"I am THE LORD!" Shmot 20:2 (Part 1)

Much too often congregants inaugurate their understanding of the commandments with the "thou shalt nots", while simultaneously leaping over the statement just a few sentences prior that outlines the spirit in which the commands should be received and executed. Summarily, it may very well be that if disobedience and rebelliousness were to ferment in a man it would be because he had not fully internalized the prerequisite sentiment that is articulated in Shmot (Exodus) 20:2, and by either extension, consequence, or default - this lack of intentionality allows a type of subtle non-system to take ahold of his mind to re-direct his way of thinking about existence – away from the way intended.

Shmot 20:2 (KJV) I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

In numerous instances this phrase and others resembling it are peppered throughout the holy text, and each time it is used the objective is the same; to identify the key organizing steps of belief for a devotee, so that he and his house may begin to properly grasp the weight of THE FATHER’s commandments in order to be able to HEAR so that he and his may HEARKEN appropriately.

Every part of SHMOT 20:2 lists a series of steps towards belief. 1. “I am THE LORD” = “Aniy YOD HEH WAV HEH”

“THE LORD” is used appropriately when the intention is to define the absolute master of us all, however, in the original language of our people we see the letters YOD HEH WAV HEH which gives the transliteration proper context. Known as the TETRAGRAMMATON, this distinctive amalgamation of letters is not just how we, the people of the book, express THE name of THE Creator, it identifies HIS role in existence. It is not to be written off as just the name of some general deity. Rather, it is an ontological declaration. This force is aptly named for ITs nature - that being that which is eternal - without beginning or end - the one constant that has always been, that is, and will always be in existence. It is in fact a statement of this force's independence and sovereignty; having no need to wait on any other entity to exist. It exists alone as the precondition that all other life forms depend upon for their own existence. HE (YOD HEH WAV HEH ) is the one "in the beginning" that not only furnished ADAM with the prerequisite tools and faculties to be able to perceive, but also THE ONE that taught ADAM how to observe in order to properly name his environment. And the lesson was to name it based on its nature. As such the grand architect/master teacher is properly named, for the declaration of HIS eternal nature and HIS implied sovereignty is true.

Dialectically then, "I am THE LORD" is also making a statement that nothing exists without YAH's allowance. In such a case, even the spirit of opposition is reimagined as a necessary entity created from above for the sole purpose of trying men and weeding out the believers from the non-believers. If even the opposition is created by The Creator, who can truly stand across from HIM to challenge HIS sovereignty? Other people groups identify their tribal deities in their own ways (and that's what works for them), but YOD HEH WAV HEH is the name of our tribal deity, and for the people of Yisrael YOD HEH WAV HEH is THE one and only. For us HE is the standard by which all other people of the earth seeking to interface intimately with the divine in spirit and truth must aspire to, as well as THE intersection they must cross if hoping to become grafted in as members of our people.

When HE says “Aniy ‘YOD HEH WAV HEH’” he is declaring ownership of all. The next word/statement to follow in the verse is more a question for those that claim to be HIS - then an actual phrase of imposition - because he need not force himself on any that don't acknowledge him. HE asks: “Now that you know who I am and what I have done, what I am doing now, and what I will do – do you believe – and will you act as one who believes?” More on this in Part Two!

Peace be to you. Peace be to your house. And peace be unto all that is yours! Shalom Shalom!

Bn Shmû ÉL is a loyal son, a committed father, and the founder of HaDBR Media, Chief Editor at Bn Shmû ÉL Publishing House, and author of The Land Of Milk and Honey: The Heart Of The World. https://www.bn-shmu-el.com/shop .