Display God's Commands

"So it shall be on the day when you cross the Jordan to the land which the Lord your God gives you, that you shall set up for yourself large stones and coat them with lime and write on them all the words of this law, when you cross over, so that you may enter the land which the Lord your God gives you, a land flowing with milk and honey, as the Lord, the God of your fathers, promised you. So it shall be when you cross the Jordan, you shall set up on Mount Ebal, these stones, as I am commanding you today, and you shall coat them with lime. Moreover, you shall build there an altar to the Lord your God, an altar of stones; you shall not wield an iron tool on them. You shall build the altar of the Lord your God of uncut stones, and you shall offer on it burnt offerings to the Lord your God; and you shall sacrifice peace offerings and eat there, and rejoice before the Lord your God. You shall write on the stones all the words of this law very distinctly." -Deuteronomy 27.2-8

The law was not simply to be recorded and kept in the Ark of the Covenant, rather it was to be written on stones and publically displayed for all to have access to. In the place where the law was displayed there was to be an altar built for the people offer burnt offerings to God. They were to make peace offerings and eat there, rejoicing before God for finally receiving the fulfillment of the promise. This was to be a public place, a high place, where all could go and worship.

The law was more than simply the Ten Commandments. Yes, those were part of it, but everything contained in Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy were part of the law as well. God commanded many things of His people, and so they were to be very distinctly written out so that the people would be reminded of all of God's commands.

Men, we live in a time when even the Ten Commandments are not displayed anymore. We live in a world that wants nothing to do with God most of the time. In our day the words of God are considered offensive, and so they are removed and attempts are made to silence them. May we not give in. Let us display the commands of God.

I am not talking about forcing scripture in people's faces, stubbornly saying this is what we believe and the world can deal with it. With this attitude, Christ is not reflected, and no one is won to the Gospel. Rather let us display the commands of God by how we live. God called Israel to be set apart and holy, and we are called to be the same.

Let us live differently, according to God's standards of holiness and righteousness. In all that we do and say, let us display God's commands, drawing others to worship Him. Let each of us be Mount Eval, where God's commands are distinctly written on stone for all to see. Let us not force others there, but invite them to worship and rejoice in God.

Let us display all that God has commanded with our lives.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor