Well Soul Podcast
Sometimes life leaves our souls feeling weary, parched. Come away for a few moments to drink in Scripture, reflect, and pray. Seana Scott, a seminary-trained writer and speaker, guides you in this weekly devotional podcast designed for you to connect with God. Refresh your soul at the Well of Living Water that never runs dry.
Well Soul Podcast
Ep. 55 | EXODUS 20 | The Story of the Gospel: The Gift of the Law
Rules don't feel like gifts. But imagine not knowing who God is, how to worship Him or have a relationship with Him. That would be most unruly. The Law was actually a gift to the nation of Israel because it revealed God and how His people could walk in relationship with Him.
This week we meditate on the gift of the Law for the Israelites and consider our own hearts in how we might need relationship renewal with God.
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RENEW YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
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THE PURPOSE OF THE LAW Bible Project Video
Well Soul Resources
· S.I.M.P.L.E. Guide to Inductive Bible Study.
· 4 Simple ideas to read Scripture when you don't have time.
· 1 Practice to walk closely with Jesus.
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Welcome to the Well Soul Podcast, where we pause to drink in scripture, reflect, and pray. I am your host, Seana Scott, and sometimes life leaves our souls feeling parched. So come to the well of living water that never runs dry.
In today's episode, we will continue the story of the gospel, where we will meditate on God giving Israel the law. If it is your first time listening, I encourage you to start at the beginning of the Story of the Gospel episodes.
So far in the Story of the Gospel, we meditated on how God created the world and humanity, male and female. We meditated on the peace, the shalom, that was there in the beginning, and how shalom was shattered in the rebellion of Adam and Eve, and sin brought death.
Next, we meditated on how God pushed the restart button with Noah, but humanity still chose to rebel again and again. And they wanted to reach heaven in their own way by building a tower. So God scattered humanity by confusing their languages.
Then we meditated on God choosing Abraham from the pagan nation of Ur of the Chaldeans, and promised Abraham that through him all the earth would be blessed. Abraham's children through Isaac became the nation of Israel.
And we meditated on the righteous act of Tamar, who continued the line of Judah, the line of the Messiah, even though she used unconventional ways.
And then we dwelled on God's provision to deliver Israel from slavery through the Passover Lamb and through the parting of the Red Sea. As Israel marched their way into the wilderness toward the promised land, God paused them at Mount Sinai to give his people the law, the way to know who God is and how to worship him and how to love one another as God's people.
It is here that we will meditate on today's Scripture.
Before I read, take a deep breath and pray for the Holy Spirit to speak to you through God's word.
Come, Holy Spirit, come.
Now, God's presence came on Mount Sinai as fire and smoke, and He spoke these words to all of Israel. I want you to imagine being there at the foot of the mountain, witnessing fire and smoke billowing and God's booming voice and glorious. Power speaking to them through the smoke. Picture this as you listen to these words,
Exodus 20:1-21
And God spoke all these words:
2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
3 “You shall have no other gods before[a] me.
4 “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
7 “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
8 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
12 “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
13 “You shall not murder.
14 “You shall not commit adultery.
15 “You shall not steal.
16 “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
18 When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance 19 and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.”
20 Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.”
21 The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.
What thoughts did the Holy Spirit bring to mind? Sit with this for a moment.
God came to Israel in the way he did, so they would fear God and keep from sin. God gives us, the Church, the whole counsel of his Word, to also know who He is. But also, to be in a relationship with Him. We now have His Word and the Holy Spirit of God living inside of us when we believe. That same presence that came upon the mountain, lives in us.
Take a moment to reflect and pray. Sit silently for 30 seconds and ask God to reveal to you anything you trust in place of Him. Pray about this then, or anything else the Spirit brings to mind.
Let's pray.
Father, Son, Holy Spirit, one and only true God, we worship you. God, please forgive us for breaking your commandments, especially “having no other gods.” We have other gods, sometimes in our hearts, things that we trust in and bend toward in allegiance instead of you. We confess our sin and we ask, God, that you would renew our hearts to trust and have our allegiance only to you beyond all other things. Amen.
Thank you for joining me today on the Well Soul Podcast for our story of the gospel journey. You can subscribe to the Well Soul community and receive encouragement and resources directly in your inbox every week. See the link in the show notes to join us for free.
You can also download a free reflection guide to help you renew your heart with the Lord. See the link in the show notes.
In closing, I remember my late friend, Brian Vasquez, who made this podcast possible. God bless you. And I pray that you have a well soul.
