2019 Nov 16 The Ten Setting, 2Peter 1
2019 Nov 16 The Ten Setting, 2Peter 1
Welcome! Before we examine the Ten Commandments in detail, let’s consider the setting in which God’s chosen people of ancient times were assembled to hear God’s actual voice from heaven relate the words that would be inscribed by God’s finger on stone tablets, separate from the “handwritten document” that was put aside at Christ’s impalement. (Colos 2:14). Then we may review thoughts from 2Peter 1. In the next blog post, we can begin with the 1st Commandment—the most important for all wishing to obey the true God, looking forward to Paradise blessings!
Let’s begin with Exodus 19:14,15, as Israel prepares to formally meet Jehovah God:
“14 Then Moses went down from the mountain to the people, and he began to sanctify the people, and they washed their clothing. 15 He said to the people: “Get ready for the third day. Abstain from sexual relations.”
You may recall from a previous consideration that the people were to wash their clothes, which was appropriate for the occasion of appearing formally before Jehovah. This may also have figuratively depicted one’s having a clean standing before God, with clean conduct. (Revel 19:8). Moses commanded the next two days they were to demonstrate self-control by abstaining from sexual relations, God’s gift for married partners, as they would bring focus to their relationship with Jehovah God, their Life-giver and the Giver of “every good gift and every perfect present.” (James 1:17). Their obeying God in this matter may have helped prepare their hearts for concentrating on God’s forthcoming Law, as they would conclude with God the Mosaic Law covenant. Jehovah gives us His laws and commands for our lasting welfare and happiness, along with such gifts as the gift of marriage. May we always acknowledge God’s right to regulate our lives for our own benefit and the benefit of others, contributing to our true happiness.
Notice God’s power, as He sets the stage for this meeting. Let’s see in Exodus 19:16-19:
“16 On the morning of the third day, there was thunder and lightning, and there was a heavy cloud on the mountain and a very loud sound of a horn, and all the people in the camp began to tremble. 17 Moses now brought the people out of the camp to meet the true God, and they took their place at the base of the mountain. 18 Mount Siʹnai smoked all over, because Jehovah came down upon it in fire; and its smoke was rising like the smoke of a kiln, and the whole mountain was trembling violently. 19 As the sound of the horn grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and the voice of the true God answered him.”
So the approach of this meeting brings thunder and lightning—how such can move us to highly regard God’s great power! As promised, there was also a “heavy cloud” on the mountain, which could amplify sound for the occasion, and the “very loud sound of a horn,” perhaps signaling the call for assembling the people before Jehovah. The result of all of this was that “all the people in the camp began to tremble.” Certainly, Jehovah wanted all of his people Israel to have a proper regard for Him, to “understand the fear of Jehovah, and...find the knowledge of God.” Still, this was to be a healthy fear, not a morbid one. Why, this great God Jehovah, by His power, and loyal love, had rescued all Israel from Pharaoh and the mighty Egyptian army! They had every reason to be drawn close to God for His just use of His great power. Still, this was certainly an unusual occurrence, which reasonably brought on a “trembling” among all the people, just as our hearts may have trembled some time just at the experience of close lightning and thunder.
Moses now brings the people out of the camp “to meet the true God,” and assembles them at the base of Mount Sinai. More miracles awaited them. Jehovah “came down” upon the mountain “in fire,” and “its smoke was rising like the smoke of a kiln.” To this day we might reasonably expect the real Mount Sinai to give evidence of this burning, having a burnt appearance, or in some way reflecting this occurrence. Nevertheless, what a sight for all Israel! What evidence of the reality of this great God, Jehovah, no figment of their imagination! The whole mountain was even “trembling violently.” As the horn sound grew louder, Moses spoke, and Jehovah responded—likely with His voice resembling thunder—what an astounding and memorable experience! May we likewise visualize Bible events with our mind’s eye, that we may gain greater comprehension of the lessons to be learned—in this case to have a proper regard for the greatness of Jehovah, not allowing others to cause us to think less of Him for their own egotistical or God-dishonoring and self-serving interests.
What a dramatic display! May we always have a weighty regard for Jehovah whenever we approach Him to assemble in Christian meetings, or perhaps assemblies and/or larger conventions. What a privilege to attend such with fellow believers, as those seeking the divine truth of Scripture, to worship the true God Jehovah acceptably—as He wants to be worshipped—not just as we wish to worship Him. God’s word itself helps to clarify for us how to do this, that we may become truly united earth-wide, regardless of which tribe of Christianity we may belong to. It is God’s will that we all “speak in agreement, that there may not be divisions among [us], but that [we] may be fitly united in the same mind and in the same line of thought.” (1Cori 1:10). Thus, 1Timothy 2:3,4 says “3 This is fine and acceptable in the sight of our Savior, God, 4 whose will is that all sorts of people should be saved and come to an accurate knowledge of truth.” May we pursue and encourage pursuit of Christian truth with fellow believers, to the accomplishing of God’s will, the doing of which was like food to Jesus, saying “My food is to do the will of Him who sent me and to finish His work.”
2Peter 1:2-4 highlights "accurate knowledge," reminding us of the true unity that is possible if we humbly accept God's instruction and apply it in our personal lives. Peter is likely writing primarily to those with heavenly hopes, to share in "divine nature," but these words can encourage all to treasure devotion to God in a close, personal relationship with Him, as we grow in the accurate knowledge of God and His purpose involving Christ, to find peace in our lives by God's undeserved kindness, with precious promises of eternal life. These verses read: "2 May undeserved kindness and peace be increased to you by an accurate knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 for his divine power has granted us all the things that contribute to life and godly devotion through the accurate knowledge of the One who called us by his own glory and virtue. 4 Through these things he has granted us the precious and very grand promises, so that through these you may become sharers in divine nature, having escaped from the world’s corruption produced by wrong desire." God's word instructs, at Galatians 5:16: "Keep walking by spirit and you will carry out no fleshly desire at all." May we turn away wrong desires, satisfying our right desires in harmony with God's love and reasonableness, as He can help us find all we need in life to be truly content and happy, including true friends and for most, eventually perhaps all, a loyal marriage partner, with an understanding of right standards to live by, peaceably with others. May we always treasure God's loyal love toward us by seeking to ever please Him, walking with Him toward eternal life, alongside as many as possible, as God "does not desire anyone to be destroyed but desires all to attain to repentance." (2Peter 3:9).
2Peter 1:5-8 contains crucial steps to our spiritual development. Let’s remark as we go through each one. The foundation is our faith, or deep trust, primarily in Jehovah God, His Son Jesus, God’s word, and Jesus’ ransom sacrifice. Having such, we would come to trust also in God's Kingdom to truly solve mankind's problems. Built on faith, other attributes are needed. The verses read as follows: “5 For this very reason, put forth all earnest effort to supply to your faith virtue (godly attributes such as purity of heart, and true hope), to your virtue knowledge (including knowledge of God’s law through Christ), 6 to your knowledge self-control (needed to obey God’s law), to your self-control endurance (to obey over time through trials), to your endurance godly devotion (close attachment to Jehovah personally), 7 to your godly devotion brotherly affection (pure friendship with other God-fearing persons), to your brotherly affection love (unselfishness looking for best interests of all, in harmony with godly wisdom). 8 For if these things exist in you and overflow, they will prevent you from being either inactive or unfruitful regarding the accurate knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
2Peter 1:9-11 refers to not shutting our eyes to the light, so that we do not lack the qualities mentioned in the previous verses, such as godly knowledge, self-control, and godly devotion. If we close our eyes to the light of Scriptural truth, we can be truly blind, not able to see dangers right in front of us. These verses read as follows: “9 For anyone lacking these things is blind, shutting his eyes to the light, and has become forgetful of his cleansing from his sins of long ago. 10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and choosing sure for yourselves, for if you keep on doing these things, you will by no means ever fail. 11 In fact, in this way you will be richly granted entrance into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” As we learn to serve God properly, may we likewise encourage others to do so, assisting them, including our precious children, according to their ability, to make spiritual progress. Thus we will be reminded of the steps we took to grow spiritually, and that we should not forget or take for granted, but maintain our firm hold on our hope and faith in God and Jesus.
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