Summary of Ten Transcendent Principles for Nations

Besides the primary meaning, secondary application is useful for all citizens and believers

The image above of King Charles kissing the Bible at his coronation seems shocking to many modern minds. It hearkens to a view from history that in the Bible was found how to govern nations rightly. We are looking at these forgotten truths.

In previous posts we have explained indepth the primary purpose of the Ten Commandments. A Simple Summary is below as citizens in Moses’ time would have understood it:

1:        Israel’s Government shall not recognize contrary sources of law

2-3:       Israel’s Government shall not use or misuse religion, sex & marketplace

4-5:     Israel’s Government shall empower schools & families

6-9:     Israel’s Government shall not violate life, marriage, property, justice

10:      Israel’s Government shall not infringe citizen liberty in everything else

Let us then restate each of these more fully:

The primary focus is on the government’s responsibility. Both before and after the commandments and laws are given, it clarifies to whom:

Ex 19:7  Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him. Ex 24:1  ...Come up to the Lord, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders....

So let us look at each one:

Word 1: Government shall not recognize contrary sources of law

1. Exod 20:3— “You [i.e. the governing elders or government] shall have no other gods before me”

Restated: Your government shall have no other sources of law [i.e. worldviews] above Jehovah.

Words 2-3: Government shall not use or misuse religion, sex & marketplace

2. Exod 20:4— “You [the governing elders] shall not make for yourself a carved image; ....nor serve them”

Restated: Your government shall not mix religious or sexual activity for political purposes.

3. Exod 20:7— “You [the governing elders] shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain”

Restated: Your government shall not corrupt nor control social or economic contracts or marketplace activity.

Words 4-5: Government shall empower schools & families

4. Exod 20:8 “[the governing elders shall] Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. . .You [the elders] shall do no work... within your gates. [Deut 5:15] Remember that you were a slave....and...God brought you out“

Restated: Your government shall not work 1day/wk & provide opportunity for citizens’ education and rest

5. Exod 20:12— “[the governing elders shall] Honor your father and your mother that your days may be long upon the land” . . .

Restated: Your government shall give priority to parental rights and responsibilities to strengthen the family institution and thus bring long-term blessing and stability to the nation.

Words 6-9: Government shall not violate life, marriage, property, justice

6. Exod 20:13— “You [the governing elders] shall not murder”

Restated: Your government shall not take the life of innocent citizens.

7. Exod 20:14— “You [the governing elders] shall not commit adultery”

Restated: Your government shall not use marriages for political purposes.

8. Exod 20:15— “You [the governing elders] shall not steal”

Restated: Your government shall not own or seize land and property.

9. Exod 20:16— “You [the governing elders] shall not bear false witness against your neighbor”

Restated: Your government shall not use false witnesses.

Word 10: Government shall not infringe citizen liberty in everything else

10. Exod 20:17— “You [the governing elders] shall not covet your neighbor’s house,...wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.

Restated: Your government shall not violate individual sovereignty/liberty of its citizens.

Secondary application of the Commandments for all:

Although the first purpose of the Decalogue was to define duties and limits of Israel’s governors (i.e. Elders and Judges), the legal principles carried over to all citizens in Israel as well. The shift from personal pronouns in Ex 20 to non-personal laws in Ex 21,22, and 23 is the natural application of the principles of the Decalogue.