April 29,  2007

“The Foundation: The First Three Commandments”

Exodus 20: 1-7

First message in the series; “The Sinai Code”

The 10 Commandments were the terms of the covenant between God and the people of Israel. All of the other laws were elaborations on these ten. Most people can accept and agree on the last seven commandments, but not the first three, herein is the major problem. If you do not accept the first three and adhere to them, it will be very difficult to follow the last seven.   

I. The First Three: Foundations

  1. “You shall have no other gods before me”

   Most cultures were polytheistic (belief in multiple gods).   The Israelite people were Monotheistic (belief in one God). Worship only the one true living God, Yahweh.

  2. “You shall not make for yourselves an idol and you shall not worship them.” 

   How do we struggle with this today? Do we worship other gods? Anything you put first in your life is your god. Anything that has your complete devotion and attention would be your idol. Those things that take most of your time, money and energy have be come your god. The Lord God doesn’t want to play second fiddle in your life.

  3. “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God.”

  How do we misuse God’s name? Most think this only has to do with cursing; but this commandment goes much further than simply swearing. To call upon God’s power in inappropriate ways is breaking this commandment. To associate God with things that God would not want to be associated with is also wrong.

    To follow these first three commandments means to put God first in your life. Worship God and nothing else; make that a priority and everything else will fall into place.