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So, it was with the work of marine biologist Roger Payne, who died a week ago, with his study of whales and discovery of ‘whale song’ and its sophisticated rhythmic forms.  The discovery of whale song by Payne in 1967 ushered in a whole new way for us to understand whales, their intelligence and their significance to the eco-systems of the seas.

You may have seen the beautiful, powerful documentary about whales on BBC 4 this week.  I learnt how the life cycle of whales reduces carbon in the atmosphere, how  when whales dive to the seabed, they first empty their capacious bowels, and provide a prodigious gift of food for the microscopic creatures of the sea.  And when they die, in their final rest on the bed of the sea, they sustain life for countless larger creatures.

In the 1960s unrestrained commercial whaling meant that these creatures were  disappearing from the seas with some species facing extinction.  Greater Public understanding, and greater care for these mighty mammals led to many countries banning whaling in 1969.  Whale population recovery is taking place . Though limits and controls on whaling continue to be challenged.

I’ve been thinking about the fate of the whales, and the human desire for freedom to follow desire and to push back against limits and controls this week, in the context of our reading from Deuteronomy, the reiteration of the ten commandments, God’s Word, through Moses, concerning Gods intentions for how we are to live. And the limits we are to live within.

Now, for many of us, particularly if the ten commandments have been presented, inscribed on the whitewashed walls like this, of St Stephens Church, Robin Hoods Bay, they can appear as rules to be obeyed, with the risk of washing the colour out of life.  I don’t think that this is meant to be the case.

The commands are for people about to enter the promised land, they are given to people whom God loves tenderly, passionately and with full knowledge of their limitations and whom God longs to love him back. Restraints on behaviour then are for their well-being. As the text says, verse 13 ‘keep the commandments of the Lord your God and the decrees that I am commanding you today, for your own well-being.’  Restraints and boundaries help create healthy individuals and communities.

A new glossary, from the Chief Rabbi and the Church of Scotland helpfully open some of the many words that Jews and Christians share.  So, whilst Christians refer to Moses as the lawgiver, in Jewish tradition Moses is referred to as Moshe rabbenu, our teacher Moses.  Rather than laws to restrict freedoms, we might choose to receive this teaching as ancient wisdom in how to live wisely and well.

The human desire for freedom to push back against limits and controls can be so good, it can fuel a passion for justice, for the rights and freedoms of all people, it can lead to new knowledge, breakthroughs in understanding.  But the desire to live without limit or control can also be an expression of selfishness or intolerance.

St Paul urges us to choose the narrow way, the way of restraining what is self-centred, and choosing the way that is Christ-centred, living in harmony and peace with one another.  Freedom in Christ, according to Paul is the opposite of selfishness and self-indulgence, its being set free to love your neighbour as yourself and being free to receive the love and joy of God and the fruits of the Holy Spirit. This is joy and true freedom.  It’s a daily choice.

And increasingly we are learning, perhaps remembering, that we have choices to make about how to live as part of God’s creation.  May we dedicate our freedom to live in harmony, peace and sustainability with the whole of God’s magnificent and intricate creation. Amen.

Let us pray,

Loving God, you have made us creatures of this earth.

Hungry and thirsty and needy

That you might satisfy all our longings with your abundant love.

Give us, by your grace, a longing for justice and peace for all your children and for the created world,

that we may dedicate our freedom and find our joy in your service.

Lord, may we use our freedom to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with you, all the days of our lives,

In the name of our Savour Jesus Christ, Amen.