Question: What does God require in the first, second, and third commandments?

Answer: First, that we know and trust God as the only true and living God. Second, that we avoid all idolatry and do not worship God improperly. Third, that we treat God’s name with fear and reverence, honoring also his Word and works.

Scripture: Deuteronomy 6:13-14

First Commandment. The first commandment teaches us to have no god but God. It simply commands us to do what God created us to do. Because we were designed to enjoy and glorify God, we will be most satisfied and the most joyful when we are enjoying and glorifying God. So, this first command requires us to do that which will make us the happiest.

Second Commandment. God commanded His people to worship Him and He told them the things He wants them to do in worship. God’s people are not to imitate the world when they worship. When God first gave the commandments, the temptation was to worship of statues made of gold, wood, or stone. However, in our modern culture, we do not make statues and bow down to them. Instead we create a false view of God in our imaginations. We build idols out of ideas of who or what God should be and worship that false idea of God in our minds.

Third Commandment. The third commandment teaches us what attitude to have when we worship. Any time we use the name of God, we must be careful to be very respectful, especially in our worship. The respect we are to have for God is a respect so great it has a special name: reverence. We are to be reverent when we speak about God and when we speak to God.

The content of this blog was adapted from Training Heart, Teaching Minds by Starr Meade.

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