C Is For Command It!: ABC: Deuteronomy for Me: Raising a Caleb Kid in a Disrupted World

Command It!: ABC: Deuteronomy for Me! Raising a Caleb Kid in a Disrupted World!

This is lesson three in a twenty-six part series of lessons for homeschoolers, Christian schools, Bible Studies for Kids, or Kids' Clubs.  Each lesson contains rhymes, verses, research, make-its, current issues, songs, and much more!  At the end is a section for teachers and parents.  

Go back to the introductory lesson "Deuteronomy Details" to begin.  The introduction contains Bible skills for little ones 4-7 as well as kids 8-12.  Lesson "A for Abhor"(Detest) is a lesson that includes teaching on the right to life, while "Bb for Bless" is a lesson that includes Deuteronomy stories about blessings and curses (consequences).  In this lesson, the issue addressed for parents/teachers is "Replacement Theology" a doctrine taught by some that the Jewish people, because of disobedience, have lost the promised blessings and kept the curses.

My desire for these lessons is to encourage parents, teachers, and children to dig deep into the Word using the KJV Bible, and by using internet sites to help kids to learn to research.  Not only am I suggesting memorizing the verses and the Ten Commandments, but I am introducing current issues into each lesson that both kids and adults should become aware of enabling all to stand true--to become Caleb kids and Caleb adults in this corrupted world.

Little Kids:  Ages 4-7

C Is for Command It! 

C is for command it--

directions Moses did voice

commanding God's people

to make the right choice.

C Is for Commandments

C Is for commandments

ten rules God did give

that directed his people

how they must live.

I Remember It: My Mom's Admonition

When I was a child my mom would remind me over and over again there was one special commandment with a promise, and then she'd quote Ephesians 6:1-3. To this day these verses remain firmly fixed in my memory.   How thankful I am for her faithful reminders!   

Memorize It: A Commandment with a Promise!

Ephesians six verses two n' three

are promise verses for you and me--

Read them!  Learn them too!

Short Verse: Ephesians 6:1

  "A verse to say with all your might:  "Children obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right."  Ephesians 6:1   (Raise voice: on might, and right.  Wag finger and point upward.)

Longer Verses:  Ephesians 6:1-3

"Children obey your parents in the LORD, for this is right.  HONOUR THY FATHER AND MOTHER: (which is the first commandment with promise;) THAT IT MAY BE WELL THEE THAT MAYEST LIVE LONG ON THE EARTH."  Whom should we obey every day?  Whom should we honor or respect?  What does this commandment have in it?  What is that?  What is the promise?  Which words begin with a capital letter?  Why do you think that is?  Print the verse on the whiteboard and mark various parts as you lead the discussion.

Be Aware of It: Deut. Verse Warning About Dishonoring Parents
While the Bible tells us our days on the earth will be prolonged if we're obedient to the fifth commandment, Deuteronomy 27:16 warns against dishonouring or not honouring one's parents.  It says:  "Cursed be he that setteth light by (makes fun of) his father or his mother. …."  (Deut.27:16)

Recall It: Respect Elderly Parents!

Respect Elderly Parents!

Respect elderly parents.
Honor them.
Don't neglect them.
Don't reject them.
YOU respect them,
it's the godly thing to do!

What does elderly mean?  It means those who are much older, like your grandparents or like your parents will be some day.      

Practice It:  Select an Elderly Friend
Choose an elderly friend to pray for, talk to, listen to, or help out from time to time.  Think of something you can do.  Older people will enjoy a text message, a card, or phone call. Even a picture you draw will make them smile.

Think About It:  A Word of Wisdom
Recently I heard a man say when we repeat, "Honour thy father, and thy mother." we think of children or teens.  But this verse is for grown children too.  No matter when,  as long as one's parents are alive, we are to show respect, and honor for them whether we agree with them or not. 

Understand It: The Fifth Commandment or 5-5-5-5

The first five books of the Old Testament are called the Pentateuch or Torah.  What does "penta" stand for? ("penta" is a prefix meaning "five.")  The fifth book of the Pentateuch is Deuteronomy.  The fifth chapter of the Deuteronomy has the "The Ten Commandments" in it.  The fifth commandment is "Honor thy Father and thy Mother."  Remember 5-5-5-5!  By the way what other book is the Ten Commandments in?  (Exodus)

Say It: The Ten Rules Rhyme

Hey, hey, we've begun.  Can you say rule number one?
"Thou shalt have no other gods before me."
Hey, hey, you and you.  Can you say rule number two?
"Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image."
Hey, hey, look at me.  Can you say rule number three?
"Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain."
Hey, hey, let's say more.  Can you say rule number four?
"Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy."
Hey, hey, look alive.  Can you say rule number five?
"Honour* thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be
long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee."
Hey, hey, your lips fix.  Can you say rule number six?
"Thou shalt not kill."
Hey, hey, look toward heaven.  Can you say rule number seven?
"Thou shalt not commit adultery."
Hey, hey, please don't wait.  Can you say rule number eight?
"Thou shalt not steal."
Hey, hey, you look fine.  Can you say rule number nine?
"Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor."
Hey, hey, it's the end.  Can you say rule number ten?\
"Thou shalt not covet."                                                          LEP

*  The KJV Bible spells honor as honour. If you wish, lengthen the commandments in-between the rhyming lines.

Note:  The Ten Commandments are given in Exodus 20 as well as Deuteronomy 5.  While there are  differences, most posters/markers use those given in Exodus 20 as I've done here.

Hear It:  Moses Receives The Ten Commandments
The ten commandments, says Deuteronomy 5:22, are the words that the LORD spoke to all the people that were listening to Moses by Mt. Sinai, or Horeb.  It was down at the bottom of the mountain that the people heard a great voice out of the fire, the cloud, and the darkness.  The people then asked Moses to go up the mountain to talk with the Lord. They told Moses that whatever God said they would hear and do it.

So Moses went up into the top of Mt. Sinai to talk with God and stayed there for forty days and nights. Meantime, below the people grew tired of waiting and waiting for Moses to descend asking Aaron to make a calf god from their gold jewelry, and Aaron did.  Oh, what a sin that was!

Later, when Moses came down carrying the two tablets what did he hear but the people having a big party, and what did he see but the people bowing down to the golden calf god.  Moses was so angry that he broke the tablets he had in his hand right on the ground.  Smash!  They were busted to bits.

How sad that the people had "quickly turned aside" soon after they had first heard the commandments "Thou shalt have no other god beside me, " and "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image."

Read Deut. 5:1-33, aloud to your children, or better yet let them read aloud with you.   Read Deut.9:11-29 too.

View It: You Tube Read Aloud Picture Book Exodus 
Don't miss hearing and viewing Brian Wildsmith's book Exodus that includes the giving of the Ten Commandments.  Wildsmith was an extraordinary author whose art work especially captures kids' attention.  As you listen, challenge the children to detect one thing in the text that he wrote that wasn't true concerning Moses' death.  To hear the book read click below.

If you can check out the book from your local library in order to examine its captivating art work more closely.  On which pages do you find pictures of the ten commandments? Moses up on Mt. Sinai?  Moses viewing the land?  Joshua taking over?   What color do you see on the pages/page edges?   This book is also a great book for older students as well.
https://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video?fr=yfp-t&p=Exodus+Read+Aloud+by+Brian+Wildsmith#id=1&vid=17632da077b03c0ffd94d4c22be496c2&action=click

Make-It: The Ten Commandment Marker
Needed: half-sheet construction paper 6"X9"; 1-10 stickers; printed strip of ten commandments; glue; ….
Make It:  Fold sheet lengthwise into four equal rectanglular sections. Fold left quarter inward as well as the right outer quarter inward so marker has "a little door" to open to peek inside.  Glue a printed 10 commandments strip inside on the middle two sections. On the left front panel stick numerals: 1-5; and on the right panel stick 6-10.  Open the marker up to read the ten rules.  Place in Bible at Deuteronomy chapter five.

Learn It:  The Ordinals
As you teach the Ten Commandments introduce the ordinals first-tenth.  Can your child say them in order? read them? spell them?  Notice the endings--1st., 2nd., 3rd., and then 4th-10th.  Teach these also.  The word "ordinal," by the way, means "expressing order in a series."

Sing It:  "On Top of Mt. Sinai" 

Tune:  "On Top of Old Smoky"

On top of Mt. Sinai, all covered with smoke, Moses God's leader, to the Lord God spoke.

God gave him commandments; there were ten in all, God gave him commandments for the big and the small.

God gave us commandments that we might obey, God gave us commandments, so learn them today.

Have no gods before Me, love Me most of all, don't make an idol, whether short or tall.

Do not misuse God's name, do not curse or swear, remember the sabbath, keep it everywhere.

And honor your father, and your mother too, obey them in all things whatever you do

And you shall not murder, commit adultery, and you shall not steal, or lie constantly.

And you shall not covet your neighbor's things, for obeying these ten rules, much happiness brings.
                                                                                                                                                    LEP

Color It:  The Ten Commandments Coloring Book 7: Outline Texts  TBS Colouring Book No.7
Here's a KJV Bible color book that includes "The Ten Commandments."  Order from Lighthouse Trails Store.  Order some "Ten Commandments" KJV Bible book markers  too.  Find them here:
https://www.lighthousetrails.com/scripture-coloring-puzzle-books-for-youth/1475-the-ten-commandments-coloring-book-7-outline-texts.html?search_query=Ten+commandments+coloring&results=138

Learn It:  Introduce Roman Numerals 
Find Chris Cabrera's book The Ten Commandments for Kids at Amazon books.  Zoom in on its bright yellow tablets on its cover.  Point out the Roman Numerals to your youngsters.  Kids may even copy the tablets in their journal drawing them themselves, and write the Roman Numerals on each tablet.  Idea: A fun snack is to use vanilla wafers or Snackwells Vanilla Crème Sandwich Cookies as commandment tablets, and a tiny frosting tube with which to write the Roman Numerals 1-5 on one cookie, and 6-10 on the other one.  Push the two cookies together to make the tablets.  Discuss, and eat!
https://www.amazon.com/Ten-Commandments-Kids-Chris-Cabrera/dp/1088871380

A good video to use when introducing first and second graders to the Roman Numerals is "Roman Numerals for Kids (First and Second Grade Math Explained) made ty Homeschool Pop on You Tube.
https://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video?fr=yfp-t&p=Roman+Numerals+for+Kids+First%2FSecond+Grade+Homeschool+Pop#id=1&vid=4d07908fb2ec8ddf0222037ff691fd08&action=click

Older Kids:  (Ages 8-12)

Research It:  Command, Commandment 
Find the word command, and commandment online in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary.  Write the definitions down in your journal.  Did you check out the synonyms and antonyms?  Write them as well.   Notice too that commandment has the root/base word command in it.  And when the suffix "ment" is added to "command" it changes the action verb into a noun.  "Ment" by the way means "put into action."

Do It: A Commandment Verse to Put Into Action!
A commandment verse to say:  "Therefore thou shalt love the LORD thy God, and keep his charge, and his statues, and his judgments, and his commandments, always."  Deuteronomy 11:1

Notice It:  The Six Verb Verse!
Here's a verse from Deuteronomy 13:4  that has six action words or verbs in it.  Can you pick out the six verbs?  What a great verse this is!

"Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave to him."  Write the verse in your journal, and highlight the six action words.  Then write six sentences using the words in a sentence.  Here's a starter sentence:  "I will walk after the LORD my God."

God's people, by the way, often did not walk after the Lord, but rather they went after other gods.  While you read through the book of Deuteronomy notice how often you find go after, or turn aside or like words.

Repeat It: Learn the Ten Commandments

Ten Commandment Poem

Ready, set, say:  "The Ten Commandments" with me today.
"Thou shalt have no other gods before me."  Not one!*
"Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image."  None!
"Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain."  Never!
"Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy."  Forever!
"Honour your father and your mother."  Say, "I will!"
"Thou shalt not kill."  Say, "I won't!"
"Thou shalt not commit adultery."  "Don't!"
"Thou shalt not steal."  Say, "No deal!"
"Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor!" Do not!
"Thou shalt not covet" Anything he's got!
Ten rules, that's the end, can you say them once again?  LEP 

*  One person may say the darkened words, or a group may chime in. 
  
Think About It:  What Are the Ten Commandments?
What Are the Ten Commandments? by Yona Zeldis McDonough is a paperback book for kids 8-12 with sixteen photographs at the back of the book. Having discovered this book in a bookstore, later at home I went to Amazon.com books to "Look Inside" it again. I would emphasize this is a research technique I often use when I find a book and want to see its sample pages.
https://www.amazon.com/What-Are-Ten-Commandments-Was/dp/0515157236

Near the end of its sample pages a photograph of two commandment tablets outside a church caught my eye.  Below the photo it said "The Ten Commandments Near the Entryway of a Church" Now, it didn't say which church this was, but right away I noted one commandment was missing while another commandment had been moved. Look below to figure out what's missing, moved up, and divided on the tablets.  For reference look at; Exodus 20/Deuteronomy 5 in your Bible.

Left Tablet in Photo:
1.  I am the Lord thy God. Thou shalt not have strange
gods before me.
2.  Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God
in vain.
3.  Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day.

Right tablet in photo:
4.  Honor thy father and thy
mother.
5.  Thou shalt not kill.
6.  Thou shalt not commit adultery.
7.  Thou shalt not steal.
8.  Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
9.  Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife.
10.  Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's goods.

What did you see?  Which commandment is missing? Why do you suppose that is? Think about this Deuteronomy 12:32 verse:  "What thing soever I command you to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it."   What does this verse mean?  Yes, one should not add to God's word, nor take away from it.  Read the little rhyme below, and remember it!

Remember It: Recall This Fact!

Recall This Fact!

Recall this fact!
Don't add or subtract
from God's word,
Instead, leave it intact!

Note:  While What Are the Ten Commandments? has useful information in it, it's not a book that I'd recommend a child read.  Here's one reason:  In chapter eight  "Was Moses Real?"  the author questions the Biblical narrative implanting the idea that maybe Moses wasn't a real person at all. In short, as parents/teachers we must be alert always to what a book is teaching before allowing kids to read it.  The WHOHQ book series certainly would fall under this category.  In addition one should be aware that this author is a Jewish feminist who is the Fiction Editor for a magazine called Lilith.  Lilith, it must be noted, is an occult figure found in Judaism and other religions.
https://www.lilith.org/blog/tag/yona-zeldis-mcdonough/

Look It Up: Ten Commandment Facts for Kids
The Kiddle Kids' site has an informative article on the ten commandments.  Be sure and note the chart comparing what various churches and groups consider as the ten commandments.  This helps unlock why the photo above listed the commandments as it does.  At bottom under "Contents" click on "Different Numbering."
https://kids.kiddle.co/Ten_Commandments

View It:: Rembrandt's Moses Art
View this Rembrandt painting of Moses with the commandments over his head just ready to be broken.  Find the picture here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses_Breaking_the_Tablets_of_the_Law

I Remember It:  Cecille B. DeMille's "The Ten Commandments"
In 1957 our sixth grade went to New York City to see Cecille B. DeMille's famous movie: "The Ten Commandments."  Were we excited?  You bet!  I especially was excited for it was the first time I'd been allowed to attend a movie in a theater.  For in those days many believed that born again Christians should not smoke, drink, or go to movies.  The movie was indeed awesome as a theater poster at that time touting the film read: "The Greatest Event in Motion Picture History!"  See it here: 
https://c8.alamy.com/comp/F2T20W/ten-commandments-the-1956-movie-poster-F2T20W.jpg

Parents, Teachers, YOU!  Is Keeping the Ten Commandments A Ticket to Heaven?

I'm sure you've met someone to whom you've spoken about knowing the Lord Jesus as their personal Savior who responded with:  "I'm a good person, I've kept the commandments, I'm baptized, or I go to church."  However, as the Bible clearly tells us it is not by works of righteousness that we have done that one gets to heaven. And as my mom made sure to often remind me James 2:10 says, "But whosoever shall keep the whole law and yet offend in one point he is guilty of all."  And Deuteronomy 27:26 also says, "Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them. …."  For it isn't through keeping the commandments, attending church, or being baptized we gain entrance to heaven, but it's through the Lord Jesus Christ alone.  For Jesus said: "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."  (John 14:6)  

Understand It:  "Do You Have to Obey the Ten Commandments to Get to Heaven?"
Ponder this informative 2003 Berean Call short podcast between Tom McMahon and David Hunt as to whether it's required of us to obey the Ten Commandments to reach heaven. Listen here:
https://www.thebereancall.org/content/do-you-have-obey-ten-commandments-get-heaven

Hear It:  "Ten Holy Words"
Listen to Bill Randle's sermon "Ten Holy Words" in which Randles says as Christians we should remember  Jesus' words, "If ye love me, keep my commandments."   Hear it here, and be blessed:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwhiEEQVfbc


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