We have all probably wondered what it would be like to be able to live a life doing anything we wanted with no rules and no consequences. But the fact of the matter is that the rules and laws that we live under are actually there to protect us, not restrict us from enjoying life. While they may rule out some things, they actually can lead us to much better. As we look at the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17), we will see that rules are good. And God's rules don't just tell us what to do and not to do, they reveal to us who He is, his character, and they should shape our actions and our worship.
In the first couple verses (Ex 20:1-2), God reminds the people of who He is and what He's done for them. The law was never intended to establish a relationship with God. God prefaced his law by reminding the people of what He had done for them and showing us that who God is serves as the motivation to follow the law. And the people of Israel would need multiple reminders throughout their history as the phrase, "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt," is often repeated to remind them of his presence and power.
1. "You shall have no other gods before me." - Ex 20:3
In all the miracles of the Exodus event, the plagues, the miraculous signs, the crossing of the sea, etc. it became clear that God was the one and only God of creation. This was a vital command to people of this time as ancient people often worshipped more than one god. As God revealed himself, the Israelites needed to learn the basic lesson of rejecting any false gods and worshipping the one true God. 1 Samuel 2:2 reads, "There is none holy like the Lord: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God." God alone is worthy of our worship and praise, and if we wish to live lives satisfying to Him, we must recognize that He is supreme over all other beings.
2. "You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them." - Ex 20:4-5a
This second command makes it clear that we should not make an idol for ourselves. Or in other words, no object, even one that represents God, is to be take the place of worshipping the one true God. Any image we attempt to create, if worshipped, then places creation over the Creator and that cannot be. While many of us may find it even almost silly to imagine worshipping some object, we often allow ourselves to worship things (acceptance, popularity), and even people such as celebrities. Anything that takes the place of God in our lives becomes and idol and is prohibited and should be avoided.
3. "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain." - Ex 20:7
God's name is part of who He is. When we use it, we are claiming that His person, presence, and power are involved in what we're doing. "The third commandment therefore is not merely a rule against using God's name as a curse word but rather denying God's character. So saying God's name as a curse word would be one way we might take His name in vain, but we also take His name in vain when we think of Him as less than infinitely holy."
In the first couple verses (Ex 20:1-2), God reminds the people of who He is and what He's done for them. The law was never intended to establish a relationship with God. God prefaced his law by reminding the people of what He had done for them and showing us that who God is serves as the motivation to follow the law. And the people of Israel would need multiple reminders throughout their history as the phrase, "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt," is often repeated to remind them of his presence and power.
1. "You shall have no other gods before me." - Ex 20:3
In all the miracles of the Exodus event, the plagues, the miraculous signs, the crossing of the sea, etc. it became clear that God was the one and only God of creation. This was a vital command to people of this time as ancient people often worshipped more than one god. As God revealed himself, the Israelites needed to learn the basic lesson of rejecting any false gods and worshipping the one true God. 1 Samuel 2:2 reads, "There is none holy like the Lord: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God." God alone is worthy of our worship and praise, and if we wish to live lives satisfying to Him, we must recognize that He is supreme over all other beings.
2. "You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them." - Ex 20:4-5a
This second command makes it clear that we should not make an idol for ourselves. Or in other words, no object, even one that represents God, is to be take the place of worshipping the one true God. Any image we attempt to create, if worshipped, then places creation over the Creator and that cannot be. While many of us may find it even almost silly to imagine worshipping some object, we often allow ourselves to worship things (acceptance, popularity), and even people such as celebrities. Anything that takes the place of God in our lives becomes and idol and is prohibited and should be avoided.
3. "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain." - Ex 20:7
God's name is part of who He is. When we use it, we are claiming that His person, presence, and power are involved in what we're doing. "The third commandment therefore is not merely a rule against using God's name as a curse word but rather denying God's character. So saying God's name as a curse word would be one way we might take His name in vain, but we also take His name in vain when we think of Him as less than infinitely holy."
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