Reading
SAA Notes
The Ten Commandments are the means for sanctification, never for justification; the means of growing in holiness, never the means for salvation. Meditate on why the Lord spent so much time stressing Commandments 2,3,4,5,10. What application is there for you today?
SJA Notes
* Father in Heaven, please create in us a clean heart and renew a right spirit within us this day.
“Oh that they had such a heart as this always, to fear me and to keep all my commandments, …”
Israel were already in a relationship with God when they received the ten commandments.
God had already called them, saving them out of Egypt (out of bondage, from slavery).
The ten commandments then are not a means to salvation. Rather, they are for growing toward God (sanctification).
Israel knew God and through Moses God taught them how to please Him.
We even see that outsiders (sojourners) could be grafted in.
But there was a problem that God highlights,
“Oh that they had such a heart as this always, to fear me and to keep all my commandments, ..”
The law of death was reigning (Romans 8), which we read has but a shadow of the good things to come (Hebrews 10).
Israel were dry bones, they needed God’s breath put into them (Ezekiel 37).
The high priests of Aaron were broken men (Hebrews 7).
They needed a new law, a law of the Spirit (Romans 8).
And as with Israel, so with us today.
We need a true form of these realities, a sacrifice and offering that makes perfect those who draw near (Hebrews 10 speaks of this).
We need to be born again, hearts made new! (John 3)
And we need a great High Priest that ties all these things together.
This is Jesus! A priest based not on the legal requirement of the law but by the power of an indestructible life (Hebrews 7).
“Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:25
* Dear Lord God,
Thank You for Jesus, our great High Priest, who opens up for us the true form of sacrifice, offering and new hearts.
Please refresh our hearts again this day, wash us clean. Please forgive us for our sin.
Please fix our eyes on Jesus!
Amen.