Forbidden to look at Big 10?

[Willie-T]

Thought this might interest some people......... (Not my own )

The Bible records that when the people in a village called Beth Shemesh lifted the mercy seat to look inside the ark, many of them were destroyed. (1 Sam.6:19)

Nobody was supposed to even take a peek at the Ten Commandments.

God doesn’t want the law to be exposed because it represents our rebellion, and it will only minister death and condemnation. The peculiar thing is that people have made the Ten Commandments into posters that are hung in homes today, and plaques in our public offices, when even in the Old Testament, God kept the law hidden under the mercy seat!

Don’t you think that believers today should be exalting God’s mercy and His grace above the law? Notice that the mercy seat is placed over the law. This tells us that God’s mercy triumphs over judgment! (James 2:13) God’s grace is above God’s law. God executes judgment because He is just, but His delight is not in judgment. His delight is in mercy and grace. The Bible tells us that God’s anger lasts only for a moment, but His mercy endures forever. (Psalms 30:5, 106:1)

 

[VioletReigns]

HALLELUJAH!!

 

[Blain]

in the old covenant yes the law killed because we as sinners could not fully uphold his laws it represented our flesh and our weakness and our sinful nature. But alas when the new covenant was made the law turned into something else. For me the law is a true blessing because even if I cannot keep ten simple commands fully the law teaches me who God is it helps me to grow in him and grow closer to him, it gives me insight as to who he is. God made the law so that only one with a heart full of love could keep it at all or even see what the law really is to us as believers and to God.

The law is a curse and a heavy burden to some but to those who have a deep love in their hearts for God with God and for all others God reveals the truth hidden within the truth.

 

[Willie-T]

in the old covenant yes the law killed because we as sinners could not fully uphold his laws it represented our flesh and our weakness and our sinful nature. But alas when the new covenant was made the law turned into something else. For me the law is a true blessing because even if I cannot keep ten simple commands fully the law teaches me who God is it helps me to grow in him and grow closer to him, it gives me insight as to who he is. God made the law so that only one with a heart full of love could keep it at all or even see what the law really is to us as believers and to God.

The law is a curse and a heavy burden to some but to those who have a deep love in their hearts for God with God and for all others God reveals the truth hidden within the truth.

Well, just don't open the ark if you happen to run across it.

 

[VioletReigns]

That lines up perfectly with what the Lord has been driving home to me lately. I've been really pondering Galatians 2:18-21 where it's written that if I attempt to restore my flesh (which was crucified with Christ) by forcing it to obey the law, I am living like a transgressor. Because my flesh will NEVER want to obey the law. So it's a no win situation!

I nullify the grace of Jesus Christ by thinking that it isn't enough to make me a new creation. But the fact is, His mercy covers me! I am a new creation because of His GRACE! He put His Holy Spirit in me and He conforms me into His image. He makes me desire to follow Him. It's by His mercy & grace that I am being made like Him! \/ I can rest in Him.

 

[KennethC]

Yes grace is above the law, but we can not forget about what the Levitical priesthood was about in that equation.
For because of their love for God they were charged to carry (hold) the law, just like we are told in the NT that by walking in love the law is upheld.

For it is not about following them as a set of ordinances, but following them as a everyday way of live do to love !!!

 

[crossnote]

Funny, when I used to post passages such as ...

Romans 7:4 (NET) So, my brothers and sisters, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you could be joined to another, to the one who was raised from the dead, to bear fruit to God.

I'd be vehemently opposed by some of the same...well, we are a work in progress.

 

[PennEd]

Thought this might interest some people......... (Not my own )

The Bible records that when the people in a village called Beth Shemesh lifted the mercy seat to look inside the ark, many of them were destroyed. (1 Sam.6:19)

Nobody was supposed to even take a peek at the Ten Commandments.

God doesn’t want the law to be exposed because it represents our rebellion, and it will only minister death and condemnation. The peculiar thing is that people have made the Ten Commandments into posters that are hung in homes today, and plaques in our public offices, when even in the Old Testament, God kept the law hidden under the mercy seat!

Don’t you think that believers today should be exalting God’s mercy and His grace above the law? Notice that the mercy seat is placed over the law. This tells us that God’s mercy triumphs over judgment! (James 2:13) God’s grace is above God’s law. God executes judgment because He is just, but His delight is not in judgment. His delight is in mercy and grace. The Bible tells us that God’s anger lasts only for a moment, but His mercy endures forever. (Psalms 30:5, 106:1)

This is very insightful Willie! I'd never thought about it quite this way, and was always one of those who got angry at the thought of removing them from various places.

Plus, God has already written His laws on our hearts. Hebrews 8:10 [SUP]10 [/SUP]For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:

 

[Angela53510]

I think the OP is really twisting the purpose of the Ark of the Covenant. It was separate from the people, because God was HOLY! That means they did not have the means to approach God for the forgiveness of sins, except for the High Priest once a year. Just because we know Jesus fuliflled the requirement, did not mean that what the people did was wrong under the Old Covenant, in fact, it was a foreshadowing of when the temple veil would be torn, and we could boldy go before the throne of grace, through the blood of Jesus. The 10 commandments were the revelation of God's will to his people at that time. We should not be denigrating what God was doing through the Jews in those days. In fact, the whole original post is based on total ignorance of the grace God gave his people in those days.

The Ark of the Covenant and Atonement Cover

The 10 commandments were NOT hidden. In fact, they were written in scrolls, and the people and the kings were to read them.
Exodus 10 and Deuteronomy 5 both contained the 10 commandments, and they were to be read to the people. Now, the people did forget to read them, but just because the tablets were hidden, doesn't mean the 10 commandments were. They were contained in the Book of the Law, which we know as Deuteronomy.

In the following example, Josiah hears from the book of the law for the first time.

10 Then Shaphan the secretary told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read it before the king.
11 When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes. 12 And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Micaiah, and Shaphan the secretary, and Asaiah the king's servant, saying, 13 “Go, inquire of the Lord for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found. For great is the wrath of the Lord that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us.” 2 Kings 22:10-13

In this example, all the exiles returned from Babylon listened to the Book of the Law being read. Imagine listening to someone read it out loud. Most people couldn't read Deuteronomy silently these days.

"And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the Lord had commanded Israel. 2 So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, on the first day of the seventh month. 3 And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. 4 And Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform that they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand, and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left hand. 5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood. 6 And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. 7 Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law, while the people remained in their places. 8 They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading." Neh. 8:1-8


The Ark of the Covenant and Atonement Cover

 

[Blain]

I think the OP is really twisting the purpose of the Ark of the Covenant. It was separate from the people, because God was HOLY! That means they did not have the means to approach God for the forgiveness of sins, except for the High Priest once a year. Just because we know Jesus fuliflled the requirement, did not mean that what the people did was wrong under the Old Covenant, in fact, it was a foreshadowing of when the temple veil would be torn, and we could boldy go before the throne of grace, through the blood of Jesus. The 10 commandments were the revelation of God's will to his people at that time. We should not be denigrating what God was doing through the Jews in those days. In fact, the whole original post is based on total ignorance of the grace God gave his people in those days.

The Ark of the Covenant and Atonement Cover

The 10 commandments were NOT hidden. In fact, they were written in scrolls, and the people and the kings were to read them.
Exodus 10 and Deuteronomy 5 both contained the 10 commandments, and they were to be read to the people. Now, the people did forget to read them, but just because the tablets were hidden, doesn't mean the 10 commandments were. They were contained in the Book of the Law, which we know as Deuteronomy.

In the following example, Josiah hears from the book of the law for the first time.

10 Then Shaphan the secretary told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read it before the king.
11 When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes. 12 And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Micaiah, and Shaphan the secretary, and Asaiah the king's servant, saying, 13 “Go, inquire of the Lord for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found. For great is the wrath of the Lord that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us.” 2 Kings 22:10-13

In this example, all the exiles returned from Babylon listened to the Book of the Law being read. Imagine listening to someone read it out loud. Most people couldn't read Deuteronomy silently these days.

"And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the Lord had commanded Israel. 2 So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, on the first day of the seventh month. 3 And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. 4 And Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform that they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand, and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left hand. 5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood. 6 And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. 7 Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law, while the people remained in their places. 8 They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading." Neh. 8:1-8


The Ark of the Covenant and Atonement Cover

I wouldn't say he was twisting it just describing it a different way and I thought the ten commandments were written in stone not scrolls?

 

[crossnote]

When it comes to our own day and society it is a shame the Commandments are removed from schools and gov't institutions etc. For it is by the law that the knowledge of unbelievers sin comes to light (so they see it as sin) as well as a tutor showing them their sin to lead to Christ.

 

[Blain]

When it comes to our own day and society it is a shame the Commandments are removed from schools and gov't institutions etc. For it is by the law that the knowledge of unbelievers sin comes to light (so they see it as sin) as well as a tutor showing them their sin to lead to Christ.

This country was founded on Christianity but it seems that slowly yet surely we are heading for the point where Christianity is going to be wanted to be rid of.

 

[atwhatcost]

Thought this might interest some people......... (Not my own )

The Bible records that when the people in a village called Beth Shemesh lifted the mercy seat to look inside the ark, many of them were destroyed. (1 Sam.6:19)

Nobody was supposed to even take a peek at the Ten Commandments.

God doesn’t want the law to be exposed because it represents our rebellion, and it will only minister death and condemnation. The peculiar thing is that people have made the Ten Commandments into posters that are hung in homes today, and plaques in our public offices, when even in the Old Testament, God kept the law hidden under the mercy seat!

Don’t you think that believers today should be exalting God’s mercy and His grace above the law? Notice that the mercy seat is placed over the law. This tells us that God’s mercy triumphs over judgment! (James 2:13) God’s grace is above God’s law. God executes judgment because He is just, but His delight is not in judgment. His delight is in mercy and grace. The Bible tells us that God’s anger lasts only for a moment, but His mercy endures forever. (Psalms 30:5, 106:1)

If looking in the Ark at the Law was the cause, then how do you explain Uzzah? (2 Sam. 6:6-7)

 

[atwhatcost]

I think the OP is really twisting the purpose of the Ark of the Covenant. It was separate from the people, because God was HOLY! That means they did not have the means to approach God for the forgiveness of sins, except for the High Priest once a year. Just because we know Jesus fuliflled the requirement, did not mean that what the people did was wrong under the Old Covenant, in fact, it was a foreshadowing of when the temple veil would be torn, and we could boldy go before the throne of grace, through the blood of Jesus. The 10 commandments were the revelation of God's will to his people at that time. We should not be denigrating what God was doing through the Jews in those days. In fact, the whole original post is based on total ignorance of the grace God gave his people in those days.

The Ark of the Covenant and Atonement Cover

The 10 commandments were NOT hidden. In fact, they were written in scrolls, and the people and the kings were to read them.
Exodus 10 and Deuteronomy 5 both contained the 10 commandments, and they were to be read to the people. Now, the people did forget to read them, but just because the tablets were hidden, doesn't mean the 10 commandments were. They were contained in the Book of the Law, which we know as Deuteronomy.

In the following example, Josiah hears from the book of the law for the first time.

10 Then Shaphan the secretary told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read it before the king.
11 When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes. 12 And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Micaiah, and Shaphan the secretary, and Asaiah the king's servant, saying, 13 “Go, inquire of the Lord for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found. For great is the wrath of the Lord that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us.” 2 Kings 22:10-13

In this example, all the exiles returned from Babylon listened to the Book of the Law being read. Imagine listening to someone read it out loud. Most people couldn't read Deuteronomy silently these days.

"And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the Lord had commanded Israel. 2 So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, on the first day of the seventh month. 3 And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. 4 And Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform that they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand, and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left hand. 5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood. 6 And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. 7 Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law, while the people remained in their places. 8 They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading." Neh. 8:1-8


The Ark of the Covenant and Atonement Cover

Thank you. I was beginning to think "insightful" meant "agreeing with how I feel today" instead of "standing on God's word." So, thank you very much!

 

[just-me]

Well, just don't open the ark if you happen to run across it.

The OP makes no sense in relation to this quote of Jesus.
For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me; for he wrote of me.But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?" John 5:46-47

The Ten Commandments were also written by Moses. This is recorded in Exodus 24:4

All the words of God recorded in Exodus 20 thru 23 were written down after God had spoken. How in the world could a person obey God's commandments that aren't supposed to be seen? And by this falsehood we should see God's grace?

 

[atwhatcost]

I wouldn't say he was twisting it just describing it a different way and I thought the ten commandments were written in stone not scrolls?

Not so much. That really was twisting, or he wouldn't have ignored that's not the only time someone was killed for touching the ark. Also, he ignored what the Levites were commanded to do if anyone got near the ark. So, yeah, really he was twisting to prove-a-point. The point isn't scriptural.

And yes, they were written on stone. Those commandments went into the ark, but they weren't being hidden or they wouldn't be found in the Pentateuch. They also wouldn't be described in a case by case format throughout Exodus - Deuteronomy.

 

[atwhatcost]

This country was founded on Christianity but it seems that slowly yet surely we are heading for the point where Christianity is going to be wanted to be rid of.

Not really. America was founded as a justifiable gripe against James III. To unite 13 separate colonies, the founders had to get past all sorts of versions of Christianity. Then again, this isn't about America.

 

[atwhatcost]

The OP makes no sense in relation to this quote of Jesus.
For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me; for he wrote of me.But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?" John 5:46-47

The Ten Commandments were also written by Moses. This is recorded in Exodus 24:4

All the words of God recorded in Exodus 20 thru 23 were written down after God had spoken. How in the world could a person obey God's commandments that aren't supposed to be seen? And by this falsehood we should see God's grace?

Right on, Bro!

 

[Willie-T]

Not so much. That really was twisting, or he wouldn't have ignored that's not the only time someone was killed for touching the ark. Also, he ignored what the Levites were commanded to do if anyone got near the ark. So, yeah, really he was twisting to prove-a-point. The point isn't scriptural.

And yes, they were written on stone. Those commandments went into the ark, but they weren't being hidden or they wouldn't be found in the Pentateuch. They also wouldn't be described in a case by case format throughout Exodus - Deuteronomy.

I'm fairly sure he was just commenting on what he said he was, the actual "displaying" of the 10 commandments... not really intending to address all the rules concerning them.

 

[Biblelogic01]

The Ark of the Covenant is The Lords throne in the tabernacle, also known as the mercy seat. The Ark was placed in the Holy of Holies where only the High Priest had access to this, and even for him it was dangerous. Only Levites were allowed to carry the Ark of the covenant. Also people are lead and believe that Moses was only given the 10 commandments on Mt. Siani, when actually when all the commandments were put on to those tablets.

I don't think God would make something and then be like, "I made this, now fear it and never look or touch it or you die." That doesn't make sense. These were holy artifacts of the Lord and again the Ark was His throne. Throughout the whole old testament, even before the ark was made, when people came into the Lords presence they had to shield their eyes and not look up the Lord. If the Lord is this holy, what do you think would happen to someone who just touches His throne, without His permission (basically someone other than a Levite). The presence of God even today, if someone is in it people are bowing down. If you read the context of 1 Samuel 6, it was someone of the people of Beth Shemesh that looked into the ark, it wasn't Levites, which is why the Lord brought His judgement.