structural Analysis of the Ten Commandments

 

To look at different angles of the Ten Commandments beauty. To see multiple ways God created, hi-lighting different angles of insight.  

 

The Ten Commandments List

 

Preamble:   I am the Lord, your God, who brought you out of the land of slavery, out of the house of bondage.

 

Therefore:

 

1) Don't worship other gods.                                  6) Don't murder.

 

2) Don't worship idols.                                          7) Don't commit adultery.

 

3) Don't misuse God's name.                                 8) Don't steal.

 

4) Do keep the Sabbath.                                        9) Don't give false testimony.

 

5) Do honor your parents.                                      10) Don't get jealous.

 

 

Methods of Analysis in this Site

 

 

Developmental.

 

Worship.

 

The 3 stages

 

The 80/20 rule.

 

The Bilateral ten Commandments

 

New Testament Focus: Heart-Lived Law.

 

 

 

The tendency is to read the Ten Commandments as a list of laws. The word for Commandments and Law is usually 'Torah' in the Hebrew, which primarily means 'instruction'. So it is with these Ten Commandment references.

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When we instruct, we provide an explanation of what to do, why to do it, how to do it, when, where, who, etc. Instructions typically integrate with a variety of related items, forming a constellation; picturing abstract values through concrete items.

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Reading the Ten Commandments as a unified unit, instead of a list, reveals design features that are relevant to our lives. God's authorship of the Word far surpasses all the intelligent design human authors put into their literary efforts. So, while this is a list, it also is a covenant, and a revelation outline for a story of what a true life looks like from God’s view.

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In ancient Middle Eastern cultures story telling was the primary form of cultural education. Story tellers had a brief outline of elements that the story needed to include, that the experienced audience expected; with ‘filler’ space available for creative contemporizing of the story.

Taken this way, the Ten Commandments is also an instructional story on how a God-true life matures (the first 5) and how a God-ignored life devolves (the second 5). We see the calling (first 5) and the warning (second 5) format that is so popular in Scriptural admonitions.

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Please note we are not discussing an occasional instance of breaking one of the Ten Commandments, but a developed lifestyle that reflects an ingrained worldview. The Hebrew words relevant to sin also convey the ‘pattern’ of its expression and not an occasional event. Naturally, one can be satisfied with the life one achieves at a specific level and stay there; on their approach towards a God-filled life; or their descent into depravity.

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The story opens by setting the stage: I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Look what I have done for you! 

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This is God's identity, so we know who He is and what to expect from Him.  Because of His identity, what He’s already done for Israel nationally He can personally enable you to do: leave your personal Egypt to worship Him in a life of growing personal liberty.

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