The Big Ten: Worship

That’s the difference between the two. God says, “Put me, the Lord your God, before all other gods, and don’t be making images that will distract you from worshipping me properly.” The First Commandment is spiritual adultery. God doesn’t want his people sleeping around with other gods. He wants to be married to his people only and exclusively. The Second Commandment would be like some form of abuse within a marriage. Sure, it’s one thing being faithful, it’s a whole other thing treating your spouse

The famous story of the Golden Calf found in helps us distinguished between the first two commands. All of Israel camps at the base of Mt. Sinai waiting for Moses to return. Moses’ brother Aaron found himself in a very difficult situation when the people of Israel got impatient and asked him to make gods for them. They wanted an image, an idol, something they can physically see, which represented the God who took them out of Egypt. Without arguing, Aaron ordered the people to donate their gold jewellery. He took gold, melted it, and cast an image in the shape of a calf. I’ve often wondered what Aaron was thinking as he took tools to carve this golden calf, as he carved the ears or neck. Once his little project was finished, Aaron declared to Israel that the next day would be one big party dedicated to, whom? Yahweh, the Lord God who took them out of Egypt.

Which command was broken?

Please turn with me to . We move from the foot of Mt. Sinai, to the plains of Moab. In this passage Israel has just wondered the wilderness for 40 years, and they gather in front of the Jordan River about to march into Canaan. Moses reminds Israel of their parent’s experience at the foot of Mt. Sinai with these words, “You came near and stood at the foot of the mountain (Mt. Sinai) while it blazed with fire to the very heavens…” Verse 12, “Then the LORD spoke to you out of the fire. You heard the sound of words but saw no form; there was only a voice. Verse 15, “You saw no form of any kind the day the LORD spoke to you at Horeb (Mt. Sinai) out of the fire. Therefore watch yourselves very carefully, so that you do not become corrupt and make for yourselves an idol, an image of any shape,” and notice how this next part reflects the Second Commandment, “whether formed like a man or a woman, or like any animal on earth or any bird that flies in the air, or like any creature that moves along the ground or any fish in the waters below…” Verse 20, “But as for you, the LORD took you and brought you out of the iron-smelting furnace, out of Egypt, to be the people of his inheritance, as you now are.” Notice the words used here. The LORD took Israel out of the iron-smelting furnace, Egypt. How did Israel great the Golden Calf? Out of an iron-smelting furnace. In other words, God says, “I formed you into a God fearing nation, so don’t you go ahead form me into whatever you wish?” God shapes us into his likeness, not the other way around.

BE SHAPED rather than SHAPE

Please turn with me to . We move from the foot of Mt. Sinai, to the plains of Moab. In this passage Israel has just wondered the wilderness for 40 years, and they gather in front of the Jordan River about to march into Canaan. Moses reminds Israel of their parent’s experience at the foot of Mt. Sinai with these words, “You came near and stood at the foot of the mountain (Mt. Sinai) while it blazed with fire to the very heavens…” Verse 12, “Then the LORD spoke to you out of the fire. You heard the sound of words but saw no form; there was only a voice. Verse 15, “You saw no form of any kind the day the LORD spoke to you at Horeb (Mt. Sinai) out of the fire. Therefore watch yourselves very carefully, so that you do not become corrupt and make for yourselves an idol, an image of any shape,” and notice how this next part reflects the Second Commandment, “whether formed like a man or a woman, or like any animal on earth or any bird that flies in the air, or like any creature that moves along the ground or any fish in the waters below…” Verse 20, “But as for you, the LORD took you and brought you out of the iron-smelting furnace, out of Egypt, to be the people of his inheritance, as you now are.” Notice the words used here. The LORD took Israel out of the iron-smelting furnace, Egypt. How did Israel great the Golden Calf? Out of an iron-smelting furnace. In other words, God says, “I formed you into a God fearing nation, so don’t you go ahead form me into whatever you wish?” God shapes us into his likeness, not the other way around.

How about the image of God as an Army Captain. God is someone who walks around in our barracks making sure our beds are creaseless, or that our army boots reflect like mirrors. He’s out to catch ya! When he does, he takes out is clipboard, writes down your name, and gives you a punishment. This is the image of the God of Guilt. Not a lot of grace can thrive in a relationship like this. In fact, it’s not much of a relationship at all. God is a distant authority figure, and Christianity is reduced to a religion of morality and duty. There is no walk with Jesus. Prayer is a chore rather than a privilege. This image of God breaks the Second Commandment.

How about the image of God as an Army Captain. God is someone who walks around in our barracks making sure our beds are creaseless, or that our army boots reflect like mirrors. He’s out to catch ya! When he does, he takes out is clipboard, writes down your name, and gives you a punishment. This is the image of the God of Guilt.

Not a lot of grace can thrive in a relationship like this. In fact, it’s not much of a relationship at all. God is a distant authority figure, and Christianity is reduced to a religion of morality and duty. There is no walk with Jesus. Prayer is a chore rather than a privilege. This image of God breaks the Second Commandment.

Now another popular image of God is the opposite extreme to God as Army Captain. Some of us may view God as Santa Clause. He’s the jolly good fellow who really doesn’t enforce the rules too much. He’s the red cheeked, white-bearded, fat man with a chocolate chip cookie diet. He’s not all that keen for us to set a meat and potatoes kind of meal. We’re told we just have to do good things in order to get Christmas presents, but deep inside, whether you’re good or not, you’re going to receive presents at Christmas anyway. God as Santa Clause is also not a relationship of grace. There’s no real commitment. There’s absolutely no concept of morality or duty. Church is overrated. Giving money to the church isn’t all that important, the bills will get paid. This image of God breaks the Second Commandment.

God as Santa Clause is also not a relationship of grace. There’s no real commitment. There’s absolutely no concept of morality or duty. Church is overrated. Giving money to the church isn’t all that important, the bills will get paid. This image of God breaks the Second Commandment.

Introduction:

Some of you may view God as old fashioned. He’s an old man walking around with cracked clompen on his feet. He doesn’t have a whole lot of relevant things to say to us anymore. He’s obsolete. Why bother beginning a relationship with a dying old man?

A couple of days ago a friend from Friendship came in my office to express a concern she had about God. During this time of Easter, she had it in her mind that God took advantage of Jesus by killing him on the cross. Yes, Jesus may have been raised from the dead, but why did God take advantage of Jesus by killing him? Why does God still take advantage of people today who die for their faith. She sat in my office downright scared to believe in a god who takes advantage of people. Images of God effect the way we worship. For this friend, she couldn’t get herself to believe in God let alone worship him.

Introduction:

Grace than gratitude

Difference between First and Second Commandment

Experience of grace this past week: Triune Plumbing

RC and L. combine the first 2 commandments.

Our 3rd commandment is there 2nd.

· They split the tenth one into 2.

They split the tenth one into 2.

Body: :

Outline:

Part I: Right Religion vs. Right Worship

Difference between First and Second Commandment

The same? RC and L. combine the first 2 commandments.

RC and L. combine the first 2 commandments.

Our 3rd commandment is there 2nd.

They split the tenth one into 2.

Who to worship vs. How to Worship

How to worship is important to God!?

Jealous:

“Fiercely protective and unaccepting of loyalty.”

Total commitment to the true vision of God!

“Fiercely protective

- “Fiercely protective and unaccepting of loyalty.”

Part II: Story of Fiercely Protective and Unaccepting of Loyalty

vs. 5: When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it. And Aaron made a proclamation and said, ‘Tomorrow shall be a feast to the LORD.”

What command was broken? Second!

And the breaking of the second makes God really, really mad!

vs. 10. “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.”

God hates this taking limiting, reducing, subtracting image way of worship! So much so that He suggested to start all over again with Moses and his family!

Moses confront his brother Aaron who was supposed to take care of things:

vs. 24: Aaron: “So I said to them, ‘Let any who have gold take it off.’ So they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf.”

24 So I said to them, ‘Let any who have gold take it off.’ So they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf.”

Theme:

Proper Worship:

It is spiritual suicide to put God in an image.

It’s an impossibility to put something boundless into something with bounds, thereby making God comprehensible. When we bring God down to our level, then we are deleting God.

God hates it when we put limits on Him because then we are no longer worshipping Him.

Jealous God!

: My Name is Jealous

God remains jealous today!

: My Name is Jealous

vss.13-14: You shall tear down their altars and break their pillars and cut down their Asherim (for you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God)

Analogy: King and a peasant girl

Zealous for our Pure Attention

How to understand this? Like marriage between a King and a peasant girl

“I think we need to start seeing other people.”

King falls in love with a peasant girl and invites her to be the Queen.

Queen comes in and says, King, I want to show you a project I’m working on. It’s King Robot, made to look like you. Technology is all the rage right now...

Kings response!

Why wouldn’t you want to spend time with me?

I chose you exclusively, therefore you need to chose me exclusively. You can’t recreate something like me?

Reputation Limitation: It’s an affront to my reputation for people in the streets to see a truncated version of me. It’s going to look so bad on me! I’m the King, I have a reputation to uphold in my country.

It’s an affront to my reputation is people in the streets see a truncated version of me. It’s going to look so bad on me! I’m the King, I have a reputation to uphold in my country.

Sovereignty Limitation: It’s an affront to my sovereignty if the queen thinks I can be reduced to a heartless, soulless piece of technology.

Attention Limitation: You won’t spend time with me because you’ll spend all your time invested in keeping this robot going.

The King Expect total attention from His wife, and anything less, especially something created, would be taking away

Why not make anything?

Part II: WHY not make anything?

Why not make anything?

vs.15a: You didn’t see anything!

God went out of His way to make sure no one saw Him. You didn’t see anything, so don’t go and start making stuff!

vs. 15b-19: Don’t become Corrupt and make an Idol

Any shape...

...Around the earth:

Man or woman

Animal on earth

Bird in the air

Creature that moves on the ground

Fish in the waters below

...In the Sky

Sun

Moon

Stars

All the host of heaven

“Things that the Lord your God has allotted [NIV: apportioned] to all the peoples under the whole heaven.”

These are the gifts for everyone equally to be enjoyed and shared.

God gave them as gifts, not as things that could be used to represent God.

How we Create Corrupted God-Shapes

Santa Claus: God of Karma

You better watch out You better not cry Better not pout I'm telling you why Santa Claus is coming to town

Left out if bad.

He's making a list He's checking it twice; He's gonna find out who's naughty or nice Santa Claus is coming to town

Tooth Fairy:

He sees you when you're sleeping He knows when you're awake He knows when you've been bad or good So be good for goodness sake!Tooth Fairy:

He sees you when you're sleeping He knows when you're awake He knows when you've been bad or good So be good for goodness sake!

Tooth Fairy: God of Rewards: No relationship. But you know He exists and He comes and goes when you have a need. He creeps in and out but you don’t know when or how.

No relationship. But you know He exists and He comes and goes when you have a need. He creeps in and out but you don’t know when or how. You just have certain issues in life and

Army Captain: God of Guilt: God is someone who walks around in our barracks making sure our beds are creaseless, or that our army boots reflect like mirrors. He’s out to catch ya! When he does, he takes out his clipboard, writes down your name, and gives you a punishment. This is the image of the God of Guilt. Not a lot of grace can thrive in a relationship like this. In fact, it’s not much of a relationship at all. God is a distant authority figure, and Christianity is reduced to a religion of morality and duty. There is no walk with Jesus. Prayer is a chore rather than a privilege. This image of God breaks the Second Commandment.

God is someone who walks around in our barracks making sure our beds are creaseless, or that our army boots reflect like mirrors. He’s out to catch ya! When he does, he takes out his clipboard, writes down your name, and gives you a punishment. This is the image of the God of Guilt. Not a lot of grace can thrive in a relationship like this. In fact, it’s not much of a relationship at all. God is a distant authority figure, and Christianity is reduced to a religion of morality and duty. There is no walk with Jesus. Prayer is a chore rather than a privilege. This image of God breaks the Second Commandment.

Magic Genie: Prayer: God of Accommodation: God is someone I keep tucked away in a safe place no one can get to. If I need something, I pull him out rub the Bible and voila, there He is to accommodate my needs.

God is someone I keep tucked away in a safe place no one can get to. If I need something, I pull him out rub the Bible and voila, there He is to accommodate my needs.

Jesus: Savior of the 60s

White guy with white robe and blue sash.

Jesus: White guy with white robe and blue sash. Jesus had the blue

Jim Caviezel

Nothing to attract us to him...

But now how do we understand this passage in light of who Jesus is?

But how do we understand this passage in light of who Jesus is:

: He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

: For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell.

19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,

Not the

Jesus is the fullness of the Invisible God

Mystery of the Incarnation: God in the flesh:

You shall not make for yourself an image of me, but that doesn’t mean I can’t make an image of myself!

We are created to be conformed into the image of the Son.

Romans 8:17

We are created to be conformed into the image of the Son.

Like Father, like Son, like Son, like followers.

: And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son.

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son,

vs. 20: But the Lord has taken you and brought you out of the iron furnace, out of Egypt, to be a people of his own inheritance, as you are this day...

But the Lord has taken you and brought you out of the iron furnace, out of Egypt, to be a people of his own inheritance, as you are this day...

vs. 20: But the Lord has taken you and brought you out of the iron furnace, out of Egypt, to be a people of his own inheritance, as you are this day...

He takes us and shapes

For what purpose? To be a people of his own inheritance:

OT: Land: “settled possession”

NT: “Receive property as the result of the death of someone.”

Inheritance= Salvation. Forgiveness. Wholeness. Healing.

Co-heirs with Christ!

Discipleship=Faith Formation. Allow God to shape you.

You are powerless to change yourself.

Glory is shared with us:

NT: Receive property as the result of the death of someone

OT: Hort: “No implication of hereditary succession… The sense is rather ‘sanctioned and settled possession.”

The Big Ten: Worship

Right Worship

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