Beyond the Ten

These are the rules
set before you: love
the LORD your God
with all your heart,
soul, strength…and your neighbor
as yourself.

You shall
not wrong a sojourner
or mistreat any widow
or fatherless child.
If you do, the LORD,
will hear their cry.
If you lend money
to the poor,
do not exact interest
do not withhold
from your full harvest.
You shall
not curse a ruler
of your people.
You shall
not spread a false report
or fall in with
the many to do evil.

You shall not
for you were once
cut off, alone, in need,
wronged, despised,
bullied, deceived,
and destitute…

© 2017 – Laurel Archer

Beyond means reading past Exodus 20, where the Ten Commandments are recorded, into 21, 22, and 23 where there is instruction about social justice and disciplines of the heart, foundations of The Golden Rule.

Photo Credit: pixabay.com

Note: This Advent series is using The Jesse Tree, a liturgical ‘tool’ to help guide and direct spiritual reflection.  Each day leading up to Advent, we  consider one Bible story, or character, beginning from creation, following chronologically (more or less) right up until the birth of Jesus. It’s a way to review the wide sweep of God’s pursuit of humankind across history.