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| Order Of Worship (Liturgy) |
EXODUS 20:12
(Readings: Col.3:18-4:6; Prov. 6:20-24)
The Fifth Commandment
Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ…
There was an election held once.
During this election, at his political party's election campaign opening, the leader made a comment during his key note election speech which has come back to haunt him since.
It was a phrase he said, when, in a gust of great confidence, knowing that they were sure to win the election, he described his government's policies for the next term: "They're going to be wicked!"
At the time, he was being "with it".
"Wicked" was one of those popular words of the youth then, which incidentally meant in his speech that their policies were real "cool".
"Cool", of course, is a trendy word our folk in their fifties will know.
And "cool" means roughly "excellent", which in turn equals something quite worthwhile, something good.
That political leader was taken to task for using this phrase when subsequently he and his government allegedly broke a number of those election promises.
But, dear friends, there was a far greater thing that elected representative was violating - a form of destruction that is so powerful that it reaches even so far as to devastatingly cut away the important position he himself has in government.
He was really digging his own grave - not by a failure to be "cool", but by adopting the whole lifestyle which this word "wicked" is a part of; a lifestyle that is deliberately against any form of authority whatsoever.
The use of a word like "wicked", which makes the bad seem ever so good is but one example.
Much advertising today appeals to going beyond the limit - to breaking the rules.
A slogan for selling a popular band of sun glasses, declared, "Technology Without Adult Supervision".
And further down the same poster it went on: "A deeply ingrained disregard for rules."
Or take a look again at some of the clothes particularly targeted at young people today.
There are brands there with labels which delight in being against all rules.
And then there's that repugnant simplified angry face, which stares back at you from school bags and car window shouting the words "Bad Boy", or "Bad ...", that's one I won't be mentioning here!, and there are any number of take-offs on these themes.
‘Bratz’ was a similar product aimed at girls.
You can watch it on television - any form of authority, from parents to police, they're all portrayed mostly in a severely negative way.
Whether it's ‘The Simpsons,’ ‘Home & Away,’ anyone over thirty is in for a bit of a ragging!
Not that this is anything so new.
In the 1960's there was the baby boomers generation, those who were into "peace, man" in a big way, those fed up with two world wars and the threat of the atom bomb.
Then there are their children, the so-called Generation X's, who in turn have been brought up to resent authority more than ever.
And what about Generation Y – that’s ‘Y’ as in not just a letter in the alphabet but asking the perpetual question as well - “Why?”
We are caught up, congregation, in an age and with a generation which is quite strongly set against the fifth commandment.
Someone once said that what this commandment really says comes down to this: The society that destroys the family really destroys itself.
Its days can't be long in the land which God gives.
So - how long will this society survive?
Is Western society about to self-destruct as a civilisation just like the Huns and Visigoths poured into the disintegrating Roman Empire?
I'm not joking - the seeds of destruction have already been sown, even in our own families.
By history's own lesson this world as we know it cannot stay much longer.
The move of western governments to completely redefine the family is only the tip of the iceberg!
Now, hold on preacher, are you going to say that this small verse in the Bible tells us that much?
Aren't you being as alarmist and extremist as some of those weido cults?
My friend, let me lay before you two key issues the text tells us.
Two fundamental points which are so strongly connected, that, not only do they explain why things are going the way they are, they also show us a solution.
For there is a way in which we in our own families, and we in our church family, and even we in our society can be cleansed from this deadly disease!
These two aspects are THE HOME WHERE THE HONOUR IS, and, THE HOME WHERE THE HEART IS.
Firstly, then … THE HOME WHERE THE HONOUR IS.
In beginning this consideration, we need to note that this commandment starts a different direction than the first four.
The first, second, third and fourth commandments, all were addressed to - what’s your answer?
Who was the object which we focussed on in the verses 2 till 11 of Exodus 20?
It’s the Lord God, isn’t it?
The 1st Commandment is about putting God first and worshipping him only.
The 2nd Commandment is about worshipping God without images and according to his Word.
The 3rd Commandment is about using God's holy name with reverence and awe.
And the 4th Commandment is about remembering God's creative and re-creative work by keeping his Day holy and set apart for him.
Though, who's the object now?
And let me first say that the Bible says something very, very important about that object before we're even told who it is.
The Lord spoke out of the top of that cloud on Mount Sinai that this object must be treated very specially.
"Honour…" the text begins.
And it's very interesting to see what this "honour" means.
I mean, why would the use of this word to the Hebrews then have made it very clear what God meant?
Well, the root word of "honour" means "heaviness" or "weighty".
When it's used it has an understanding of seriousness.
For instance, in a negative way, Pharaoh's refusal to be sensitive to the situation or pleas of the Hebrew people is spoken of as a heaviness or hardening of the heart.
In a similar way, the ears, the tongue, and the eyes can become dull and insensitive, while the hands may grow weary.
Now, while the tongue, the eyes and the hands involve physical infirmity, when the ears become insensitive there's a spiritual dimension.
Continuing this negative use of the word in the spiritual connotation, and especially in the form of the meaning of "honour", we have such a verse as Deuteronomy 27:16.
There it declares: "Cursed is the man who dishonours his father or mother."
The weightiness of the position which these people hold is being attacked, and so the Lord responds severely.
This is why, in the text, we have the meaning of this word which relates to being noteworthy or impressive.
Thus we use words like "honourable, honoured, glorious, glorified".
Here the reputation of an individual is the key issue - that's what matters.
So the person who has a high social position and wealth was automatically an honoured, or weighty, person in society.
It was understood that this person had such a position as the just reward of a righteous life.
But while you would be honoured automatically if you had such a place, it's also clear that you had to deserve that honour and glory as well.
Yet, there was an even more important sense of honour to be given to individuals; not on how well they had done of themselves, but because of their position of responsibility.
And as we move to consider this high honour, we need to realise that giving that certain someone honour or glory here is to actually say that someone is deserving of your respect, attention and obedience.
Yes, you heard me right, obedience.
If we don't back up what we believe with what we do, we're the worst hypocrites.
Then the very sin Israel kept doing, of honouring the Lord with her lips, while her actions made him seem worthless is what we're guilty of as well.
Now, I haven't yet mentioned the object to whom this honour and glory is directed.
But you knew anyway - didn't you?
We've read the text already; we heard that it was just Mum and Dad.
Ah, is that how we're going to say it now - just Mum and Dad?
Aren't they your father and mother?
Otherwise, how different is your meaning than those who in a derisive way say, "the old man", or "the old woman".
It's your father and mother, dear friends, because it's in the home where our relations to other people begin.
At home we begin to "love our neighbour as ourselves", that very commandment which the apostle Paul says in Galatians 5:14 is the summary of the whole law.
And which better relationship to start with, for isn't this the one thing all of us have, or have had - a father and mother?
So the LORD takes the most basic of all human relationships and he starts our changed lifestyle right there!
Why does God have such a vested interest in the family?
Why does he believe in a father and mother, when we know of how many fathers and mothers were failures?
How come he doesn't just change things right around; start fresh, do something different?
Congregation, the reason is because the Lord himself is a parent!
He is the ‘arch’ father, the ultimate in all Dads!
He said this is Psalm 103:13, "As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him…"
The New Testament is equally clear on this.
Didn't Jesus tell us that when we pray, we can begin our prayer saying, "Our Father who is in heaven..."
Of course, God isn't just a father like earthly fathers; he's the original - the ideal!
But the thing is that as he relates to us, so he wants us to relate to each other; as he expects us to give him all the glory and honour, so he wants us to show that through earthly families first of all upon this earth.
THE HOME WHERE THE HONOUR IS.
That's the picture the LORD wants us - his people - to leave of himself in this world.
For it is as we respect, and esteem, and love our parents that through their position they reflect something of the love, care and majesty of God Himself.
Congregation, we cannot emphasize this enough!
We cannot impress too much on our young people the desperate need to really glory their parents.
And we cannot ever say we’ve gone overboard telling our parents the importance and honour they have.
Because we must recognise that a lot of the trouble we're having today is the parent's own doing.
Somehow this whole culture of materialism has just made a lot of the values of hard work irrelevant.
When children get everything on a plate, they so easily expect it as a right, and not a privilege.
And as it hasn't been earned, there's no sense that who's given it to them does it out of the higher place they have.
In fact, could it be that those parents are reflecting something of their view to their own parents in this?
Congregation, when our Lord Jesus mentions that the punishment for cursing one's father and mother was death, it was for the reason that that person had already murdered his own family - in his heart!
No wonder that receives a curse - it is a curse!
Should it be any surprise for us if we fail to receive blessing when we don't take this command seriously?
Friend - is your home, THE HOME WHERE THE HEART IS?
And so we have come to our second aspect … THE HOME WHERE THE HEART IS.
Friend, in your conversation about your parents or grandparents, or anyone else in authority, is there a sense of appreciation?
For most of us it's our parents who have been instrumental in bringing us onto the way of life, to use the words of Proverbs 6.
It's their teaching and correcting that have set us up for life, in this life and the next.
And it's actually as we're thankful for our parents and their parents, and for all those who've been before us in the faith, that we do enjoy the fruits of God's promise already now.
Because then life is going well for us.
Perhaps it might mean we live longer physically, maybe not, but it does mean the peace that blessing brings.
I mean, just think of how much a complaining person brings everyone else around down as well!
They are not happy, and it seems no amount of attention can change their negativity, especially about their families.
And, sad to say, it may be showing that there is no joy in Jesus Christ at all in their souls.
That could well be THE HOME WHERE THE HEART ISN'T!
Could that be you?
Yes - you!
How are you on the inside?
Do you honour and glorify the Lord Jesus as the Master of your life?
Okay, you say 'yes.'
Then you have to do that also to those he's put in his place over you right here and now.
What do you say about your parents?
If we can already tell that a marriage relationship is on the rocks because of the way each of the spouses begins to speak about the other when they're apart, how do you speak about your father and mother away from them?
But it could be that you're someone quite unhappy about the attitude you have.
Still, it just keeps popping up.
You see a policeman on the road; before you know it, you've gone and said "pigs" again!
"Oh, no, the outlaws aren't coming over again, are they?"
A slip of the tongue?
No, it wasn't - was it?
And you knew it before you said it; you just haven't controlled it.
Friend, if I can encourage you, if this attitude is a problem to you, stop before you speak.
In that situation think about what you're going to say.
Reflect upon the relationship Jesus had to his Heavenly Father.
Now, as you speak, show that you're thankful for God's guidance in this way - through that person.
Pray for them regularly - personally and in your family.
And when your parents are old and frail, love them.
Don't cast them off on some societal scrap heap. That's a terrible tragedy today - thousands upon thousands of parents are in institutions not being honoured.
Even as he hung there on the cross, dying in the most extreme anguish and pain, Jesus yet fulfils his duty to his mother.
In John 19, verses 26 and 27, he says to Mary, standing there with John, "Dear woman, here is your son.”
And then he says to John, "Here is your mother".
Oh believer, here is THE HOME WHERE THE HEART IS because it's Christ's love alone which fulfils this commandment.
It's only his love, poured out on us by his Spirit, which can make us do the same.
The love, congregation, which in times of great reformation, shows a civilisation at its most glorious, because there the church family lives in a foretaste of heaven itself!
The kind of meal we can and we have had through tasting God’s Word today!
The meal we get to enjoy for all eternity.
For this is how the Fifth Commandment ends.
It has a promise attached to it.
It is a promise of a rich and long life.
And a promise that can already come true, right now!
No one serving God’s glory and doing good to others has ever gone short.
Dear believer, that won't be "wicked", but it certainly is "excellent"!
Amen.
PRAYER:
Let's pray...
Heavenly Father, you have given us our families as a blessing.
Much as mankind today have despised their fellow men and women, we know that in Christ we can enjoy the most wonderful unity.
So we pray, Lord, that we may have been enriched in that again today.
And may it not only have been a comfort to us, but also a challenge, a witness, to the world around us.
In Jesus’ Saving Name we pray, Amen.
* As a matter of courtesy please advise Rev. Sjirk Bajema, if you plan to use this sermon in a worship service. Thank-you.
(c) Copyright, Rev. Sjirk Bajema
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