Reed 1 M7

Divine Word College of Bangued
Bangued, Abra
School of Arts, Sciences and Education
NAME: COURSE/YR:
MODULE 7 REED 1
GOD’S COVENANT WITH HIS PEOPLE
Intended Learning Outcomes:

At the end of the module the students should:
1. Review the covenant that God established with Israel on Mt. Sinai.
2. Recognize the special relationship that God established with His people.
3. Recognize the significance of the ten commandments to a truly liberating human life.
Introduction: In this module you shall be reminded that after God delivered the Israelites from the land of slavery, as a sign of
his love he gave his people the Ten Commandments as a path to true happiness. He called the people to follow faithfully his
words and he promised them his eternal protection and love.
A. Motivation:
There are moments when we are led astray by our selfishness and insecurities. We are tempted to follow our own ways. God
invites us to depend on him and to follow his ways so we may truly experience meaningful and happy lives.
Answer the following questions by yourself. Reflect upon your answers.
Can you recall those times when you had to follow your own desires and disregard your parents?
Were you genuinely happy afterwards?
Did you end up with regret? Why? Why not?
B. Presentation:
GOD’S COVENANT WITH HIS PEOPLE
The Covenant (Ex. 19 – 20)

Moses went up to the mountain to meet God and receive his message. God told Moses to remind the people of his great act
in their deliverance from Egypt. “You have seen for yourselves how I treated the Egyptians and how I bore you up on eagle
wings and brought you here to myself” (Ex. 19:4).
God freely chose Israel, not because of Israel’s merit but out of his pure love and mercy to them. God sought a
loving response to the loving acts he showed them. He made a covenant with them in the form of the Torah, the Law,
summarized in the Ten Commandments. He called his people to show their love by observing faithfully his laws. Love can
only be elicited as a free response and never impose submission by force.
God’s people were bound to an unbreakable union of love with God. The covenant transformed the tribes into one
nation, one people of God, called to depend on the Lord. God asked for an exclusive relationship with his people. He called
the people to be faithful to him. If his people kept his word they would receive his covenant blessing, he would be their God
and they would be his special possession. “Therefore, if you hearken to my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my
special possession, dearer to me than all other people” (Ex. 19:5).
God promised to be the protector of his people. He assured them of his continued presence in time of victory as well
as in time of defeat. The blessing promised by God did not necessarily guarantee victory in battle of wealth or possessions or
increase in territory. The promise meant a meaningful and happy life with the Lord.
1|REED 1: Man: in S ear ch o f God

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In his fatherly love and concern, God gave the Ten Commandments as a guide for his people to reach true
happiness. As the preamble of the commandments indicates, the commandments are liberating (CFC 874 – 85). “I, the Lord,
am your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that place of slavery” (Ex. 20:2).
The commandments free us from self – absorption and help us recognize our fundamental dependence on the
Almighty. Relating the Ten Commandments to Jesus’ law of love, they help us overcome the sins of pride, envy and sloth
while sustaining our spiritual and bodily health through Christian self – control and modesty (CFC 876). We gradually grow in
this liberating covenant relationship with God through our sincere and persevering effort to be faithful to his commandments.
You shall not have other gods besides me (Ex. 20:3).

The Israelites used to follow the pagan ways of their neighboring countries. They worshipped all kinds of gods, the moon, the
sun, etc. God wanted the Israelites to worship him alone. He prohibited his people from using images to represents him. He
is the one, true God, the Origin and End of all. No image or symbol can contain him.
In our times we no longer worship the heavenly bodies, but we break the first commandment in ways different from
the Israelites. We are guilty of violating the commandment when we make idols of any person, thing or event in our lives. We
idolize and enshrine on pedestals all kinds of false gods such as wealth, reputation, pleasures, friends and even grades!
Sometimes when things become bleak and frightening, we slide into superstitious practices to seek luck in the
present, or to know what the future may bring, or to ward off unseen evil (CFC 887 – 888). At such times, our faith depends
on superstitious beliefs more than on God, our Father and Source of life. As Christians we are called to outgrow these
superstitious beliefs by deepening our direct relationship with God.
God is a personal and loving God who calls us to a personal relationship with him. We are called to believe and trust
in him alone. We express this through our actions and our prayers. We have to reject superstitious practices on the one hand
and self – centered playing God on the other and show our faith in him by keeping his commandments in our loving acts and
sincere prayers. In prayer we explicitly acknowledge God as our Heavenly Father, on whose love we depend for our very
existence. God wills our fullest happiness and good. In doing his will of giving ourselves to others we grow into our true
authentic selves. God’s glory is to see us fully alive (CFC 880).
You shall not use the name of the Lord, your God, in vain (Ex 20:7)
In the time of the Israelites name and person were the same. If you abused the name of someone, it was the same as abusing
that person. Therefore, to avoid all chance of abusing God, the mere utterance of God’s name was prohibited. Moreover, it
was believed that to use someone’s name gave power over that person. Therefore the second commandment was intended to
protect God’s sovereignty from person’s abuse.
Consciously or unconsciously we too are guilty of calling upon God’s name as if we have control over him. We
sometimes [try to] manipulate God’s power to serve our selfish purposes. There are times in our prayers when we try to
dictate to God what we want to happen. We fell God what to do or bargain with him. We tell him that we will do good acts if
he gives us what we want. But this is childish. God cannot be manipulated. He knows and loves us more that we know
ourselves. He is more concerned with our ultimate good than we are. His help and support enable us to do our part. For
good than we are. His help and support enable us to do our part. For he not only answers our prayers and good works but is
inside is he not only answers our prayers and good works, but is inside us motivation and empowering our works and prayers
with his grace. “God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us” (Rom. 5:5).
Respect for God’s name extends to the people associated with him, the clergy, the religious, the things and places
consecrated to him, the Sacred Scripture, and the Church (CFC 894).

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This commandment also forbids the unbecoming use of words that are offensive to others that is known as foul
language. We have the obligation to respect every person, and this respect must be reflected in our speech. We should
speak courteously and graciously to everyone (CFC 901).
Remember to keep holy the Sabbath Day (Ex. 20:8).

In the Genesis account of creation, God completed his work on the sixth day. On the seventh day, he rested from all the work
he had undertaken. For the Israelites, the Sabbath was a day of rest and worship. No work might be done by them or by their
servants and animals on that day. This commandment is not simply a rest from work but a call to rest in the God’s presence
(CFC 918).
For us Christians, the special day of the week is not Sabbath but Sunday, the day our Lord Jesus Christ rose from
the dead. Sunday is known as the Lord’s Day. It is significantly distinct from the other days of the week. It is during this day
that we come together to celebrate in the Church’s Sunday liturgy, the unique redemptive victory of Christ over the sins of the
world (CFC 910 – 911).
We are invited to partake in the joyous celebration of Christ’s passion, death and resurrection and proclamation of
God’s continued presence among us in the Christian community’s public act of worship, the Sunday Eucharistic celebration
(CFC 912 – 913). Moreover, there is the greater task among us Catholics to deepen our understanding of the Eucharist as a
sacred meal and a sign of unity and bond of charity (CFC 914 – 916) so that we have a more meaningful and active
celebration of the Eucharist.
Honor your father and your mother (Ex. 20:12).

Family life among the Hebrews was scared. Children paid obedience and respect to their parents and the patriarchs of the
clan. To those who fulfill the law, long life and prosperity in the land were promised them (Dt. 5:16).
As a sign of gratitude to parents to whom children owe their lives, children must love, respect and honor their
parents. They have the obligation to obey their parents as the head of the family (CFC 1021 – 1024). Parents, on the other
hand, are to love their children by nurturing and providing for their education in both the spiritual and temporal areas (CFC
1025 – 1026).
The fourth commandment also stresses the role of the family n the community. As the basic unit of society, the
family has the vocation and the mission from God to become witnesses of God’s love to the other members of society. The
mission of the shows itself through (1) the mutual affection of its members, (2) the common prayer they offer to God and the
liturgical worship in the church, and (3) in providing active hospitality and promoting justice and other good works for the
service of all the brethren in need (CFC 1027).
You shall not kill (Ex. 2013).

The fifth commandment affirmed that the gift of life is a grace from God. This commandment protected the life of every
Israelite (CFC 1028). In this manner, the sacredness of life was upheld.
Life is a sacred gift from God. We have to take care not only of our own life, but the lives of others as well. We have
the moral obligation t protect the human life of every person. As Vatican II puts it, “everyone must consider every neighbor
without exception as another self, taking into account first of all his life and the means necessary for living it with dignity” (GS
27: CFC 1033). Today, we try to act as authentic neighbors to every person who crosses our path, as we recall the words of
Christ, “As long as you did it for one of these, the least of my brethren, you did it for me” (Mt. 25:40).

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You shall not commit adultery (Ex. 20:14).

During the time of the Israelites, this commandment was intended to protect the basic unit of society. The family was so basic
that respect for every household was demanded. A violation against this commandment was a sin, not only against the
married person, but also against the community and Yahweh itself.
The sixth commandment protect the sacredness of marriage in which the couple freely chooses to give themselves
totally to each other, to respect each other’s personhood and to be responsible parents to their offspring. The couple’s love
for each other is renewed by God’s love through the redeeming grace of Christ in his Spirit in the Sacrament of Matrimony
(CFC 1080 – 1083).
In the gospel Jesus stresses the divine purpose for marriage “God made them male and female. For this reason, a
man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. So, they are no longer
two but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, no human being must separate” (Mk. 10:6-9).
We must always remember that our powers and functions related to the creation of human life are sacred and must
be used only for the purpose that God intended: love and life within the context of married life. Sex outside the sacrament of
marriage is forbidden because it lacks the essential elements of meaningful and mature sexual relationship which are
permanence and exclusivity (CFC 1086).
Much has been written and said about the “sexual revolution of the present times, but unfortunately nothing has been
presented to foster the basic dignity of man and woman as the sixth commandment has done (CFC 1088).
You shall not steal (Ex. 20:15)

The seventh commandment protected the property of an Israelite against the claim of another person. It protected the right of
a person over his legally acquired possessions.
Today we understand that God has given everything found in this world for the use of all humankind. Individuals
have the right to own goods in order to be able to live dignified lives (CFC 1145). Private property has social obligations
attached to it. We cannot live is ostentatious luxury while others are starving to death (CFC 1144). Christians must see their
property in the context of the needs of others. God calls us to see our possessions in terms of service to others.
Fr. Pedro Arrupe, the former General of the Society of Jesus, encourages all to have a “firm determination to live
more simply… and in this way to stop short, or at least to slow down, the expanding spiral luxurious living and social
competition.” We must not let greed compel us to own everything that we see. If we have much, then we share it with those
who have very little or nothing at all.
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor (Ex. 20:16).
The eight commandment demands truthfulness. It protects the name of every Israelite from false accusations.
The commandment prohibits any form of deceit, calumny, detraction or jealousy against one’s neighbor, whether in
thoughts, words or deeds (CFC 1233 – 1239). Calumny is an untruth or lie told about another, while detraction is something
which may be true but which even though it is true, injures another’s reputation if told to others without reason or need (CFC
1240).
Today we have the obligation to speak the truth and to respect the good name and reputation of every person. We
know God as true, and we are challenged to become like him by bearing witness to Jesus Christ through the help of the Holy
Spirit (CFC 1247 – 1249).

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You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife (Ex. 20:17a).

The ninth commandment forbade the Israelite from being caught up in lust for his neighbor’s wife. This commandment is
against the evil desires in the heat of each person. God and the person know what is in the depths of one’s heart. A person
with evil desires is already a person of sin (CFC 1089 – 1091).
Today we are guilty of violating this commandment when we have evil thoughts or evil desires toward another
person. We ought to keep our thoughts and our bodies pure, for the Holy Spirit abides in us (1 Cor. 6:18-19). We have the
power to control ourselves from our evil desires. We ask the Blessed Virgin Mary to inspire us to preserve our purity We can
also channel our sexual energies toward a positive service of love and fostering of life (CFC 1096). In so doing, we avoid the
trap of temptation.
You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods (Ex. 20:17b)

The last commandment protected each Israelite’s property from the envy and greed of others. This commandment was a
constant reminder for the Israelites not to fear deprivation, for the Lord would provide through our work and effort.
This commandment forbids not only the unjust craving for another’s property but also the envy at the success of
others (CFC 1147). There is the common mistaken notion that wealth and achievement are necessary for acceptance. But
we have to realize that our friends have to take us for what we are, and not for our riches nor fame.
There is moral challenge today for every faithful to take primary responsibility for building a just Philippine society.
Christian service of society and others in justice and love can only be achieved through the moral and social virtue of
solidarity. This means a “firm and persevering determination to commit oneself to the common good, the good of all and each
individual because we are really responsible for all” (CFC 1193 – 1194).
Sealing of the Covenant (Ex. 24:3-8)

Moses acted as the mediator between God and the people and recounted all the words of Yahweh and all the ordinances.
The people affirmed their commitment through a solemn oath. “We will do everything that the Lord has told us” (Ex. 24:3b).
For the Israelites, the spoken word had to be accompanied by a symbolic action that would express in a visible way
the establishment of a covenant community. Moses built an altar and set up twelve pillars to represent the people of the
twelve tribes. Animals were slaughtered and sacrificed. Half of the blood of the animals was splashed on the altar. This
indicated God’s gracious forgiveness in accepting the offering. The other half was sprinkled upon the people, which signified
that they were bound by a blood oath. The blood was important in sealing the covenant because it symbolized the life of
humankind. Those entering the covenant were sharing a common life.
In the Old Testament the blood symbolized the sealing of the covenant established between God and his people.
Israel experienced a sharing of life in the community. They were recipients of new life from the Lord. As a result, all the tribes
were united into one people sharing a new life of fidelity to the one God.
In the New Testament Christ’s blood brought new life and established a new covenant. When Jesus Christ blessed
the chalice at the Last Supper he was recalling the Passover memorial of the Sinai blood covenant. But he did much more. It
was something entirely new. He proclaimed that his blood would be “poured out for many” as a sign of the new covenant
between God and his people. Jesus invited his disciples to partake of his sacrifice, “Take and drink all of you,” so that all were
joined together in a new covenant community. “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in
remembrance of me” (1 Cor. 11:25).

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In the sacramental life of the Church we continue to experience the new life with God especially through the
sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist and Reconciliation.
Death of Moses (Dr. 34)

Moses, who had been the instrument of Israel’s deliverance from Egypt, died before the Israelites set foot on the Promised
Land (Dt. 34:5 – 8). He died without seeing the fruits of his labor and struggle. “Since then no prophet has arisen in Israel like
Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face (Dt. 34:10).
C. Summary
Doctrine
Israel undeserving of God’s love (Ex. 13:11-12) was deeply loved by Yahweh as his very own. God established a covenant with
Israel on Mt. Sinai and formed a special relationship with his people. Israel would be his special people among all nations, and
he would be their God.
We, too, are formed into God’s special people. “God who once saved a single nation from slavery, now offers salvation
to all through baptism” (CFC 1599.3; CCC 1221).
Morals
The commandments given by God were made not to bind our true freedom or to impose burdens on us. Rather, the
commandments mark the path for the new people of God to achieve a truly liberating human life. This means being faithful to
our authentic nature as relational beings called to live in a community. To achieve this truly meaningful and liberating life we
are called to be faithful to the moral attitude and values expressed by God’s commandments. Our commitment to God’s plan
of the “good life” is expressed in our daily moral acts: how we freely think, speak and act with others.
Worship
The first three commandments focus on our moral obligations toward God and our reverence and worship of Him. But worship
is much more than a moral duty. It is a thanksgiving celebration of God’s people for his commandments. “The law of the Lord
is perfect, refreshing the soul. The decree of the Lord is trustworthy, giving wisdom to the simple” (Ps. 19:8)/
D. Assessment: (In a separate sheet of bond paper)

Answer the following questions briefly in a separate sheet of bond paper.
1. What was the covenant between God and his people? What conditions were implied in the covenant relationship? Is
this covenant still significant for us today? How?
2. How was the covenant between God and His people sealed? What is the significance of the sealing of the
significance of the sealing of the covenant for us today?
3. Identify two from the ten commandments which you need to work on a little harder to follow. Explain your answer and
identify ways by which you should follow the commandments.
References:
Natividad, Maria Lucia C.(2006) Salvation History The Old Testament, Ateneo de Manila University Press, Katipunan Avenue,
Loyola Heights, Quezon City
Catholic Church. (1994). Catechism of the Catholic Church. Vatican City:

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Divine Word College of Bangued

GOD’S COVENANT WITH HIS PEOPLE

Intended Learning Outcomes:

The Covenant (Ex. 19 – 20)

1|REED 1: Man: in S ear ch o f God

You shall not have other gods besides me (Ex. 20:3).

2|REED 1: Man: in S ear ch o f God

Remember to keep holy the Sabbath Day (Ex. 20:8).

Honor your father and your mother (Ex. 20:12).

You shall not kill (Ex. 2013).

3|REED 1: Man: in S ear ch o f God

You shall not commit adultery (Ex. 20:14).

You shall not steal (Ex. 20:15)

4|REED 1: Man: in S ear ch o f God

You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife (Ex. 20:17a).

You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods (Ex. 20:17b)

Sealing of the Covenant (Ex. 24:3-8)

5|REED 1: Man: in S ear ch o f God

Death of Moses (Dr. 34)

D. Assessment: (In a separate sheet of bond paper)

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