And God spoke all these words, saying, “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me. 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. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, . . .1
First things first! Recall that the first four commandments deals with our relationship with God. If we put anything or anyone above God, we commit idolatry. Images are visible idols; yet, we may justify it as not so. What more for others less visible? Is it money, power, career, family?
What do we believe about God? 1. God is great; 2. God is good; 3. God is one; 4. God is triune; and 5. God is worthy.2
Moses set the Law before the people of Israel. He spoke what God had entrusted to him, and that the statutes and rules shall be learned by the Israelites and they shall be careful to do them. Reminding them that God made a covenant with them, not with their fathers.3 You shall be careful therefore to do as the LORD your God has commanded you. . . . You shall walk in all the way that the LORD your God has commanded you, that you may live, and that it may go well with you, and that you may live long in the land that you shall possess.4
God is great. God created the heavens and the earth.5 He introduces himself as “I AM WHO I AM.”6 “Remember this and stand firm, recall it to mind, you transgressor, remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient of times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’ . . . I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it.7
God is good. All that he created is good. And God saw everything that he made, and behold, it was very good.8 Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in the way.9 God is one. Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.10 God is triune. The doctrine of the Trinity teaches that God eternally exists as three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and that each person is fully God, and that there is one God.11
God is worthy. “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”12 AMEN!
Notes:
1. Exodus 20:1-6
2. Steve Murrell, We Believe-Transformative Truth for a Life of Worship and Mission, p. 1-6.
3. Deuteronomy 4:44-5:33
4. Deuteronomy 5:32-33
5. Genesis 1:1
6. Exodus 3:14
7. Isaiah 46:8-11
8. Genesis 1:1-31
9. Psalm 25:8
10. Deuteronomy 6:4
11. Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology (Leicester: Intervarsity Press, 1994), p. 226.
12. Revelation 5:12
