A Treasured Possession To God

In "The Ten Commandments and Human Rights", Walter J. Harrelson reminds us that God’s plan to deliver Israel was only a small part of the plan, the real plan involves us. The story might have started with Israel, but today we are the story. But, how, exactly are we to understand that plan? “To bring wholeness and health to all peoples” (153). Though us!

Harrelson wants us to consider how to execute that plan and why the Ten Commandments are the key to success. But, what makes Harrelson think that this might be news to us? Consider a bit of his rationale:

Have we slowly lapsed into the implicit belief that these Old Testament Commandments have been largely replaced by the two New Testament commandments: “Love God” and “Love neighbor?”

Can our children (and adults!) recite the Ten Commandments?

It’s a secular world and we no longer expect full compliance with the Commandments. To the extent that we do expect compliance, we have secularized some Commandments into laws such as: “Don’t kill” (well, unless you can do so without legal consequences); “Don’t steal” (again, unless you can do so without legal consequences); “No adultery” (the legal consequences of which are condoned and pardoned, often repeatedly); and so on.

Do you find his rationale compelling?

And so, with each passing page, Harrelson slowly tightens his grip around our collective necks.

His message became indelible, for me, with the Hebrew word סְגֻלָּה, pronounced “segullah”, which can mean “a special treasure to God,” as you can see in the following verse: “Now then, if you will obey Me faithfully and keep My covenant, you shall be My treasured possession among all the peoples” (Exodus 19.5).

It’s a book worthy of reading…and praying.