Exodus 21:5-6 Mark of the Master!

5But if the servant declares, ‘I love my master and my wife and children; I do not want to go free,’ 6then his master is to bring him before the judges.a And he shall take him to the door or doorpost and pierce his ear with an awl. Then he shall serve his master for life.

“The ‘judges’ changed the slave’s status from temporary to permanent by a ceremony at the doorpost of the master’s house.” (Kaiser)

The bond slave, “I know I have fulfilled my obligations to my master, and I have served what I have owed. Yet I love my master and am so grateful for what he has given that I will gladly obligate myself for life, not out of debt or shame or defeat, but out of love.” (Guzik)

In the past people have sold themselves because of debt, hunger, passage to another country, etc.

When we accept Jesus as our Master we also become a bond slave to Him, serving Him for life.

He marks us spiritually just as this picture in this scripture of piercing an ear with an awl.

Do you have the mark of the Master?

Blessings, David 

Exodus 21:1-4 Ordinances

1“These are the ordinances that you are to set before them:

2If you buy a Hebrew servant, he is to serve you for six years. But in the seventh year, he shall go free without paying anything. 

“These ‘laws,’ or, better, ‘judgments’ (mispatim), are given as precedents to guide Israel’s civil magistrates in the cases of civil dispute.” (Kaiser)

3If he arrived alone, he is to leave alone; if he arrived with a wife, she is to leave with him. 4If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the woman and her children shall belong to her master, and only the man shall go free.

“Moses did not institute slavery in any shape; the laws concerning it were made on purpose to repress it, to confine it within very narrow bounds, and ultimately to put an end to it.” (Spurgeon)

Slavery is a past our country shares with the ancient world. It was ended by Abraham Lincoln with the Emancipation Proclamation, by executive order and was later passed by Congress.

But there is still slavery occurring in our country today. Sex slavery, also known as sex trafficking. I believe it’s fueled by pornography and a godless society.

What can we do about it? Pray! If you see it, report it. 

There are special units designated to curtail it.

Some countries use slave labor to produce products.

If it’s known a certain product is produced with slave labor, don’t purchase it.

I recall a woman’s purse that was in the news and buried in the lining was a note written in Chinese, it said something to the effect that she was being forced (slave labor) to produce the purse.

Slavery has no bounds, it affects all races, sexes, man, woman and child.

Pray for an end to slavery in all forms.

Blessings, David 

Exodus 20:24-26 In opposition to costly shrines!

24You are to make for Me an altar of earth, and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and peace offerings, your sheep and goats and cattle. In every place where I cause My name to be remembered, I will come to you and bless you.

25Now if you make an altar of stones for Me, you must not build it with stones shaped by tools; for if you use a chisel on it, you will defile it. 26And you must not go up to My altar on steps, lest your nakedness be exposed on it.’

Deuteronomy 27: 5Moreover, you shall build there an altar to the LORD your God, an altar of stones. You must not use any iron tool on them. 6You shall build the altar of the LORD your God with uncut stones and offer upon it burnt offerings to the LORD your God. 7There you are to sacrifice your peace offerings, eating them and rejoicing in the presence of the LORD your God. 

Altar of earth.....

“In opposition to the costly shrines and services of those dunghill deities.” (Trapp)

Trapp cuts to the chase, dunghill deities!

The Lord didn’t want altars to draw attention away from atonement of sins and sacrifice, because it would draw attention to man and his accomplishments!

I recall studying Abraham and the altar he built to sacrifice his son as the Lord requested. I always wondered, why a simple stone altar?

It was “In opposition to the costly shrines and services of those dunghill deities”!

Let that statement sink in and glance around the world today. 

Can you point out any costly shrines of dunghill deities?

Blessings, David 

Exodus 20:22-23 Idolatry!

22Then the LORD said to Moses, “This is what you are to tell the Israelites: ‘You have seen for yourselves that I have spoken to you from heaven. 23You are not to make any gods alongside Me; you are not to make for yourselves gods of silver or gold.

Leviticus 19: 4Do not turn to idols or make for yourselves molten gods. I am the LORD your God.

1 Corinthians 10: 14Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.

Idolatry worship displeases the Lord in any form! 

The Lord is Spirit!

2 Corinthians 3: 17Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

The Lord made us in His image!

Genesis 1: 27So God created man in His own image;

in the image of God He created him;

male and female He created them.

How many of you believe that Genesis 1:27 refers to our human form?

It’s not, it refers to our soul, our spirit!

God doesn’t want us worshipping any man made form!

He is Spirit and we have a spirit He placed in us, our spirit (soul).

The Old Testament is full of examples when the Israelites were led astray with idolatry worship and the Lord brought judgement upon them.

Do you practice idolatry, do you pray to statues?

Blessings, David 

Exodus 20:18-21 Fear Not!

18When all the people witnessed the thunder and lightning, the sounding of the ram’s horn, and the mountain enveloped in smoke, they trembled and stood at a distance. 19“Speak to us yourself and we will listen,” they said to Moses. “But do not let God speak to us, or we will die.”

20“Do not be afraid,” Moses replied. “For God has come to test you, so that the fear of Him may be before you, to keep you from sinning.” 21And the people stood at a distance as Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.

Lightning, “The word here is unusual and might be translated ‘torches’, meaning ‘flashes’ or ‘fireballs’. This is the same word used for the symbol of God’s presence that Abraham sees at the making of God’s covenant with him (Genesis 15).” (Cole)

“Do not be afraid,” Moses replied. “Fear not. And yet fear.” (Trapp)

The Israelites in these verses remind me of little children! They were afraid!

When we were serving in our church nursery we had a family that was serving in worship so they would drop off two of their children early. We would welcome them with loving and open arms but they only wanted their parents because they were afraid. We would eventually get them to warm up to us by giving them bananas. Eventually they accepted us and wouldn’t cry or reach out for their parents.

But look at what 1 John 4 teaches us about fear. 18There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. The one who fears has not been perfected in love. 19We love because He first loved us.

Do you fear or love the Lord?

Blessings, David 

Exodus 20:17 To Pant After!

17You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, or his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

Covet, to pant after.

“Hebrew hamad, ‘desire’, is in itself a neutral word. It is only when misdirected to that which belongs to another that such ‘desire’ becomes wrong.” (Cole)

Hebrews 13:5 Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, "I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU," NASB

Luke 12:15 And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” ESV

Brethren we have to be content with what the Lord has given us. Covetousness is an easy snare from Satan to fall into. I look around and see nice houses on a lake and think how nice it would be! But I’m reminded the Lord has provided for me and given me a place to live and what is said in Hebrews 13:5 I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU.

Father knows best was a television show when I was growing up.

But our Father in heaven knows what is best for us!

I recall our first home which was built during the depression. It had a hand hewn beam in the basement, a sign behind the chimney, no insulation in the walls. 

While renovating I would remind myself of a home that had a dirt floor. The elderly man sold worms for fishing to make ends meet.

Be content with what the Lord has given you, don’t covet (pant after) what someone else has.

I’ve coveted, have you?

Blessings, David

Exodus 20:16 You Must Not Testify Falsely!

16You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. BSB

NLT: You must not testify falsely against your neighbor.

It’s all in the news, impeachment. They have been trying to impeach the president since he came into office. First is was collusion, then obstruction and now it’s quid pro quo. 

Did you see the video of the false testimony from the person heading up the investigation while he was reading a false transcript? That’s right, they didn’t expect the president to release the actual transcript of the phone call.

Whatever side of the isle you are in politics please remember, 

Daniel 2:21 He changes the times and seasons; He removes kings and establishes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.

But also remember today’s verse.

You must not testify falsely against your neighbor, this includes the president.

As Christians what are we to do? PRAY, yes pray for the president and his family, pray for the leaders in Congress, pray for our government, pray His will be done.

Please remember, HE is in control!

Are you praying? 

Do you have the love and peace of Jesus in you?

Blessings, David