Daily Prayers

Prayer is Love, I want to Love

God’s Ten Commandments

Biblical Date: 1446BC

Three months after leaving Egypt, the Israelites arrived at the Sinai Desert and camped close to the foot of Mount Sinai. There God called Moses and he went up to the top of the mountain to receive his Word.

God told Moses to return to his people and remind them that He, as promised, took them out of Egypt and if they now diligently listened to Him and kept his covenant, He would count them as “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation”. (Exodus 19:6)

Sketch of Moses with the Ten Commandments

Moses returned to the foot of the mountain with Gods great news. He called the elders together and received their solemn promise that they would do everything God asked.

When Moses returned and spoke to God a second time, he assured Him of the elder’s promise. God then told Moses to prepare the people over the coming two days by sanctifying themselves, cleansing themselves both internally and externally, for his return on the third day, at which time Moses was to return to the mountaintop for his instructions. He also told Moses to warn the Israelites that they must not go close to the mountain or touch it at the time of his return.

On the third day, a dense cloud covered the mountain while thunder and lightning raged all around. When Moses and Aaron returned to the mountaintop, in accordance with God’s instructions, God gave to the Israelites his TEN Commandments that they must adhere to. He spoke the commandments to them with a loud voice as well as inscribing them on two stone tablets which he gave to Moses. (Deuteronomy 5:22(Exodus 19:1-20:22)

Thought(s)

The TEN Commandments:

  1. I am the LORD thy God. Thou shalt have no strange gods before Me.
  2. Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain.
  3. Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day.
  4. Honour thy father and thy mother.
  5. Thou shalt not kill.
  6. Thou shalt not commit adultery.
  7. Thou shalt not steal.
  8. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
  9. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife.
  10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s goods.
Reflection

I love you my God with my whole heart and I love my neighbour as myself. Free me from my sin and keep me faithful to your teachings. Amen.

Prayer: Day-by-day (St Richard of Chichester)

Praise be to Thee, O Lord Jesus Christ
For all the benefits you have given us,
for all the pains and insults which you have borne for us.
O most merciful Redeemer, Friend and Brother,
May, we see you more clearly,
Love you more dearly,
and follow You more nearly.
Day by day. Amen.


Top Questions:

Did Moses receive only the Commandments on Mt Sinai?

Some Jewish scholars maintain that God dictated the Torah to Moses on the mountain.

How long did Moses stay on Mt Sinai, and how many visits?

There may have been as many as eight visits. On one occasion, Moses remained there for 40 days fasting, no food or water. However, 40 is a highly symbolic number in Jewish tradition so his exact stay is debatable.

Did Jesus abolish the TEN Commandments?

No. Jesus emphatically said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfil them”. (Matthew 5:17)