This is part of a catechism study we're doing on Sunday mornings.
The first three commandments teach us how we are to interact with God.
What does God require in the first, second, and third commandments?
First, that we know and trust God as the only true and living God and to worship and glorify Him accordingly. Second, that we avoid all idolatry and do not worship God improperly. This forbids the worshipping of God by images. or any other way not appointed in His Word. Third, that we treat God’s name with fear and reverence, honoring also His titles, attributes, ordinances, Word and works.
- Exodus 20:3-7 ESV - "3 "You shall have no other gods before me. 4 "You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments. 7 "You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain."
- 1 Chronicles 28:9 ESV - "9 "And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever."
- Deuteronomy 26:17 ESV - "17 You have declared today that the LORD is your God, and that you will walk in his ways, and keep his statutes and his commandments and his rules, and will obey his voice."
- Matthew 4:10 ESV - "10 Then Jesus said to him, "Be gone, Satan! For it is written, "'You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.'""
- Deuteronomy 32:46 ESV - "46 he said to them, "Take to heart all the words by which I am warning you today, that you may command them to your children, that they may be careful to do all the words of this law."
- Matthew 28:20 ESV - "20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.""
- Deuteronomy 12:32 ESV - "32 "Everything that I command you, you shall be careful to do. You shall not add to it or take from it."
- Colossians 2:18 ESV - "18 Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind,"
- Psalms 29:2 ESV - "2 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness."
- Revelation 15:3-4 ESV - "3 And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, "Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations! 4 Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.""
- Ecclesiastes 5:1 ESV - "1 Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil."
- Psalms 138:2 ESV - "2 I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word."
- Job 36:24 ESV - "24 "Remember to extol his work, of which men have sung."
- Deuteronomy 28:58-59 ESV - "58 "If you are not careful to do all the words of this law that are written in this book, that you may fear this glorious and awesome name, the LORD your God, 59 then the LORD will bring on you and your offspring extraordinary afflictions, afflictions severe and lasting, and sicknesses grievous and lasting."
- Deuteronomy 6:13-14 ESV - "13 It is the LORD your God you shall fear. Him you shall serve and by his name you shall swear. 14 You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are around you--"
That we know and trust God as the only true and living God
We talk about this a lot, but it is so key. This week, I've been reminded of the importance of this. Knowing and trusting that God is the only true God is vital. I can become lost in my own sinful mind--overwhelmed by trying to overcome the burdens and complexities of this life. OR I can serve the God who is in control of it all.
And to worship and glorify Him as the only true and living God
Again, sometimes it's easy to say we believe and live like we don't.
That we avoid all idolatry
Idolatry is giving that worship and glory to anything that is not God. This is not just "idol worship" in the easily dismissed form of bowing down to a physical icon or image. More frequently it takes the form of lifting up ourselves, or our dreams, our goals, our success, our families, our friends...etc. When our lives become about anything but God (which is so often the case) we are breaking this commandment. (Want a test for this? How do you spend your time, talents, and money?)
And do not worship God improperly.
I like how the New City Catechism video (attached below) puts it. We are not to worship false gods, nor to worship God falsely. Worshiping God 'how we see fit' is no better than not worshipping Him at all.
This forbids the worshipping of God by images. or any other way not appointed in His Word.
This can be a touchy issue for many, but it is clear in Scripture. We cannot worship images that "represent" God, or people that are said to mediate between God and man. We are to worship God alone. There is no go between (animate or inanimate). Jesus tore the veil.
That we treat God’s name with fear and reverence
Today, God's name is used flippantly. Not only as a curse word, but also without due respect. To the ancient Jewish scribes, God's name was so holy that they could not even write it down. They treated it with the highest level of respect because it was the name of God. We have lost this reverence for Him.
Honoring His titles and attributes
Loving, believing, trusting, serving, and respecting who He has revealed Himself to be. (http://www.bible.ca/trinity/trinity-definition-god-titles.htm, http://www.preceptaustin.org/the_attributes_of_god_-_spurgeon.htm)
Honoring His ordinances
Loving, believing, trusting, serving, and respecting what He has commanded.
Honoring His Word
Loving, believing, trusting, serving, and respecting how He has revealed Himself to us--Jesus is the Word of God, coming and proclaiming His Glory. The Bible is His recorded Word.
Honoring His works
Loving, believing, trusting, serving, and repecting what He does.
New City Catechism Video: http://youtu.be/xriOowiQFvU
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