First Commandment
Ex 20:1-3 “I am YHWH”
Introduction(v.1)
While Israelite's were challenging Moses and "testing" God, for food and water. God has brought them out of Egypt and performed miracles. They never understood the purpose of God that they are "a treasured possession, a priestly kingdom and a holy nation" (19:5-6). Ten commandments are not list of rules but guidelines to nurture community, be fruitful, productive, and have meaningful lives before God and with one another. It begins "I am Yahweh your god" and ends with "your neighbor". Indicates radical commitment to God and compassion for neighbor. Mosaic Law lays out God’s law as it was written in the heart of man since the time of Adam. God speaks many ways to men by conscience, by Providences, by his voice, finally TEN COMMANDMENTS.
Illustration: The Stone Age people of the Me tribe of Indonesia were familiar with the fifth through the ninth commandments. They disregarded tenth because it went radically against their culture of covetousness. The fact that this kind of knowledge had been preserved throughout the centuries before the giving of the law at Mount Sinai, probably from before the dispersion of the human race from the tower of Babel.
Acknowledging YHWH as Creator (v.2b)
“I” is an absolute word belongs to YHWH. “I am that I am”. Jehovah is self-existent, independent, eternal, and the fountain of all being and power. He created the stars, moon, Sun. He created the milky way’s (Neh.9:6, Heb 11:3, Job 26:7, Ps 24:2, 33:6, 95:5). Man never even came to understand the Highness of God. Men have used only 10% of their brain to invent great things and to have the present developments. God always revealed himself to prophets, disciples, yet we cannot comprehend him. Read: His character is found in I Tim 1:17, 6:14-15, Ex 33:20, Jn. 1:18 and Is 40:28
Acknowledging YHWH as Redeemer(v.2a)
"The house of bondage." The memory of the terror of oppression had evidently faded very rapidly so the people expressed the opinion that it would have been better for them to stay in Egypt. It is important that we never forget from where we came. We will never know where we are, nor where we are going, unless we know our starting point. Paul says: "he has rescued us from dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of Son" The house of bondage was the dominion of darkness. God went into the house of the strong man and bound him to carry off what he held in his possession.
He had brought them out of the land of Egypt; land of terror, land of slavery, land of beating, land of agitation and restlessness, land of brutality & cruelty, land of kiln and land of death. What a great a kindness. He brought them out of a grievous slavery into a glorious liberty. Therefore they were bound in gratitude to obey him, They themselves had been eye-witnesses of great things God had done for their deliverance. They were now enjoying the blessed fruits of their deliverance. He purchased them. The same way Christ, having rescued us out of the bondage of sin and loosed our bonds, (Lu. 1:74), so obey him, Ps. 116:16.
He relieved us from the dreadful sin, slavery, humility, cruelty of caste, dowry, language, chains of bonded labor, cruelty of denying right to education, right to live. How many of us are very graciously blessed by the LORD. Our chains were broken, our burdens had rolled away. He gave us identity, personality, fellowship, today we are children of God. He brought us to life.
Acknowledging YHWH as Only God(v.3)
This commandment concern JEHOVAH as object of worship. It logically flows from understanding who God is and what He has done for us and we have the obligation to obey Him. Nothing can come before God and He is the only God whom we worship and serve. The Egyptians, Canaanites, and other neighboring nations had many gods, the creatures of their own fancy, strange gods, and new gods.
There was great temptation for Israel to worship gods of materialism, gods of weather and financial success (Baal,) and goddess of sex, romance, and reproduction (Ashtoreth,), or number of other local deities. Later during exile too they were attracted towards Babylonian gods. India has 33 corers of gods and goddesses, we have gods for every activity.
The born again believers are having gods: Pride makes a god of self, covetousness makes a god of money, sensuality makes a god of belly; whatever is esteemed or loved, feared or served, delighted in or depended on, more than God, that (whatever it is) we do in effect make a god.
The sin against this commandment which we are most in danger of giving glory and honor to any creature or to any things of the world which are due to God alone. Jehovah being the God of Israel, they must entirely cleave unto him, and not be for any other, either of their own invention or borrowed from their neighbors. Whatever comes short of perfect love, gratitude, reverence, or worship to God, mean break of this commandment. Our duty to God is to worship him, give him the glory. Have an inward worship of affections, and outward worship of solemn address and attendance (Rev. 14:7). Acknowledge him as God, accept him, adore him with admiration and humble reverence, and set your affections entirely upon him.
The word “before me” is intimated. There is none besides him or before him. Ps. 44:20, Ps. 44:21. No other gods “before Me” literally, “to My face”. Failure to obey this commandment is called idolatry. Therefore flee idolatry (1 Corinthians 10:14). Idolaters will not inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9-10, Ephesians 5:5, Revelation 21:8; Rev_22:15). Idolatry is a work of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-20). Satan hides behind idols.
The only way to escape the power of Satan is by acknowledging God as the only supreme power in Heaven and on Earth and surrender to Him. We will begin to worship when we start to understand something of God's character, which are perfect, eternal, and absolute. Everything that is good and beautiful and worthy can be found in God without limit.
