S.D.A.
Bible Commentary Vol. 1
Ellen
G. White
1953
Exodus
Chapter 20
1-17 (Nehemiah
9:6-15). Father by Side of Son in Giving Law.—When the law was spoken, the
Lord, the Creator of heaven and earth, stood by the side of His Son, enshrouded
in the fire and the smoke on the mount.
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It was not here
that the law was first given; but it was proclaimed, that the children of
Israel, whose ideas had become confused in their association with idolaters in
Egypt, might be reminded of its terms, and understand what constitutes the true
worship of Jehovah (The Signs of the Times, October 15, 1896).
Adam
and Eve Knew the Law.—Adam and Eve, at their creation, had a
knowledge of the law of God. It was printed on their hearts, and they
understood its claims upon them (MS 99, 1902). The law of God existed before
man was created. It was adapted to the condition of holy beings; even angels
were governed by it. After the fall, the principles of righteousness were
unchanged. Nothing was taken from the law; not one of its holy precepts could
be improved. And as it has existed from the beginning, so will it continue to
exist throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity. “Concerning thy testimonies,”
says the psalmist, “I have known of old that thou hast founded them forever (The
Signs of the Times, April 15, 1886). Law Suited to Holy Order of Beings.—The
Sabbath of the fourth commandment was instituted in Eden. After God had made
the world, and created man upon the earth, He made the Sabbath for man. After
Adam’s sin and fall nothing was taken from the law of God. The principles of
the ten commandments existed before the fall, and were of a character suited to
the condition of a holy order of beings. After the his fallen state (Spiritual Gifts 3:295). Worded
to Meet Fallen Intelligences.—The law of Jehovah dating back to creation, was
comprised in the two great principles, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with
all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength.
This is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this: Thou shalt
love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than
these.” These two great principles embrace the first four commandments, showing
the duty of man to God, and the last six, showing the duty of man to his
fellowman. The principles were more explicitly stated to man after the fall,
and worded to meet the case of fallen intelligences. This was necessary in
consequence of the minds of men being blinded by transgression (The Signs of
the Times, April 15, 1875 [Reprinted in RH May 6, 1875]).The law of God existed
before the creation of man or else Adam could not have sinned. After the
transgression of Adam the principles of the law were not changed, but were
definitely arranged and expressed to meet man in his fallen condition. Christ,in
counsel with His Father, instituted the system of sacrificial offerings; that
death, instead of being immediately visited upon the transgressor, should be
transferred to a victim which should prefigure the great and perfect offering
of the son of God (TheSigns of the Times, March 14, 1878). Precepts Given to
Guard Decalogue.—In consequence of continual transgression, the moral law was
repeated in awful
grandeur from
Sinai. Christ gave to Moses religious precepts which were to govern everyday
life. These statutes were explicitly given to guard the ten commandments. They
were not shadowy types to pass away with the death of Christ. They were to be binding
upon men in every age as long as time should last. These commands were enforced
by the power of the moral law, and they clearly and definitely explained that
law (The Signs of the Times, April 15, 1875 [Reprinted in The Review and Herald,
May 6, 1875]). (Isaiah
58:13, 14). Every Specification Is God’s Character.—The God of heaven has
placed a benediction upon them that keep the commandments of God. Shall we
stand as a peculiar people of God, or shall we trample upon the law of God and
say it is not binding? God might just as well have abolished Himself. In the
law every specification is the character of the infinite God (MS 12, 1894).
Law Denounces
Slightest Sin.—God has given His law for the regulation of the conduct of
nations, of families, and of individuals. There is not one worker of
wickedness, though his act be the lightest and the most secret, that escapes the denunciation of
that law (MS 58, 1897).
Holiness Made
Known.—Our duty to obey this law is to be the burden of this last message of
mercy to the world. God’s law is not a new thing. It is not holiness created,
but holiness made known. It is a
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code of
principles expressing mercy, goodness, and love. It presents to fallen humanity
the character of God, and states plainly the whole duty of man (MS 88, 1897). (John
14:15).
Ten
Commandments—Ten Promises.—The ten commandments,
Thou shalt, and Thou shalt not, are ten promises, assured to us if we render
obedience to the law governing the universe. “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”
Here is the sum
and substance of the law of God. The terms of salvation for every son and
daughter of Adam are here outlined (MS 41, 1896). The ten holy precepts spoken
by Christ upon Sinai’s mount were the revelation of the character of God, and
made known to the world the fact that He had jurisdiction over the whole human
heritage. That law of ten precepts of the greatest love that can be presented
to man is the voice of God from heaven speaking to the soul in promise, “This
do, and you will not come under
the dominion and
control of Satan.” There is not a negative in that law, although it may appear
thus. It is DO, and Live (Letter 89, 1898). (Romans 12:1; 2 Peter 1:4). A Wall
of Protection.—In the ten commandments God has laid down the laws of His kingdom.
Any violation of the laws of nature is a violation of the law of God.The Lord
has given His holy commandments to be a wall of protection around His created
beings, and those who will keep themselves from the defilement of appetite and passion
may become partakers of the divine nature. Their perceptions will be clear.
They will know how to preserve every faculty in health, so that it may be
presented to God in service. The Lord can use
them: for they
understand the words of the great apostle, “I beseech you, therefore, brethren,
by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy,
acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” (MS 153, 1899). 3-17
(Proverbs 4:20-22). Health in Obedience to God’s Law.—The love of Jesus in the
soul will banish all hatred, selfishness, and envy; for the law of the Lord is
perfect, converting the soul. There is health in obedience to God’s law. The affections
of the obedient are drawn out after God. Looking unto the Lord Jesus, we may
encourage and serve one another. The
love of Christ
is shed abroad in our souls, and there is no dissension and strife among us (MS
152, 1901).
No Others
Professed to Keep Commandments.—The ancient Jewish church were the highly
favored people of God, brought out of Egypt and acknowledged as His own
peculiar treasure. The many and exceeding great and precious promises to them
as a people, were the hope and confidence of the Jewish church. Herein they
trusted, and believed their salvation sure. No other people professed to be
governed by the commandments of God (Redemption: or the First Advent of Christ,
p. 35). 3. Self-dependence Is Idolatry.—Idolaters are condemned by the Word of
God. Their folly consists in trusting in self for
salvation, in
bowing down to the works of their own hands. God classes as idolaters those who
trust in their own wisdom, their own devising, depending for success on their
riches and power, striving to strengthen themselves by alliance with men whom the
world calls great, but who fail to discern the binding claims of His law (The
Review and Herald, March 15, 1906). False Conceptions of God Are Idolatry.—Are
we worshipers of Jehovah, or of Baal? of the living God, or of idols? Nooutward
shrines may be visible; there may be no image for the eye to rest upon; yet we
may be practising idolatry. It is as easy to make an idol of cherished ideas or
objects as to fashion gods of wood or stone. Thousands have a false conception
of God and His attributes. They are as verily serving a false God as were the
servants of Baal (The Review and Herald, December 3, 1908). Satan Plants Throne
Between Heaven and Earth.—Satan accomplished the fall of man, and since that
time it has been his work to efface in man the image of God, and to stamp upon
human hearts his own image. Possessing supremacy in guilt, he claims supremacy
for himself, and exercises over his subjects the power of royalty. He cannot
expel God from His throne, but through the system of idolatry, he plants his
own throne between the heaven and
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the earth,
between God and the human worshiper (The Review and Herald, October 22, 1895).
4-6. Second
Commandment and Pictures.—A few condemned pictures, urging that they are
prohibited by the second commandment, and that everything of this kind should
be destroyed.... The second commandment prohibits image worship; but God
himself employed pictures and symbols to represent to His prophets lessons
which He would have them give to the people, and which could thus be better
understood than if given in any other way. He appealed to the understanding
through the sense
of sight.
Prophetic history was presented to Daniel and John in symbols, and these were
to be represented plainly upon tables, that he who read might understand (Historical
Sketches of the Foreign Missions of the Seventh-day Adventists, 212).8-11
(Genesis 2:9, 16, 17; Exodus 16:29). Sabbath, a Test of Loyalty.—Every man has
been placed on trial, as were Adam and Eve in Eden. As the tree of knowledge
was placed in the midst of the garden of Eden, so the Sabbath command is placed
in the midst of the decalogue. In regard to the fruit of the tree of knowledge,
the restriction was made, “Ye shall not eat of it, ...lest ye die” [Genesis
3:3]. Of the Sabbath, God said, Ye shall not defile it, but keep it holy.... As
the tree of knowledge was the test of Adam’s obedience, so the fourth command
is the test that God has given to prove the loyalty of all His people. The
experience of Adam is to be a warning to us so long as time shall last. It
warns us not to receive any assurance from the mouth of men or of angels that
will detract one jot or tittle from the sacred law of Jehovah (The Review and
Herald, August 30, 1898).
14. FalseWorship
Is Spiritual Adultery.—All false worship is spiritual adultery. The second
precept, which forbids false worship, is also a command to worship God, and Him
only serve. The Lord is a jealous God. He will not Be trifled with. He has
spoken concerning the manner in which He should be worshiped. He has a hatred of
idolatry; for its influence is corrupting. It debases the mind, and leads to
sensuality and all kinds of sin (MS 126, 1901). 16 (Galatians 6:7). Flippant
Speech May Be False Witness.—Slander covers more ground than we suppose. The command,
“Thou shalt not bear false witness,” means very much more than we realize.
False witness is borne again and again in flippant speech concerning even the
workers whom God has sent. The seeds of envy, of evil thinking and evil
speaking, germinate and produce a harvest of their kind, to be garnered by the
one who planted the seed. “Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” (Letter
9, 1892).
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