Living Words
"Living Words" is a weekly podcast that explores the transformative power of scripture across a diverse range of Biblical books, guided by insightful devotionals from the author's own works. Each episode seeks to deepen faith and understanding, connecting listeners with the enduring wisdom and relevance of the Bible in their daily lives.
Living Words
The Ten Words: Rediscovering Covenant Rest in a Chaotic World
Sacred rhythms anchor us in a chaotic world, and none is more powerful than the ancient practice of Sabbath. Looking beyond religious obligation to the heart of divine appointment, this episode explores how entering God's rest transforms our spiritual journey.
Starting with Isaiah 30:15, we discover that "in quietness and confidence shall be your strength" - a powerful antidote to our culture's obsession with productivity. The Sabbath isn't about following rules but accepting an invitation to commune with the Creator who promises to meet us there. When sunset arrives, we're called to release our identity from what we do to who we are in relationship with the divine.
At the core of this practice lies the Ten Words - not merely commandments but wedding vows establishing covenant between us and God. These principles, beginning with the Shema and flowing through honoring parents, preserving life, maintaining covenant faithfulness, practicing honesty, and rejecting comparison, become the foundation for meaningful Sabbath experience. By meditating on these truths, we clear away the "thorns and thistles" that typically cloud our spiritual awareness.
The transformation happens when we stop trying to contain God in human understanding and instead surrender to true rest. This isn't just physical relaxation but spiritual renewal that enables us to carry his name and character into the world. Whether you've practiced Sabbath for decades or are curious about this ancient rhythm, this episode offers fresh insight into finding peace in divine presence.
Ready to experience true rest? Listen now and discover how stepping out of busyness for 24 hours might be the spiritual breakthrough you've been seeking.
Good morning, it's Charles. This is Living Words Podcast. This morning I want to talk about the devotional I did and what my thoughts are this morning. But in quietness and confidence, the strength of covenant rest. It comes from Isaiah 30, 15, for thus says the Lord Yahweh, the Holy One of Israel In returning in rest, you shall be saved, and quietness and confidence shall be your strength.
Speaker 1:So today is Preparation Day. We're heading into the Sabbath. So at sunset tonight it'll be Sabbath again, and I've been looking forward to it because I enjoy the time. It's a spirit, it's an appointment, it's a waiting, he's an appointment, you know it's a waiting. He's there, he's going to be there. He's told you he's going to be there. He says, because I've set this day aside for this purpose and I expect you and desire you to enter into my rest, to meet me there and to commune with me. So that's what Sabbath is really about is entering into the rest of God and he's calling you there.
Speaker 1:So today's a preparation day. Let's you know I want to prepare my heart. I have to work. I'm working today, you know, on my job. So it's not like I can just, you know, forget about that. I have, but in the in the process of working, I can actually have a prayerful heart and a prayerful attitude, and it's doing whatever you can to set aside those things that you know that may be standing in the way of you relaxing and getting some rest. But when the sun goes down, wherever you are, you're not about who you are, you're not about what you do, you're not about your work, you're about who you are and who he is and how you're known to him. So that's my goal today is, as I work, as I do my job, to be in prayerfulness and have a heart attitude to seek out the things that are standing in the way of me entering into his rest. And then, this evening, when the sun goes down, I want to be in a place where I can just relax and set aside all the cares and all the worries for 24 hours to just spend time with him and to just do, you know, whatever it. Whatever, I want to do it within the realm of, of of rest, if that makes sense.
Speaker 1:So, uh, you know it's time to spend it's. It's a time to spend time with your family. It's a time to be open to things without worry, worry and care and the troubles that we deal with on a day-to-day basis cloud out the knowledge of the Spirit and the knowledge of the things of God that he wants to give us, but we can't receive it because we're so busy, we're so clouded, we're so, we're so crowded with the thorns and the thistles of life. But Sabbath is about a time to um, to set that aside. So it's about the rhythm of the, of the cycles of the feasts, it's about understanding his, his, hebrew, uh, origins. For me, it has always been about understanding the Hebrew origins and understanding the true voice of covenant, to meditate on his word, the 10 words. So that's one thing that I've, that I'm doing now and have been doing now for a while, and it has helped me tremendously is to center myself on the ten words.
Speaker 1:To start with, shema Israel, yahweh Elheno, yahweh Ehad. He's one, he's one on a list of one, there's none other before him. So he's the king and he's who we owe our allegiance to, and that's number one. That's the first thing. And then the next thing is he's invisible, he's unknowable, yet he makes himself known. Make no graven image. Don't try to contain him, don't try to describe him. Don't try to contain him. Don't try to describe him, don't try to put him in a box, don't try to create a God that you can understand. Worship him in spirit and in truth, and then, next, we carry his name with honor, we speak of his name and the things of his name in reverence, that we're his ambassadors, and so we're to project and present his character to the world. And the only way you can do that is to have been transformed into that character, into that image, through the washing of the water, of the word, and in this case, the ten words, the ten original words written by the finger of God, written on your heart by the Holy Spirit, the Ruach.
Speaker 1:And then number four, the fourth word remember. Remember the Sabbath day, the seventh day, the day that I set apart, the day that I sanctified for this purpose to rest, enter into my rest. And then five honor your father and mother. And first honor your father in heaven, honor him. Honor him by keeping his Sabbath, by not putting any gods before him, by not trying to contain him or describe him or put him in a box. Honor him. And then honor your generations, honor your mother, your father on earth, your children, your brothers, your sisters, all of those in your family.
Speaker 1:And then don't have anger. Don't allow anger to harbor in your heart, because anger is the seed of murder and bitterness. Have sanctity of life, thou shalt not kill. And then honor him in covenant faithfulness. Honor your marriage to mirror, as a mirror of your relationship with him, because it's a marriage we have with him. The ten words are his wedding vows, and when we accept him, when we lift the cup to him, when we drink his blood and eat his body, participate in the communion the affirmation of that covenant we're keeping covenant faithfulness with him.
Speaker 1:Don't let lust or greed or selfishness get in the way of that. And then be honest in all of your dealings. Honor righteous stewardship of possessions. Don't take what's not yours there's no lack in the kingdom of God. Only take that which has been given to you by trust. And then be honest in your dealings with others. Don't bear false witness, don't lie. Let your yes be yes and your no be no. And finally, don't compare, don't be jealous, don't covet. Lay up your treasures in heaven, where moth and rust don't corrupt and thieves don't break in and steal. Those are the ten words and those are the things that prepare my heart for him and for his rest, and I hope it prepares your heart today too, as we look forward to this event, look forward to this time we can rest and relax and trust in him. So my prayer for you today is that you'll have just a resting time. Rest in Him, know Him, allow Him to lead you In Yeshua's name, amen.
