The Tender Commandments

(Exodus 20:1-17)

1.) Other gods before Me

Thou shalt never have;

For I, alone, am He

Who doth from bondage save.

2.) Bow not unto, nor make

Any graven image;

For vengeance I will take

In love’s jealous revenge.

3.) Thou shalt not take My Name

In vain and flippant use;

For he who will profane,

From guilt will not be loose.

4.) Remember, now, the Sabbath

And keep it holy still;

Six days for him that worketh,

But on My Day be still.

5.) Thy father and thy mother—

Do honor them, sincere;

For what respect you offer

Will bring you blessing here.

6.) Thou shalt not ever kill

Or murder any life;

Such is against My will

And brings much grief and strife.

7.) Abstain from fornication

And adultery;

They are abomination—

Their charm is but paltry.

8.) Let not thyself to steal

Of that which isn’t thine;

To conscience right, appeal

And make thy greed resign.

9.) False witness of thy neighbor

Thou shalt never bear;

And you will have My favor

If truth you always share.

10.) Thou shalt not ever covet

That which is not thine;

For as thy greed would have it,

Idolatry will pine.

Commandments written in

The cold and hardened stone,

Ten laws to ne’r offend,

Ten you must do alone.

“A new heart I will give you,”

Now speaks the Father’s voice,

“A spirit soft and true;

My words will be your choice.   

(Ezekiel 36:26-27)

Abide in Me, My child,

And I’ll abide in you;

No good fruit can you yield

Nor My commandments do,

Except that by My grace,

As in My Word you trust;

And as you seek My face,

In Me your heart can rest.

(John 15:4-5)

Those Ten Laws I had given

Are from My heart of love;

Such Tender Laws from Heaven

Are valued up above.

1.) You have not chosen Me,

But I have chosen you

And I have ordained thee

To love and bring forth fruit.

(John 15:9-10, 16)

Seek not another god,

For there is none like Me

Who formeth clay and sod

To make a vessel free.

2.) These things I speak to you

That in Me you might have joy,

For I, alone, am true,

No fears need you employ.

(John 15:11)

Man’s images are feeble,

Sad are the ones they’ve lured,

But happy are the people

Whose Father is the LORD.

(Psalm 144:15)

3.) Peace I leave with you;

Not as the world would give,

For their peace is found through

The thoughts they might conceive.

(John 14:27-28)

They find their power in

Trampling My Name;

But unto My children

I give My power’s claim.

(John 15:7)

4.) And here remains a rest

Unto the laborer,

Where nothing can molest,

Here by the dear Savior.

(Hebrews 4:9-11)

For in longsuffering

I am your Sabbath sweet,

I know your deepest need,

And offer safe retreat.

(Hebrews 4:14-16)

5.) Then, honorable of heart,

Esteem authorities,

In gentleness impart

Respectful qualities.

(Titus 3:1-2)

Give honor unto those

Who are placed over you—

Your father, mother both;

My Word hath said it true.

(Ephesians 6:1-3; I Thessalonians 5:12-13)

6.) Oh, do not hoard My goodness

 To practice self-revenge,

For hatred is not harmless,

And murder is a sin.

Be swift to share with all

My gift of love and grace—

To the beggar by the mall

Or the brother full of hate.

(I John 3:11-15)

7.) Flee dangerous youthful lusts,

Enticing wickedness;

Through thine own soul they’ll thrust

A dagger of regrets.

(James 1:13-16)

But follow after faith

And purity of heart;

To those who walk My way,

Will good gifts I impart.

(James 1:12,17; II Timothy 2:22)

9.) The foe, deceiving foe,

Is father of all lies,

He thirsts for you to fall

Into his trap to die.

(John 8:44b)

But ye are set apart

To shine the light of truth;

With meekness in your heart,

Share what is right and true.

(Ephesians 4:29-30)

8, 10.) Would you but grieve your Lord

By acting as a fool,

To covet, steal, and hoard,

When I have given food? 

In temperance, then receive

My blessings gratefully;

Thee will I never leave—

You’re Mine eternally.

(Hebrews 13:5)

Copyright © Elisabeth Linzey 2015