No other gods

Introduction: A Sunday school teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with her class of five and six-year-olds. After explaining the commandment to honor thy father and thy mother, she asked, "Is there a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?"

Without missing a beat, one little boy answered, "Thou shall not kill."

A Cub Scouts chaplain would close each meeting with a devotion and prayer. One night he asked the boys what some of God's commandments were. There were many correct answers that were shouted out before a little voice called from the back: "Don't drink and drive."

Today we are beginning a new series that I am calling, “Thou Shalt…The Ten Commandments.” We will be spending the next several weeks looking at these commandments that are found in Exodus 20. I want us to see not only what these commandments meant for Israel, but what they also mean for the church today.

Pray

Before we read our passage, we need to know a few things. In the original language, the ten commandments are known as YHWH’s ten words. This can also mean Decalogue. These commands are meant to bring freedom. James 1:25 says,

James 1:25 ESV

But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

When one is dominated by disrespect for their parents, workaholism, violence, envy, theft, and lies, there is no freedom. These ten words, these ten commandments are meant to bring freedom. You also should know that not all Christians see the Ten Commandments the same. By that I mean, in the same order.

Catholic and Lutheran

1. No other gods and no images. 2. Don’t take name of God in vain. 3. Remember Sabbath. 4. Honor father and mother. 5. Do not kill. 6. Do not commit adultery. 7. Do not steal. 8. Do not bear false witness. 9. Do not covet house. 10. Do not covet your neighbor’s wife, etc.

Reformed and Other Protestants

1. No other gods

2. No images.

3. Don’t take name of God in vain.

4. Remember Sabbath.

5. Honor father and mother.

6. Do not kill.

7. Do not commit adultery.

8. Do not steal.

9. Do not bear false witness.

10. Do not covet.

Read: Exodus 20:1-21

To the nation of Israel, these commandments were much more than laws. They were part of a covenant that God had made with them. The tragic part of all of this is that the nation of Israel could not keep these laws and uphold their end of the covenant. Thankfully, these laws did not mean salvation. The commandments were not given to save. Salvation does not come through works. Rather through Jesus Christ the Messiah, we can be saved. The law reveals God’s righteousness and his desire for our righteousness, but the law itself is not our righteousness. Only Jesus can accomplish that. The law is a mirror that reveals our need for cleansing, but it is only Jesus that can make us clean by His blood. We are given the Holy Spirit, not because of our obedience to the law, but our because of our trust in Jesus. One of the main purposes that the law was given was to prepare the way for the coming of the Messiah, Jesus. The nation of Israel needed guidance through life and this was one of the ways God chose to do it. However, once the Messiah came, the ceremonial laws were fulfilled in Jesus. The moral content of the law still remains. Nine of the ten commandments are repeated in the New Testament, the only one that isn’t is the Sabbath commandment which will be discussed later in the series. These ten commandments all deal with our view of God, however, the first four deal specifically with our relationship towards God, while the last six deal with our relationship with others.

Today, I want to look at the first commandment. That commandment is...

No other gods

Let’s read Exodus 20:1-3

Exodus 20:1–3 ESV

And God spoke all these words, saying, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. “You shall have no other gods before me.

I want to start with recognizing something here. “the LORD Your God” is mentioned five times throughout the ten commandments, vs 3,5,7,10, and 12. I believe this is done as a reminder that it is God that has supreme authority. These are not God’s ten suggestions, or even opinions, these are his commandments. This first one is an important to understand for Israel. Their culture was one of many gods and superstitions. It was a scene that they had witnessed, and even participated in, in Egypt. As far as we know, God is calling them and commanding them to observe something that is completely foreign in their land, that is the worship of one God.

Israel is commanded to only worship the one true God, YHWH, and to be witnesses to those around them of the power of God. While all the other Ancient Near Eastern people groups submitted themselves to many gods, YHWH, the one true God, is commanding Israel to acknowledge and submit themselves to only Him. The phrase, “before Me,” can actually mean “in opposition of Me.” For Israel to put other gods before Him, would mean a declaration of war on Him. When one opposes God, that means they can incur His wrath.

So, what about us? I mean, could God really be talking to us as well? YES! It was Martin Luther that said, “for he who fulfils the First Commandment has no difficulty in fulfilling all the rest.”- Martin Luther. The problem is, there are many in the church today that struggle with this command.

Other gods does not necessarily mean a deity. It means anything that we put before God almighty. It could be a relationship, your family, a civic organization or club, your job, your finances. Is God truly first in your life?! This isn’t about how we rank God. In the Hebrew this first command literally means that there are no other gods in His presence. That means your loyalty only belongs to Him.

When we put other gods before the one true God, we are putting our fear, love, and trust in something else besides Him. What might this look like? Fearing others opinions about you, being overcome by worries, falling into the trap of desiring just a little more money to make you happy. These are often what accompanies our lives when we choose other gods before the one true God.

We must recognize, acknowledge, and submit to the one and only God. Deuteronomy 6:4 says,

Deuteronomy 6:4 ESV

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.

Do you believe that?

Conclusion: What are the gods that you are placing before the one true God? It’s time to get rid of them, repent, and place God Almighty on the throne. There are no other gods before Him. He is the giver or life. Salvation is found in nothing or no one else outside of Jesus. I challenge you to examine your life today. Where are your loyalties? Who gets all of your attention and worship? Let’s resolve today to worship only the one tru God.

Pray