Exodus 20:1-2 – Our Lord and Redeemer

The Ten Commandments are God’s moral quotes. It is referred to as the Decalogue meaning “ten words.” These ten words begin and originate with God. The best place to begin to understand it is to understand the God who has given the “ten words”. Here God was speaking to the people of Israel gathered at the foot of Mount Sinai. We are given the awesome scene that attended to God’s coming to His people. The mountain was literally engulfed with thick smoke and fire. Lightning and thunder could be seen and heard. The trumpet sound that heralded God’s coming grew with increasing loudness. Even the mountain could not resist the presence so that it quaked. It was a show of power and glory. Those present were forbidden to come closer or face death. The pure holiness of God was virtually unapproachable. With such a God, needless to say, one must give full and careful attention. The Ten Commandments were not merely Moses’ law but God’s. Hence these ten words are the great and glorious law of God to guide our living.

In verse 2, God made it unmistakably clear who He was. And He said, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.” The word “LORD” refers to His special covenant name “Yahweh.” He is the great I Am, the sovereign, grand, supreme, self-existent, eternal and unchanging One.  Notice He said, “I am your God.” The pronoun “your” that precedes the word “God” reveals that He is a personal God. And that He wants a personal relationship with each and every one of His people. Besides, it is not just a personal relationship but a saving one. It was He who had saved them and this same God had saved us. They were delivered out of Egypt, the land of bondage. We are delivered out of our sin and the domain of darkness. Just as He was to the Israelites, this Sovereign One is also our Lord, our God and our Redeemer. It was on these bases that He would lay down the law and prescribe how His people should conduct their lives. What a privilege to receive the Law directly from God!   

Who the LORD was to the people of Israel is also precisely who the LORD Jesus Christ is to every one of us who have put our trust in Him. He has brought us out of our “Egypt”, our land of sin, and rescued us from our “Pharaoh”, the devil. Christ Jesus by His death and sacrifice on Calvary has redeemed us for Himself. He died and rose again to justify us freely forever. He is not only our sovereign LORD and Redeemer, but He is also the rightful owner of our life. Let us, therefore, freely and wholeheartedly revere, worship and serve Him alone!