Understanding God's Commandments in a Complex World
God's commandments are understood as expressions of His eternal, unchangeable, holy, wise, and sovereign purpose, encompassing all things that have been or will be [1]. These divine decrees determine the future and are conceived by humans in partial aspects due to the limitations of human faculties [1]. The Bible frequently refers to these divine directives, often using terms like "Ten Words" (referring to the Decalogue), "Covenant," or "Testimony" [5].
The concept of divine wisdom is central to understanding God's commandments. Ecclesiastes notes that God has laid a "heavy burden" upon humanity to "seek and explore by wisdom all that is done under heaven" [2]. This wisdom is not fully discoverable by human effort alone, as Job 28:12-27 suggests, but is understood to be embodied in a divine person, identified by some as Jesus Christ [8]. The "manifold wisdom of God" is made known through the Church to "principalities and powers in heavenly places" [3].
Believers are called to seek God's commandments and precepts [6]. This includes seeking His name, His word, His face, and His strength [6]. Love for God is presented as the "first great commandment," requiring devotion "with all the heart" [7]. This love is not merely an emotion but is commanded and should lead to obedience to God's will [7]. Matthew Henry emphasizes that believers must "fix God's law, and his commandments, as our rule" and "acquaint ourselves with them" so they are not forgotten [10].
The application of God's commandments involves a transformation of the mind, rather than conformity to worldly patterns. Romans 12:2 instructs believers to be "transformed by the renewing of your mind" to "test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God" [4]. This transformation enables an understanding of divine wisdom, which is "plain to him that understandeth" and whose understanding is "enlightened by the Spirit of God" [12]. While the law is sometimes interpreted as the Gospel, as Paul does in Romans 10:6, the general understanding is that God's commands provide clear instructions for life [9]. Even in complex situations, such as obeying earthly kings, the counsel is to follow commands that are "agreeably to the law of God" [11].
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Decrees of God — "The decrees of God are his eternal, unchangeable, holy, wise, and sovereign purpose, comprehending at once all things that ever were or will be in their causes, conditions, successions, and relations, and determining their certain futurition. The several contents of this one eternal purpose are, because of the limitation of our faculties, necessarily conceived of by us in partial aspects, and in logical relations, and are therefore styled Decrees." The decree being the act of an infinite, absolute, eternal, unchangeable, and sovereign Person, compre”
- Ecclesiastes “Ecclesiastes 1:13 (BSB) — And I set my mind to seek and explore by wisdom all that is done under heaven. What a heavy burden God has laid upon the sons of men to occupy them!”
- Ephesians “Ephesians 3:10 (Geneva1599) — To the intent, that nowe vnto principalities and powers in heauenly places, might be knowen by the Church the manifolde wisedome of God,”
- Romans “Romans 12:2 (BSB) — Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Ten Commandments — The popular name in this, as in so many instances, is not that of Scripture. There we have the "TEN WORDS," (Exodus 34:28; 4:13; 10:4) the "[1215]Covenant," Ex., Deut. 11. cc.; (1 Kings 8:21; 2 Chronicles 6:11) etc., or, very often as the solemn attestation of the divine will, the "TESTIMONY." (Exodus 25:16,21; 31:18) etc. The circumstances in which the Ten great Words were first given to the people surrounded them with an awe which attached to no other precept. In the midst of the cloud and the darkness and the flashing lightning and the fiery smok”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Seeking God — Commanded -- Isa 55:6; Mt 7:7. Includes seeking His Name. -- Ps 83:16. His word. -- Isa 34:16. His face. -- Ps 27:8; 105:4. His strength. -- 1Ch 16:11; Ps 105:4. His commandments. -- 1Ch 28:8; Mal 2:7. His precepts. -- Ps 119:45,94. His kingdom. -- Mt 6:33; Lu 12:31. His righteousness. -- Mt 6:33. Christ. -- Mal 3:1; Lu 2:15,16. Honour which comes from him. -- Joh 5:44. Justification by Christ. -- Ga 2:16,17. The city which God has prepared. -- Heb 11:10,16; 13:14. By prayer -- Job 8:5; Da 9:3. In his house -- De 12:5; Ps 27:4. Should be Immediate. -- H”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Love to God — Commanded -- De 11:1; Jos 22:5. The first great commandment -- Mt 22:38. With all the heart -- De 6:5; Mt 22:37. Better than all sacrifices -- Mr 12:33. Produced by The Holy Spirit. -- Ga 5:22; 2Th 3:5. The love of God to us. -- 1Jo 4:19. Answers to prayer. -- Ps 116:1. Exhibited by Christ -- Joh 14:31. A characteristic of saints -- Ps 5:11. Should produce Joy. -- Ps 5:11. Love to saints. -- 1Jo 5:1. Hatred of sin. -- Ps 97:10. Obedience to God. -- De 30:20; 1Jo 5:3. Perfected in obedience -- 1Jo 2:5. Perfected, gives boldness -- 1Jo 4:17,18. God, faith”
- Job (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Job 28:12: Can man discover the Divine Wisdom by which the world is governed, as he can the treasures hidden in the earth? Certainly not. Divine Wisdom is conceived as a person (Job 28:12-27) distinct from God (Job 28:23; also in Pro 8:23, Pro 8:27). The Almighty Word, Jesus Christ, we know now, is that Wisdom. The order of the world was originated and is maintained by the breathing forth (Spirit) of Wisdom, unfathomable and unpurchasable by man. In Job 28:28, the only aspect of it, which relates to, and may be understood by, man, is stated. understanding--insigh”
- Deuteronomy (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Deuteronomy 30:11: For this commandment which I command thee this day,.... Which the Jews understand of the law, but the Apostle Paul has taught us to interpret it of the word of faith, the Gospel preached by him and other ministers, Rom 10:6; which better suits with the context, and the prophecies before delivered concerning the conversion of the Jews, their reception of the Messiah, and his Gospel: it is not hidden from thee; being clearly revealed, plainly and fully preached: if hidden from any, it is from them that are lost; from the wise and prudent, while it is revealed to”
- Proverbs (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Proverbs 3:1: We are here taught to live a life of communion with God; and without controversy great is this mystery of godliness, and of great consequence to us, and, as is here shown, will be of unspeakable advantage. I. We must have a continual regard to God's precepts, Pro 3:1, Pro 3:2. 1. We must, (1.) Fix God's law, and his commandments, as our rule, by which we will in every thing be ruled and to which we will yield obedience. (2.) We must acquaint ourselves with them; for we cannot be said to forget that which we never knew. (3.) We must remember them so that they may ”
- Ecclesiastes (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ecclesiastes 8:2: I counsel thee to keep the king's commandment,.... Or, "to observe the mouth of the king" (w); what he says, and do according to it when it is agreeably to the law of God, and according to the laws of the kingdom, by which he is to govern; for kings are to be honoured, obeyed, and submitted to, in the lawful discharge of their office: and such counsel and advice as this is wholesome; and, being taken, contributes much, as to the honour of kings, so to the good of kingdoms and states, and to a man's own peace and comfort. Aben Ezra supplies it, "I command thee, ”
- Proverbs (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Proverbs 8:9: They are all plain to him that understandeth,.... Whose understanding is enlightened by the Spirit of God; who is a spiritual man, that has a discerning, and can judge of spiritual things: as for the carnal man, let him have what natural knowledge or wisdom he will, he cannot know these things; for they are spiritually discerned, and can only be discerned by spiritual men. The Bible is a sealed book to others, learned or unlearned; the mysteries or doctrines of the Gospel are hid in parables from such; but those to whom Christ has given an understanding to know him, ”