High Points - Part 2

"Thou shalt not kill." Exodus 20:13 KJV
"Thou shalt not commit adultery." Exodus 20:14 KJV
"Thou shalt not steal." Exodus 20:15 KJV
"Thou shalt not bear false witness ..." Exodus 20:16 KJV
"Thou shalt not covet ..." Exodus 20:17 KJV

These last 5 commandments all deal with interpersonal relationship; that's obvious. Specifically, they deal with respect for others. They explicitly describe how true followers of God will treat those they share this world with.

There is one aspect that is frequently overlooked here and that is the identity of "those they share this world with." A simple reading let's us know that there are no exceptions to this respect. Friends and foes alike are to be treated in the same way.

Additionally, there are no disclaimers associated with this behavior. In other words, there is no way to rationalize away the behavior that God expects, there is no place for preferential treatment.

In these commandments, I see a description of someone who knows their place; someone who understands the hierarchy of authority. Each of these commandments describe an attitude that does not attempt to manipulate the situation for their own benefit.

The motive behind failure in each of these areas is a dissatisfaction with the way things are. Each shortcoming in these commandments stems from the belief that someone else is benefiting unjustly. The person who has not yet met these goals believes that they are not getting their due, or that they need to put things right.

Each time one of these marks is missed it is because the individual refuses to accept their place. They fail to recognize that they are part of a whole and attempt to take matters into their own hands. In short, a miss here is to effectively tell God that He's not doing His job right.

Once again, the commandments describe a people who obey God's voice and keep His covenant. The commandments are an ideal to be striven for, not simply rules to be followed.