If you saw the blog post " A Reminder of liberation",Then welcome to our Study on Exodus 20:2.
Isaiah 58:6, 61:1, Jeremiah 34;
Stoic's Believed that anyone could attain true freedom, because no person or force of nature can control the inner life. Thus, the individual is ultimatly in control of self, though not of the enviornment.
In contast to the stoics, the New Testament reconizes that no one has such absolute control. Everone is considered to be a slave in some sence. Oppurtunity to obtain release from bondage; Romans 6:12-14, 10:9-12 though slaves, our free will is in tact, & our decisions are real & meaningful.
So we are not in full control of even our innerselves Romans 7:15-25. So it is our master, not ourselves, who determines the general direction of our life Romans 6:16.
We are free from our former master, sin, but we are still servants. We have freedom, but we are not free! The Bible affirms that our choices are not determined, we make them ourselves. But it also demonstrates that we are not in total control of ourselves. The comforting thing about this is that "In everything HE (GOD) cooperates for good with those who love HIM." Romans 8:28.
Out of heaven HE made us to hear HIS voice that HE might instruct us; & upon earth He showed us HIS great fire, & we heard HIS words out of the fire(Deut. 4:33&36), what they saw at MT. Sinai, gave an ernest of the day of judgement. At MT. Sinai, GOD manifest Himself in the works of creation. Without speach or language. The heavens so declare the glory of GOD & proclaim HIS wisdom, power & goodness, that all ungodly men are left without excuse. They speak themselves to be the works of GOD's hands; for they must have a creator who is eternal, infinitely wise, powerful & good.
The counter changing of day & night is a great proof of the power of GOD, & calls us to observe, that, as in the kingdom of nature, so in that province, HE forms the light & creates the darkness, & sets the one against the other Psalm 19:1-3. This doctrine is applied, for the comfort of those that earnestly longed, yet, quietly waited, for the redemption of Isreal, Isaiah 45:7.
When Moses prays for the good will of HIM that dwelt in the bush, he refers to the convenant, on which all our hopes of GODs favor must be founded Deut. 33:20. The covenant of grace is from everlasting in the counsels of it, & to everlasting in the consequences of it. The token of the convenant was circumcision Romans 3:29.
In Heberws 8: 8 & 9, this place is Quoted as the sum of the covenant of grace made with believers in JESUS CHRIST! Not I will give them a new law, but to fulfill it, but the law will be written in their hearts by the finger of the Spirit, as formerly written in the tablets of stone, Jere. 31:33
GOD will have the great work of the justification & salvation of sinners carried on from first to last, so as to shut out boasting, Romans 3:29. When the LORD spoke "I am the LORD thy GOD", Hosea 13:4, I believe the purpose was to clarify the begginning of a new era in the relationship between the people of HIS choosing & Himself as the supreme ruler of all creation. As we look at the 1st Commandment, this relationship does not have any room for any person, place or thing to be adoned before the LORD GOD.
My pastor, might mark this new era proposing, the LORD GOD to be both builder & surveyor of the establishment of HIS people & the DEMANDMENTS, HIS tools. The Plumline, which is used to make sure a wall is standing vertically (II Kings 21:13) level. (Isaiah 28:17), as a symbol, it was used by the LORD, in a vision by Amos, for the people were not considered true & straight in their devotion to GOD because they had fallen into worship of false gods Amos 7:7 & 8.
The measuring line also used to make straight & mark distance. Was also used as a symbol of GOD's judgement over evil. (Lamentations 2:8) or as a sign of HIS blessing & restoration (Jeremiah 31:39).
