What We Believe, Teach, and Confess - Love the Lord your God

English Standard Version Chapter 22

which is the great commandment in the Law?

English Standard Version Chapter 22

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.

LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.

This commandment summarizes the first three commandments.

The commandments begin with a preamble. “I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD, WHO BROUGHT YOU OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT, OUT OF THE HOUSE OF SLAVERY.”

God brings the people of Israel out of Egypt to be His people. And now that He has defeated the Egyptians and Israel is free from them, He begins to make a way for sinful man - for the sinful Israelites - to live with Him.

And this brings us to the first commandment, “YOU SHALL HAVE NO OTHER GODS.” Period.

It is as if that God is saying in this commandment, “Look. I just saved you from slavery to be my people. Therefore, I am your God. Be fearful of my wrath because you just saw what I did to the Egyptians. I have been merciful to you. Put your faith - your trust, hope, and confidence in me and love me, and I will keep you safe from your enemies.”

This is the basis for the covenant that God is making with the people of Israel. They will be saved by their faith.

2. This gives them opportunity to call upon the name of the Lord.

a. “YOU SHALL NOT MISUSE THE NAME OF THE LORD YOUR GOD.”

As God’s people we are privileged to call upon the name of the Lord. After all, God has made us His people.

We hold His name in reverence. We call Him, God, Mighty Counselor, Almighty God, Lord, Jesus, and Father, among other reverent names. Each of these names brings light to how He relates to us and us to Him.

We call upon God’s name in every trouble, pray, praise, and thanksgiving. We also use God’s name to witness to others of His works. We use it to teach the Word of God truthfully.

We ought not lie or be deceptive in using His name or flaunt it around carelessly, or use it for manipulation.

3. But we most commonly use it properly when we worship.

a. “REMEMBER THE SABBATH DAY BY KEEPING IT HOLY.”

The place where all of this comes together is here in the Sunday assembly - at church. We get to come before our God as His people, confess His Holy name, and receive His good gifts.

Notice that in this commandment God does not command us to worship. He does not command us in any of these commandments to focus on what we do for Him with our praise. Rather the emphasis here is that we rest.

The Sabbath day is a day of rest for us. It is the day that we are not burdened by our works. Rather it is a day that God serves His people with His word and Sacrament.

Think of this way, if every day of the week is defined by the work that we do, how can one day of a week be set apart and different from the other days? Obviously, the distinct would be not to work. Or if we consider it this way: How often do we take time to receive God’s word AND sacrament? For some of us, we may have a solid devotional life and read scripture every day. But if you’re anything like me, that takes a lot of work and intentionality to do even that. Sometimes just reading a couple chapters a day is hard work. But how often do we have the Scriptures read to us? How often do we get to rest and receive the Word of God? How often are we receiving the Sacrament of the Altar - the very body and blood of our Lord? Well, for most of us, only once a week.

Our worship life here at Trinity is defined by receiving (repeat). It is not in offering things up. It is not defined by doing something. Rather it is allowing a God who loves us provide for us the things we need to maintain this body and life, both physically and spiritually.

Our worship life here at Trinity is defined by confessing God’s Holy name and what He has done for our salvation. He as God came down into the flesh and dwelt among us as His people. He showed us the way we ought to live with Him in His works and through His words. And just as importantly, He showed us how we ought to die. Even in dying we confess our Lord and God because we love Him, and He loved us. For this reason He died for our transgressions and paid for our iniquities.

And He rose to new life so that those who believe may have eternal life with Him. For He is the one who saves us. He is our God and we are His people. He makes it possible for us unholy people to live in His holy presence now and forever more.