Exodus 19-20; 31-34
And God spake all these words Exodus 20:1
Introduction
Many religious traditions view God’s commandments as divine “marching orders,” like military commands. Yet, we sing “How gentle God’s commands. How kind his precepts are” (Hymn #125). Could it be that commandments are divine gifts to guide Father’s children toward happiness, growth, and a closer relationship with Him? They serve as a moral compass for a fulfilling life and reveal His loving character.
In reality, commandments are a spiritual curriculum designed by a perfect Father to tutor and direct His children. Just as a runner needs consistent training to build endurance and stay on course, so does the soul need steady obedience to build the faith necessary to complete the race of life and return home.
President Oaks observed, “In the ‘celestial’ glory there are three degrees, or levels. The highest of these is exaltation in the celestial kingdom, wherein we may become like our Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. To help us develop the godly attributes and the change in nature necessary to realize our divine potential, the Lord has revealed doctrine and established commandments based on eternal law. This is what we teach in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints because the purpose of the doctrine and policies of this restored Church is to prepare God’s children for salvation in the celestial glory and, more particularly, for exaltation in its highest degree” (“Divine Love in the Father’s Plan,” Liahona, May 2022).
Please note that President Oaks said these commandments are based on eternal law. They are not the whimsical or capricious thoughts of an uncaring or unloving God. Joseph Smith said, “God…never will institute an ordinance or give a commandment to His people that is not calculated in its nature to promote that happiness which He has designed, and which will not end in the greatest amount of good and glory to those who become the recipients of his law and ordinances. (Joseph Smith Papers, History, 1838–1856, volume D-1, 4).
Word Origin
Hebrew: The Hebrew noun for commandment, mitsvah (מִצְוָה), and its root verb tsavah (צוה), are better understood as conveying direction rather than an authoritative order, it’s more like a skilled mentor than a drill sergeant barking to his troops. The Hebraic definition of tsavah is “to direct,” a concrete concept meaning “to show or point out a path”. Therefore, God is a guide, and His mitsvah is His direction to lead people on His path.
The Hebrew professor, Chaim Bentorah, explained, “I went back to the University of Chicago and did some research on this word tsavah and its many cousins in the Akkadian, Phoenician, Persian and Ugaritic. I found this word in various ancient Semitic languages, and I discovered that this word originated with a piling of rocks. I found this interesting as to what a pile of rocks has to do with commands. Actually, it has very little to do with our modern concept of a command. You see, people in those days did not really have maps or compasses. When you are crossing the desert, it is very easy to get lost. Any pathways that are formed are quickly covered over by sandstorms. All you have to guide you is the sun and the North Star. But even with that, you could miss your destination by many miles.
“So how did they manage to cross a desert and reach their destination? They used the oldest method there is, still used by Native Americans and Boy Scouts. You leave behind road signs, a broken twig, a mark on a tree or a pile of rocks (tsavah). That is the origin of the word that our Modern English translations render as command and commandments. The origin of the word tsavah or command is direction, guidance or instructions. It could be a command, follow the direction the rocks are pointing to, or you will get lost. It could be instruction; follow the direction the rocks indicate. It could be a recommendation; this is the best route to your destination. Ultimately, this idea of command is not an order that has no meaning except for the one giving the order, but it is meant as instruction. Paul knew this: Galatians 3:24: “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster [to bring us] unto Christ.”
“We fear breaking God’s law because He will become mad or angry with us. I think what the Apostle Paul is trying to tell us is the origin of the word tsavah or command. It is given to us to guide us to the heart of God. No wonder David said in the very first Psalm: Psalms 1:2: ‘But his delight [is] in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditates day and night.’ The law or the commandments was a treasure map for him, a map to the heart of God” (chaimbentorah.com/2016/09).
We give thanks for commandments. They are directions away from pitfalls, and they are invitations to blessings. Commandments mark the path and show us the way to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come.
President Dallin H. Oaks
Greek: The Biblical Greek word used to translate the Hebrew word mitsvah is entole (εντολή), and is a combination of the word en, meaning “in” or “with,” and telos, meaning “end” or “goal.” Entole literally means “with a goal” and is very similar to our Hebraic understanding of the mitsvah as a direction.
Jesus was asked a question regarding the mitsvah. Rabbi, tell us, what is the great direction (entole/mitsvah) which is in the teachings (torah)? He said to him, “‘And you shall love Yahweh your God with all your heart.’ This is the first, the second is like it, ‘And you shall love your neighbor as yourself,’ and upon these two directions (entole/mitsvah) all the teachings hang, and the prophets.” Matthew 22:36 (This translation is from the Shem Tov Hebrew Matthew).
English: This is where the ancient idea of giving directions begins to take a turn. By the late thirteenth century, it was “an order from an authority,” from Old French comandement “order, command,” from Latin *commandamentum, from *commandare. Command, which can be a noun or a verb, combines the Latin prefix com-, meaning “with,” and mandāre, “to charge, enjoin,” so to give someone a command is to say something with the authority that charges him to follow it. Command can also mean a position of power, like having command of a battleship, or possession of a skill, like having a great command of video games.
Mt Gerizim and Mt Ebal
The Lord illustrated to the children of Israel the importance of following His divine direction or commandments. “And it shall come to pass, when the Lord thy God hath brought thee in unto the land whither thou goest to possess it, that thou shalt put the blessing upon Mount Gerizim, and the curse upon Mount Ebal” (Deuteronomy 11:29).
Mount Gerizim was to the south (the right hand) and Mount Ebal was to the north (the left hand) as they moved from the desert to the Promised Land. The right hand represented the covenant or cleanness. The left hand represented being unclean. One was following the Lord’s commandments or direction, and the other was ignoring His direction.
When you’re standing in the valley between the two mountains, looking towards Mount Gerizim, you also face Jerusalem and the temple while looking towards Mount Ebal; your back is to Jerusalem and the temple.
Gerizim had stunning landscaping, beautifully grown grass, and many types of food grew on it; it was full and prosperous with an abundance of flora. Ebal was empty and barren. Nothing grew on this mountain, and it seemed to be devoid of any plant life. These two mountains, which stood side by side, presented the most striking visualization of blessings and curses. They are both being nourished by the same soil, the same water and the same wind, but the direction made all the difference.
Illustration: Thumbtacks
As a young seminary teacher, I wanted to illustrate that the Lord’s commands protect and guide us. I would never use this object lesson today, and I don’t endorse it, but this was many years ago.
I asked my class for a volunteer. Once I got the volunteer, I asked him to take off his shoes and blindfolded him. I then had the students move their desks to create a pathway. I pulled out a box of thumbtacks and scattered them in the pathway. I asked the student whom they trusted in the class, and that person stood at the end of the pathway. I asked this trusted friend to guide their friend through the path by making comments. The guide was to have them avoid the tacks. Other students could make comments to distract the volunteer, but no one could touch him. Our volunteer would carefully avoid the thumbtacks and make it safely through the pathway. I wanted my students to understand that these directions or commandments were for their safety.
