THE FIRST AND FOREMOST IN SPIRITUALITY
REPLICA TABLET OF TEN COMMANDMENTS
In the previous article, we have understood about what is Ten Commandments and why did God give it to the Israelites. Now, it’s time to dig deeper to these commandments. Let’s start with the first, You shall have no other gods before me (Exo.20:3). Think about it for a moment. In our postmodern culture condemning the claim of exclusivity, this statement sounds very intolerant and arrogant, isn’t it? But is it true? As a Christian living at this culture, we need to have a right understanding of this first command. In doing so, context of this command is to be considered.
The Israelites had just come out of Egypt, where they had lived in one of the most polytheistic cultures ever. Polytheism is simply the worship of many gods, and it is practiced by the Egyptians. They worshipped many gods such as Khnum (guardian of the Nile), Apis (bull of god Ptah, symbol of fertility), Isis (goddess of life), Seth (protector of the crops), etc. This practiced impact the Israelites worship too. So, in the first commandment God took his stand against the gods of Egypt and against every other false deity (past, present, and future).
This is a unique command since none of the other nations in the ancient world prohibited the worship of other gods. At this point, the God of Israel was completely intolerant. But he has the right to make this kind of demand. He’s God! Remember how the first commandment is introduced. God said, “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery” (Exod. 20:2). What God commanded was based on who he was and what he had done. The ten plagues happened in Egypt are the signs of his sovereignty above gods of Egypt. They are nothing in front of him. For God, the most important aspect of faith is not how hard we believe, but in whom we believe. It’s possible to be full of sincere worship and worship the wrong God. That’s the reason for the first commandment. He wants us to worship the right God, the living and sovereign God.
Furthermore, there is other reason for this command. It’s love. Notice that in this commandment God speaks to us in the singular. God says, “You (individually) shall have no other gods before me (personally).” We do not worship a god but the God, and he wants to have an exclusive love relationship with each one of his people. Imagine the metaphor of marriage as described by Kevin DeYoung in his book titled The 10 Commandments. He said: “You cannot have a both/and relationship with your spouse. Suppose a husband came home and said, “Honey, it’s good to see you! I want to introduce someone who’s very special to me. Don’t get me wrong—you’re also very special to me. But I’ve met someone else. She’s lovely, and I’m going to spend some time with her, but also a lot of time with you! I just want to let you know that some nights, I’m going to be with her instead. I think you two will get along just fine. You’ll be great friends. You both mean so much to me.” What should a wife say in this situation? “That’s great, dear, I’m honored that I can still be a part of your life.” Hardly! The wife would say, “It’s me or her! Make up your mind.” God redeemed Israel from the bondage of Egypt and tied them with him in a love relationship so they can enjoy his love and blessings.
JESUS TAUGHT ANOTHER ASPECT OF THIS FIRST COMMANDMENT.
In sum, the first commandment isn’t arrogant at all. First, God reveals to us he is the true God worth to be worshipped by people since he is sovereign over other gods and they are nothing in front of him. This is not arrogant since God is above all. Second, He wants us to have a deep relationship with him. This holy God is not remote in heaven, inaccessible to human beings; he makes himself known to us as “your God”. This too doesn’t sound arrogant at all.
Now, how does this command apply to us today? Simply, we need to distinguish if we are worshipping him properly or not? But how do we know it? These four questions can help us (quoted from DeYoung, The 10 Commandments).
1. Whom do you praise (adoration)? You may compliment your children, spouse, and friends, but who receives your highest praise?
2. Whom do you count on (trust)? Sure, God works through means, such as doctors, insurance companies, and prescription medicine, but when you really are in need, who do you know will always come through?
3. Whom do you call for (invocation)? Where do you look for answers? Where do you turn for purpose and joy? Is it food, work, TV, your phone, or the God of the universe?
4. Whom do you thank? Where do your good days come from? Who made the trees and the stars and that cooing little baby?
If your answer for these questions is out of God then today you need to fall in a desperate gesture before him and cry this out: “I’ll have no other gods but You”. Will you?