The First Commandment – God Alone

Radiant Church, April 14, 2019 Mike Rydman The First Commandment – God Alone Exodus 20:3 Exodus 20:2 I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. Exodus 20:3 You shall have no other gods before me. Why would you trust any other so-called god? Why would you trust yourself? You didn’t escape Egypt because you had a great plan, or because Pharaoh decided to be nice Syncretism: a both/and religion Monotheism: one, and only one God (an either/or religion) Israel’s problem, and our problem is that we want God and ____________. God and Baal God and Asherah God and money God and social respectability We’re happy to have God in our lives as long as He only fills a part of our lives Doug Stuart’s commentary on Exodus: 9 reasons the Israelites were so drawn to idolatry: It was guaranteed – say, do the right things, the deity shows up Cause and affect relationship. Transactional It was selfish – the gods had to eat; you feed the gods with food offerings, and they’ll do what you need in response It was easy – bring offerings, but don’t have to change your life It was convenient – worship anywhere you like It was normal – everyone (Israelite or not) did the same thing It was logical – many gods, each one specializing in an area of blessing It was pleasing to the senses – lots to see, beauty and craftsmanship It was indulgent – idol worship the time to enjoy the best food and drink Otherwise, meat was scarce It was erotic – it was believed that the gods had to mate in order for fruitful harvests and many children to happen. How to get the divine romance started? The worshippers had sex themselves. This is why there were always cult prostitutes throughout the OT. Exodus 20:3 You shall have no other gods before me. Several possible translations to the word “before” “before me,” that is “in front of me” (priority) “beside me,” that is, “alongside me” or “in addition to me” “besides me,” that is, “in my place,” or “instead of me” “over against me,” that is, “in hostile confrontation with me” The Israelites didn’t struggle with the idea of God before other gods They struggled with the idea of God as the only God – counterintuitive to the beliefs of the other nations “other gods” for us: Anything that contrasts with God as the center of meaning, value and identity Being attracted to and succumbing to multiple claims on your obedience We “worship” and “obey” whatever we value most Deuteronomy 13:4 You shall walk after the LORD your God and fear Him and keep His commandments and obey His voice, and you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him. Deuteronomy 6:10-16 And when the Lord your God brings you into the land that he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob to give you – with great and good cities that you did not build, and houses full of all good things that you did not fill, and cisterns that you did not dig, and vineyards and olive trees that you did not plant – and when you eat and are full, then take care lest you forget the Lord, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. It is the Lord your God you shall fear. Him you shall serve and by his name shall you swear. You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are around you – for the Lord your God in your midst is a jealous God – lest the anger of the Lord your God be kindled against you, and he destroy you from off the face of the earth. V12 we can easily forget God, especially when things are going well This is why giving thanks to God daily is important for us V14 we can easily believe that our blessings come from someone/something other than God V15 God is a jealous God Marriage is a good analogy: how would a faithful wife act if her husband brought home a second lover? She’d have every right to be jealous; every right to respond with passionate anger Some relationships are intended to be either/or, forsaking all others Ruth 1:16 But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Ruth knew full well what she was saying when she said this to Naomi. Jesus Christ Alone: 1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Jesus Christ Hebrews 1:3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. Philippians 2:10-11 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. John 14:6-7 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him. Psalm 119:160 the sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.