Love God And Love Your Neighbor : 2nd Commandment Series

If you're able we stand as we open up God's word today?

We will begin in Exodus 20 verses 4-6. Hear the word of the Lord.

READ FROM THE BIBLE

“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, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments. (Exodus 20:4-6 ESV)

PRAY

The big truth is: How we worship Jesus matters as much as to God as Who we worship.

Last week we learned that the bible is several true stories telling one, over arching story. We learned that there is one God over all creation. He is a God who made a covenant to save, preserve and set apart a people for Himself. It is to these people that He gives his law. The Commandments reveal the nature of God.

He says, ‘I am the Lord your God’ the One who rescued you (Exod. 20:2).

Which tells us he is a loving God who pursues us, finds us and saves us.

We learned that Jesus and the father is one. Jesus used this “I am” statement made by God to Moses to describe Himself. He said

“Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” (John 8:58)

These words of God in the first commandment and in John’s remind us that Jesus the One true God deserves our worship. As we come to the second commandment today we must keep in mind the first.

The first commandment speaks of worshiping the correct God, whereas the second speaks of worshiping God correctly. Worship God correctly brings us to our text today in Exodus 20:4-6. What does is mean to worship Jesus alone with all our heart, mind and soul? We will begin today with what it is not.

Exodus 20:4-6

“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, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments. (Exodus 20:4-6)

God has created us in His image and likeness. Part of that likeness is the ability to create. God loves to create and nowhere in His word does He try to inhibit that with one exception. He does not want us creating things that serve as objects of worship to Him. I believe that God appreciates creativity and artistry but He will not tolerate idolatry.

He begins by saying;

“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.

In Exodus 20 verse 4 He covers it all. We are not to take anything in the air, on the ground or in the sea and create an object that represents God to worship God. He says there is only One God and I will not share my worship with something you created with your hands. If you we're here last week we know that God had saved his people from Egypt. God's people have been held captive for multiple generations there and began to worship multiple gods just as the Egyptians did. Their experience in Egypt with lead God's people to want to form an image to worship. As a matter of fact as in Exodus 32 you can read how Moses is with God. Moses is taking a long time to return so his brother Aaron decides to throw a bunch of gold into a pot, melt it down and make a golden calf. Listen to what God says to Moses

They have turned aside quickly out of the way that I commanded them. They have made for themselves a golden calf and have worshiped it and sacrificed to it and said, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!’” And the LORD said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and behold, it is a stiff-necked people. Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them, in order that I may make a great nation of you.” (Exodus 32:8-10 ESV)