Lesson 2 of 4
Commandments about God
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Study objective: Study the commandments concerning God: no other gods, no idols, honouring his name, and the Sabbath.
Reading: Exodus 20:3–11
Exodus 20:3–11 WEB
3“You shall have no other gods before me. 4“You shall not make for yourselves an idol, nor any image of anything that is in the heavens above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 5you shall not bow yourself down to them, nor serve them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and on the fourth generation of those who hate me, 6and showing loving kindness to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments. 7“You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who misuses his name. 8“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9You shall labor six days, and do all your work, 10but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. You shall not do any work in it, you, nor your son, nor your daughter, your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your livestock, nor your stranger who is within your gates; 11for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day; therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day, and made it holy.
Background and context
Jewish, Catholic and Lutheran, and Orthodox and Reformed traditions divide and number the commandments in slightly different ways, but the content is the same. The first commandments concern God himself; the Sabbath command gives a weekly rest to everyone, including servants, foreigners and animals.
Observe
- “You shall have no other gods before me” (20:3).
- Images for worship are forbidden (20:4-6).
- God’s name is not to be misused (20:7).
- The Sabbath rest includes servants, animals and foreigners (20:10).
Words, people and events to notice
- Sabbath
- The seventh day of rest. Exodus grounds it in creation; Deuteronomy in the rescue from slavery. Exodus 20:11Deuteronomy 5:15
Understand
- What might count as “other gods” in a modern life?
- Why is the Sabbath extended to servants and foreigners?
- How do the reasons for the Sabbath differ in Exodus 20:11 and Deuteronomy 5:15?
Connect
- Mark 2:27
Jesus: the Sabbath was made for people, not people for the Sabbath.
- 1 John 5:21
“Little children, keep yourselves from idols.”
Reflect
- What competes with God for first place in your life?
- What would a regular rhythm of rest look like for you?
Key takeaways
Editorial summary, not Scripture.
- God alone is to be worshipped.
- Rest is a gift for everyone, including the vulnerable.
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