The Blessing Of “Shall Not”

There are many people in the world who reject God and His word, pointing to the Ten Commandments are being “excessively restrictive” as they say a bunch of “shall nots.” In closer inspection and understanding you will find that God gave the Ten Commandments to people that He had delivered from the bondage of slavery and was giving them blessings they did not deserve. The Ten Commandments were laid out as a way they could honor God and His holiness and be His representatives in the land He was giving them.

Exodus 20:1–17 (ESV) — 1 And God spoke all these words, saying, 2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. 3 “You shall have no other gods before me. 4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments. 7 “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain. 8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep 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, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. 11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. 12“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that 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 bear false witness against your neighbor. 17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.”

These ten commandments were keys to living a life pleasing to God, thus pointing the way to God providing salvation in Jesus Christ because of the utter failure of any of us to live up to God’s standard. Nevertheless, people point to the restriction in the Ten Commandments, never considering the way these restrictions are actually protections as God had a reason of good for each one of these “restrictive” commandments.

There are, however, many “shall nots” in the Bible that actually declare God’s provisions. (Please note that I have used  the KJV to bring out the emphasis upon the “shall not.”)

The Lord has promised to take care of those who trust Him.

Psalm 34:10 (KJV) — 10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: But they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.

There is confidence is living in depending on the Lord as your Shepherd.

Psalm 23:1 (KJV) — 1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

God promises salvation to those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

John 5:24 (KJV) — 24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

Following the Lord Jesus Christ, Who is the light of the world keeps you from walking in darkness.

John 8:12 (KJV) — 12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

What great confidence is found in following close to God.

Psalm 16:8 (KJV) — 8 I have set the Lord always before me: Because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

God has promised to keep those who follow Him through the ups and downs of life.

Psalm 37:23–24 (KJV) — 23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: And he delighteth in his way. 24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: For the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.

God has promised to keep those who follow Him through the troubles of life.

Isaiah 43:1–2 (KJV) — 1 But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, And he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. 2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: When thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; Neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

Jesus has promised the stability and reliability of His word.

Matthew 24:35 (KJV) — 35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

Jesus has promised to build and keep His church.

Matthew 16:18 (KJV 1900) — 18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

In following the Lord and relying upon His word, there is power to live by the word, the way that pleases God, keeping us from the ways of sin.

Romans 6:14 (KJV 1900) — 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

Thank God for the “shall nots” of Scripture and how they point the way to God as well as the blessings from God.

Godspeed,

Bob Brubaker, Pastor

Christ Community Presbyterian Church

Clearwater, FL

Check out our podcast, The PowerBreak Podcast, wherever  you download podcasts or from our website: www.bobbrubaker.com