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The Story of Redemption
“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou
labour, and do all thy work: but the seventh day is the Sabbath of
the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy
son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy
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cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: for in six days the
Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and
rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day,
and hallowed it.
“Honour thy father and thy mother; that thy days may be long
upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
“Thou shalt not kill.
“Thou shalt not commit adultery.
“Thou shalt not steal.
“Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
“Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet
thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor
his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbour’s.”
The first and second commandments spoken by Jehovah are
precepts against idolatry; for idolatry, if practiced, would lead men
to great lengths in sin and rebellion, and result in the offering of
human sacrifices. God would guard against the least approach to
such abominations. The first four commandments were given to
show men their duty to God. The fourth is the connecting link
between the great God and man. The Sabbath, especially, was given
for the benefit of man and for the honor of God. The last six precepts
show the duty of man to his fellow man.
The Sabbath was to be a sign between God and His people
forever. In this manner was it to be a sign—all who should observe
the Sabbath, signified by such observance that they were worshipers
of the living God, the creator of the heavens and the earth. The
Sabbath was to be a sign between God and His people as long as He
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should have a people upon the earth to serve Him.
“And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and
the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the
people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. And they said unto
Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak
with us, lest we die. And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for