What is the purpose for observing the Ten Commandments? In a poignant moment in Israelite history, the Book of Kings answers. This answer provided is often repeated throughout scripture.
Near the end of David’s life, his last reported instructions to Solomon were as follows: “I am going the way of all the earth; be strong and become a man. Safeguard the charge of the Lord, your God, to walk in his ways, to observe his decrees, commandments, ordinances, and testimonies, as written in the Torah of Moses, so that you will succeed in all that you do and wherever you turn.” Kings 2:1-3
For the ordinary people, David’s poetic instruction explains the commandments’ role in one’s life. They constitute a springboard that one employs in furtherance of experiencing a fulfilling life.
Success can be achieved in a multitude of trajectories. Further, as per David, wherever one goes and whatever one does, achievement is attainable. David’s charge recognizes that everyone’s life and paths differ. Each individual is able to find their own unique success.
The vagueness concerning the term “success” makes the passage expansive. Success is something to be defined, refined, and reconfigured. While success can be something based upon internal satisfaction, it can also be subjected to criteria defined by others. Often, other’s input provides clarity as to what should be considered as success.
The definitional vagueness concerning one’s pathway is likewise expansive. Each and every pathway allows for a multitude of opportunities for achievement. If everyone took the same path, life would be worse than driving in rush hour on the 405.
In essense, the Commandments offer much utility. Rather than force everyone on a designated pathway, the Commandments frees individuals to many possibilities. Further, the Commandments are not restrictive as far as success. Rather, acting with dignity towards the Lord, others, and even animals are the rules of the road to one’s successful journey through life.
For those of the Davidic dynasty, however, David provided additional language to his charge. He further said: if your children will safeguard their way, to walk before the Lord sincerely, with all their heart and with all their soul,’ saying, ‘no man of yours will ever be cut off from the throne of Israel.'” The statement’s reason was so that the Lord would uphold his promise of an eternal dynasty. Arguably, this could be interpreted to amend the Ten Commandments as to the monarchy. Thus, there is an issue as to whether the Davidic monarchy was subject to the Torah and the Commandments as a condition for their eternal dynasty.
In sum, the Ten Commandments’ purpose, in parts, is a means of enabling one to move through life to enjoy success in whichever way that life turns. This notion is often lost when individuals promote the Commandments. Often, the rationale behind obeying the Decalogue is that they promote a just and ordered society.
Further, from this passage, we learn that the Davidic monarchy’s success is safeguarded by Torah observance.
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