Introduction: The Law is Given.
The Law was given to the Israelites by God in Mount Sinai many, many years ago. Moses describes that eventful day this way, 'and Mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly' Exodus 19: 18. (KJV). It was a powerful scene--fire, smoke, earthquake. The Children of Israel were terrified!!! But God gave us the Law, not to terrify us, but for our good. The psalmist David tells us that 'the Law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul, the statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart' Psalm 19: 7-8 (KJV). When we learn to live in accordance with God's laws, then there will be joy and not sorrow, order and not chaos, there will be peace and not strife, there will be love and not hate. Let's begin by studying each of the ten commandments individually.
Our study of the Commandments begins with the first commandment: 'Thou shalt have no other gods before me.' Exodus 20:3 (KJV). On the surface, this commandment seems quite simple. God is asking us to not worship any other god but Him. But who is God? First, God is our creator. He is also the one who sustains us with life. 'And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life: and man became a living soul.' Genesis 2: 7 (KJV). Before God breathe into man's nostrils the breath of life, man was just a lump of clay.
Second, God and His Word are one and the same. 'In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the WORD WAS GOD.' John 1: 1. There is no way to separate the Word of God and God himself. If one believes in God, he or she must accept the Holy Bible as the unequivocal, irreversible, Word of God. There is no separating the two.
Third, we know that there is only one God. God tells us in His Word that 'I am the first and the last; and beside me there is no God' Isaiah 44: 6 (KJV) Fourth, we know that God is love and God loves us. 'Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not, knoweth not God; for God is love.' 1 John 4: 7-8. God loved us so much that He sent his only begotten Son to die for us that His blood would be the cleansing agent for our sins. Fifth, God is a Spirit. 'God is a Spirit; and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.' John 4: 24 (KJV) We cannot see God. We cannot touch him, but we can sense his presence. Just as we cannot see the wind, we can feel it, we know that it exists. So it is with God.
But what is a god? A 'god' is any object -- animate or inanimate -- that we choose to worship above God. A 'god' can be a job, a child, a spouse, money, material possessions, etc. that we place above God. Take this simple test. Who do you think of when you wake up in the morning? What gives you the most pleasure in life? Who do you turn to in times of trouble? In times of joy and celebration? What activities consume the bulk of your time? If you did not answer 'God' to most of these questions, then its time to reevaluate your priorities.
Now that we have an idea of who God is and how He differs from a 'god,' let us ensure that we worship the true, living and ONLY God. God reiterates his command again by saying 'Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him only shalt thou serve.' Matt 4:10 (KJV).
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