Continuing along with Matan Torah let’s look inside of some more of the mitzvoth.
Shemos 20: 4. You shall not make for yourself a graven image or any likeness, which is in the heaven above, which is on the earth below, or which is in the water beneath the earth.
You cannot describe Hashem. You may only know that the presence of Hashem is eternal. Therefore anything to which you ascribe even the slightest bit of attachment to is by definition illusory. It is a false image. This mitzvah is for the purpose of making sure that in your every aspect to Hashem you consider his presence directly and not through any intermediary. This is a basic tenet of not only of Judaism but also of the concept itself of there only being one G-d.
Shemos: 20: 6. And [I] perform loving kindness to thousands [of generations], to those who love Me and to those who keep My commandments.
When our attention focuses above there are only good things that may result. Thousands of generations refers to the eternal nature of Hashem not only terms of each generation learning the Torah and serving Hashem but also within our own thoughts. Each thought goes through ‘generations’ of refinement becoming at last the reflection of that thought in demonstration of the idea ‘generated.’ A prime example of this is the covenant.
Remember the covenant how Hashem promised to deliver Israel at a certain time. All of this came true because of the righteousness or loving kindness of this covenant as it worked its way through Israel taking them out of Egypt led by Moshe.
Our prayers reach on high to Hashem by virtue of this same covenant, which says that what you put your attention to is how your world will come to be. Keep it focused therefore on what is good and right and expect as a promise fulfilled good outcomes and right circumstances appearing in your lives.
Shemos: 20 7. You shall not take the name of the Lord, your God, in vain, for the Lord will not hold blameless anyone who takes His name in vain.
When you think about Hashem it must be with fear and awe.
Psalm 22: 'Ye that fear the LORD, praise Him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify Him;
and stand in awe of Him, all ye the seed of Israel.
What we are doing here is raising our thoughts on high. If we turn around and then ascribe anger, cursing, or anything untoward then we defeat the purpose of having a higher power that we may call to. This also refers to those who pray mechanically without intention invoking Hashem but not making an active effort to connect.
Isaiah 29: 13 And the Lord said: Forasmuch as this people draw near, and with their mouth and with their lips do honour Me, but have removed their heart far from Me, and their fear of Me is a commandment of men learned by rote;
At the conclusion of this first part of Matan Torah Moshe comes to speak to the people who have witnessed this incredible display of holiness. They are frightened by these experiences.
Shemos 20:17. But Moses said to the people, "Fear not, for God has come in order to exalt you, and in order that His awe shall be upon your faces, so that you shall not sin."
The natural result of focusing upon Hashem is the presence of Elokim. This is to say that you are then surrounded by the appearances of holiness all around you. Now if you are listening here in this moment then you will be exalted and the result of that exaltation is awe. This awe is directly linked with your connection with above. In such a state even the mere thought of sin would occur to you. Total unity is then your destination.
Friday Piyyut tomorrow…
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