Torah, Christ and words of joy for all

The Ten Commandments! - such a foreboding name. In fact, it's not a very good name for them.  The Hebrew means: The Ten Words, The Decalogue.  It is the revealed Word of God. 

A little bit of context: the Israelites have been in the wilderness for three months after being freed from slavery in Egypt.  During that time God has provided them with fresh drinking water, and sustained them with manna and quails to eat. Now on the day of the third month, God asks Moses to get everyone ready to encounter God at the foot of Mt Sinai. God will come in a cloud and speak to Moses so that everyone can hear and trust him.  

We can understand from this context that the decalogue was addressed to the people as a whole psyche, and each individual is addressed as well.  The community has responsibility as a whole, and the individual has responsibility. In fact, there is an ancient Jewish myth that these words were offered to the entire world at the same time and was interpreted into all languages of the earth. And that Israel is the only nation to accept it.  This myth illustrates that the Words are universal in application. 

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