ROOTED - Thursday, July 17, 2025
Deuteronomy 10:4
4 Then he wrote on the tablets the same words as before, the ten commandments.
Reflection: Question #36
Written By: Pastor Jesse Caro
Question: Where is the moral law summarized?
Answer: In the Ten Commandments.
You know me! I am a “top five” and “top ten” kind of guy. If I say, “I really, really like that restaurant,” you have all the information that you really need. But, if I say, “that restaurant is on my ‘top five’ restaurants in Lynchburg,” then you might take it more seriously. At a minimum, saying “that is a top five…” tends to be a more interesting and colorful way to express something. Of course, I might say “top five” as a figure of speech and not literally mean that I have ranked this or that. But the point is that “I really, really, really, like” this or that. Consequently, Papa Gallo is actually on my “top five” restaurant list! And when I say “top five hymn” … for the most part I have, in fact, ranked my hymns (in my head, at least) LOL. So, you can trust me with my “top five” lists (mostly).
You might not trust me (that is up to you). But God seems rather fond of top ten lists. And you can trust him. The Ten Commandments are his “top Ten” and we should pay attention. This top ten list is akin to God saying, “this is really, really, really, important.” This top ten list is, according to our catechism, a “summary” of the Law of God. It condenses for us what God mostly wants from us. The Ten Commandments teach us how to relate to God and to others. It is foundational and essential. It begins with the most important command: have no other gods before him. Though we may not recognize it… this is our daily battle: to keep God as the main thing. We often love and serve other things and put God in the sidelines… and we violate commandment one. We should remind ourselves often of these fundamental commandments and make certain that we are keeping God first and foremost.
Prayer
Lord, just now help us to keep you first. Help us to keep the basic commandments and to take seriously what you take seriously… your top concerns.