Redemption and Commandments: A Covenant Relationship
Summary
The Passover story from Exodus 12 is a profound narrative that sets the stage for understanding the commandments within the broader context of God's covenant with His people. This story is not just a historical account but a foundational moment that illustrates the themes of redemption, justice, and freedom. Before the Israelites received the Ten Commandments, they experienced God's deliverance from slavery, highlighting that redemption precedes the law. This order is crucial because it underscores that God's grace and justice come first, establishing a covenantal relationship with His people.
The Passover is more than a ritual; it is a perpetual ordinance that calls for remembrance and obedience. It signifies the beginning of a new identity for the Israelites as a nation under God's rule. This transformation from enslaved people to a nation is marked by God's acts of redemption and justice, which are essential before the introduction of the commandments. The commandments are not merely a set of moral guidelines but are integral to maintaining a just and good society. They are about cultivating a disciplined and obedient life in alignment with God's will, forming the backbone of a strong covenantal bond with Him.
In this light, the Passover can be seen as a kind of first commandment, a call to remember and obey, which is fundamental to the relationship between God and His people. It is a reminder that the commandments are inseparable from God's plan of salvation. The Israelites were saved by grace and then called to live in obedience, illustrating that salvation and the commandments are two sides of the same coin. As we reflect on this, we are invited to see the commandments not just as rules but as a way to live as redeemed people, continually remembering and obeying God's call.
Key Takeaways:
1. Redemption Before Commandments: The Passover story illustrates that God's redemption and justice precede the giving of the commandments. This order emphasizes that grace comes before law, establishing a covenantal relationship with God. Understanding this sequence helps us appreciate the commandments as a response to God's grace rather than mere rules to follow. [09:09]
2. Passover as a Perpetual Ordinance: The Passover is not just a historical event but a perpetual ordinance that calls for remembrance and obedience. It serves as a foundational moment that marks the Israelites' transformation from enslaved people to a nation under God's rule, highlighting the importance of redemption, justice, and freedom. [03:31]
3. Commandments as a Covenant: The commandments are integral to maintaining a just society and are about cultivating a disciplined and obedient life in alignment with God's will. They are not merely moral guidelines but are essential to the covenantal relationship with God, forming the backbone of a strong bond with Him. [13:07]
4. Passover as the First Commandment: In a sense, the Passover can be seen as a kind of first commandment, a call to remember and obey. It is fundamental to the relationship between God and His people, reminding us that the commandments are inseparable from God's plan of salvation. [14:03]
5. Living as Redeemed People: The Israelites were saved by grace and then called to live in obedience, illustrating that salvation and the commandments are two sides of the same coin. This understanding invites us to see the commandments not just as rules but as a way to live as redeemed people, continually remembering and obeying God's call. [15:03]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[01:28] - Introduction to Passover
[02:14] - Instructions for the Passover Lamb
[03:31] - Significance of the Blood
[09:09] - Redemption Before Commandments
[13:07] - Passover as the First Commandment
[14:03] - Israel's New Identity
[15:03] - Invitation to Communion
[15:54] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Exodus 12:1-17
Observation Questions:
1. What specific instructions did God give to the Israelites regarding the Passover lamb in Exodus 12? How were these instructions meant to be carried out? [01:28]
2. How does the Passover story illustrate the themes of redemption, justice, and freedom before the giving of the commandments? [09:09]
3. What is the significance of the blood on the doorposts during the Passover, and how does it relate to God's judgment? [03:31]
4. How does the Passover serve as a perpetual ordinance for the Israelites, and what does it signify for their identity as a nation under God? [13:07]
Interpretation Questions:
1. Why is it important to understand the sequence of redemption before commandments in the context of God's covenant with His people? How does this order affect our understanding of grace and law? [09:09]
2. In what ways can the Passover be seen as a kind of first commandment, and how does it set the foundation for the Israelites' relationship with God? [13:07]
3. How do the commandments serve as more than just moral guidelines, and what role do they play in maintaining a just society according to the sermon? [13:07]
4. How does the Passover story invite us to view the commandments as a way to live as redeemed people, rather than just rules to follow? [14:03]
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you experienced a sense of redemption or freedom in your life. How did that experience shape your understanding of obedience to God's commandments? [09:09]
2. The Passover is a call to remember and obey. What are some practical ways you can incorporate remembrance and obedience into your daily life? [13:07]
3. How can you cultivate a disciplined and obedient life in alignment with God's will, as suggested by the sermon? What specific steps can you take this week? [13:07]
4. In what ways can you view the commandments as a response to God's grace in your life, rather than just a set of rules? How does this perspective change your approach to following them? [09:09]
5. Consider the idea that salvation and the commandments are two sides of the same coin. How can this understanding influence your relationship with God and others? [14:03]
6. How can you actively participate in creating a just and good society, as the commandments intend, within your community or workplace? [13:07]
7. Identify one area in your life where you struggle with obedience to God's commandments. What is one practical step you can take to address this struggle? [14:03]
Devotional
Day 1: Redemption Precedes Commandments
The Passover story in Exodus 12 is a powerful reminder that God's redemption and justice come before the giving of the commandments. This sequence is significant because it highlights that grace is the foundation of the covenantal relationship between God and His people. Before the Israelites received the Ten Commandments, they experienced God's deliverance from slavery in Egypt. This order emphasizes that the commandments are not just rules to follow but a response to God's grace. Understanding this helps us appreciate the commandments as a way to live in gratitude and obedience to God, who first redeemed us. [09:09]
Exodus 6:6-7 (ESV): "Say therefore to the people of Israel, 'I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment. I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.'"
Reflection: Think about a time when you experienced God's grace before you were called to obey His commandments. How does this order of grace before law change your perspective on obedience today?
Day 2: Passover as a Perpetual Ordinance
The Passover is not merely a historical event but a perpetual ordinance that calls for remembrance and obedience. It marks the transformation of the Israelites from enslaved people to a nation under God's rule. This transformation is rooted in God's acts of redemption, justice, and freedom. The Passover serves as a foundational moment that highlights the importance of these themes before the introduction of the commandments. It is a call to remember God's deliverance and to live in obedience to His will, forming a new identity as His people. [03:31]
Deuteronomy 16:1-3 (ESV): "Observe the month of Abib and keep the Passover to the Lord your God, for in the month of Abib the Lord your God brought you out of Egypt by night. And you shall offer the Passover sacrifice to the Lord your God, from the flock or the herd, at the place that the Lord will choose, to make his name dwell there. You shall eat no leavened bread with it. Seven days you shall eat it with unleavened bread, the bread of affliction—for you came out of the land of Egypt in haste—that all the days of your life you may remember the day when you came out of the land of Egypt."
Reflection: How can you incorporate the practice of remembrance into your daily life to honor God's past deliverance and ongoing presence?
Day 3: Commandments as a Covenant
The commandments are integral to maintaining a just society and are about cultivating a disciplined and obedient life in alignment with God's will. They are not merely moral guidelines but are essential to the covenantal relationship with God, forming the backbone of a strong bond with Him. The commandments help us live as a community that reflects God's justice and goodness. They are a response to God's grace and a way to live out our identity as His redeemed people. Understanding the commandments in this light helps us see them as a gift rather than a burden. [13:07]
Deuteronomy 4:13-14 (ESV): "And he declared to you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, that is, the Ten Commandments, and he wrote them on two tablets of stone. And the Lord commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and rules, that you might do them in the land that you are going over to possess."
Reflection: In what ways can you align your daily actions with God's commandments to strengthen your covenantal relationship with Him?
Day 4: Passover as the First Commandment
In a sense, the Passover can be seen as a kind of first commandment, a call to remember and obey. It is fundamental to the relationship between God and His people, reminding us that the commandments are inseparable from God's plan of salvation. The Passover is a reminder that we are saved by grace and called to live in obedience. This understanding invites us to see the commandments not just as rules but as a way to live as redeemed people, continually remembering and obeying God's call. [14:03]
Exodus 12:24-27 (ESV): "You shall observe this rite as a statute for you and for your sons forever. And when you come to the land that the Lord will give you, as he has promised, you shall keep this service. And when your children say to you, 'What do you mean by this service?' you shall say, 'It is the sacrifice of the Lord's Passover, for he passed over the houses of the people of Israel in Egypt, when he struck the Egyptians but spared our houses.' And the people bowed their heads and worshiped."
Reflection: How can you make the practice of remembering God's past deliverance a regular part of your spiritual life, and how does it influence your obedience to His commandments?
Day 5: Living as Redeemed People
The Israelites were saved by grace and then called to live in obedience, illustrating that salvation and the commandments are two sides of the same coin. This understanding invites us to see the commandments not just as rules but as a way to live as redeemed people, continually remembering and obeying God's call. As we reflect on this, we are encouraged to live in a way that reflects our identity as God's redeemed people, embracing both His grace and His commandments as integral to our faith journey. [15:03]
Titus 2:11-14 (ESV): "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works."
Reflection: What specific actions can you take today to live as a redeemed person, reflecting both God's grace and His commandments in your life?
Quotes
"And as we step into Exodus 12, you may recall that the chapters leading up to this are that, you know, pretty conflicted times of judgment, particularly against the Pharaoh and all of the things we associate, with the terrible things that happened in Egypt as a consequence of that, of Pharaoh's unwillingness to release the Israelite people from slavery. And so, the story after the plagues and everything else, we come to this moment." [00:00:36] (39 seconds)
"This day shall be a day of remembrance for you. You shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord throughout your generations. You shall observe it as a perpetual ordinance. Amen. Amen. 7 Days you shall eat unleavened bread and on the first day you shall remove leaven from your houses. For whoever eats leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day shall be cut off from Israel." [00:03:41] (30 seconds)
"Probably the ten commandments right probably the ten commandments first came to mind when i mentioned the word commandments that's how we've been sort of conditioned over the centuries to as christians step into this question of commandments the ten commandments and the ten commandments carry still in our in our culture a lot of sort of currency and they're they're part of all kinds of movies and and you know shows and media you know the thou shalt this and thou shalt not and and like so much of when scripture gets taken into popular culture it becomes badly misunderstood and maligned but the reason i'm not starting with the commandments because of course we're going to go to the commandments but i want to establish something that's even more important see the god's commandments is is not a it's not a moral handbook that's what we all think about right how do we get along in society we follow the commandments that's of course an essential component of it but why did god instruct first the israelite people and then through the israelite people into into all humanity why did this notion notion of commandments sort of come to pass well commandments aren't just exclusively about sort of moral obligations they are they are a set of of laws and commandments that are essential to the conditions of a good and just society so it's more than just thou shall and thou shall not they are the fundamental underpinnings of what a good and just society needs to have in order to be a good and just society but it's not so much about behavior this is where things kind of get off the rails because we associate the commandments with our behavior what do we do and what do we not do really it's about an approach of discipline and obedience in your life to god so it's the foundation of a strong covenanted bond with god that's where the the covenant starts to get some some muscle added to it that this is how in following the laws and ordinances we and commandments we start to develop a sense of discipline and obedience in our lives as a covenanted relationship with god" [00:06:26] (163 seconds)
"So it's interesting that this passover story happens before we see the commandments whether you look at the exodus or deuteronomy version of them before you see those the 10 commandments gonna come down here and then come back up and that was what god decided to say as he promised up so it is we knew the teachers were going to teach us what the pedagogical law meant but we didn't it was it was the times of the time of the people who were not being disciplined and the leaders were not fighting and they were not being disciplined so they weren't being disciplined because they were being disciplined because they were not answered by their own good and by their own good because they weren't going to be asked questions that were going to be answered by their that very what will become a very important and solemn experience for for jews and and thereby into early christianity it's this notion that redemption happens first first redemption and justice happens first that god through this passover experiences releases the israelite people from slavery and in so doing is is is doing something absolutely essential you we don't get to the ten commandments until we get god's experience expression of redemption justice and freedom so those three things happen first redemption justice freedom and that's a fundamental underpinning that i think we lose sight of because we get so focused on the thou shalt and that thou shalt nots we lose a sense of what really happens through the entire experience Exodus experience leading up to Passover." [00:09:09] (128 seconds)
"So it's a pattern that starts to emerge that in being obedient to God's laws and commandments, that's how it's this starts to take shape, we then actually have a deeper and stronger bond with God. You see, for God to then say to the Israelite people to kind of pull them into this unique unique status, in terms of that covenant relationship, it starts by God's grace, not by the Israelite people obeying the laws." [00:11:18] (39 seconds)
"And Passover then becomes this sign of the covenant. It is a call to remember and obey. And it will it will never end. It's there is a perpetual nature of this, this and so often when people don't understand the notion of a kind of sacrificial approach to this relationship with God, we see it in a very narrow, selfish way, we lose sight of the fact that this is part of that call to remember and obey. That are fundamental, absolutely fundamental to how God wants to relate to his people." [00:12:05] (44 seconds)
"So the Passover in this sense, I would go so far as to say that Passover becomes really a kind of first commandment, if you like, first commandment, Israel, being identified as God's people. God says this is how you will observe that. And you will do it in a perpetual way from generation to generation." [00:12:51] (27 seconds)
"At that point, we then come to this dramatic conclusion that Israel is no longer just a group of enslaved people. They have become a nation under God's rule. And God's rule starts with redemption, justice, and freedom." [00:13:18] (22 seconds)
"So our building block today in terms of stepping into this commandment as a, an essential C is this, the Passover and the giving of the commandments are inseparable in God's plan. Passover represents salvation, and the commandments represent how to live as a redeemed people. Israelites were saved by grace, then called to walk in obedience. Amen." [00:13:40] (34 seconds)
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