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Worship

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You shall have no other gods before Me The first command sets up the cornerstone for all Biblical faith. God starts off with exclusive loyalty since everything else rests on the correct relationship that God has with His people. The Israelites had just emerged from Egypt, a place where many gods were worshiped, gods like those associated with the Nile, the sun, fertility, and monarchy. So God calls for total devotion. This is more than simply commanding people to not worship other gods together with Yahweh but to worship Him as the one true God. You shall have no other gods before Me (Exodus 20:3) The phrase “before Me” refers literally to “before My face.” What this means is that God sees and knows what is taking place in our hearts regarding loyalties to Him. In other words, the command not only covers religious activities but any activity that could take center stage in one’s life apart from God.   God is unique and unique is the love and devotion demanded from Him. I...
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Transition from redemption to relationship

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Israel has reached Mount Sinai and got ready for the giving of the Law. In other words, God redeemed Israel out of Egypt, delivered them through the Red Sea, provided them with manna, gave water from the rock, and made them victorious over Amalek. But now God passes from redemption to covenant-making. Redemption from slavery can never be the ultimate purpose of God, but only the means by which He prepares His people to enter into the covenant relation with Him as their holy God. In the third month after the children of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on the same day, they came to the Wilderness of Sinai (Exodus 19:1). Israel reaches Sinai around three months after leaving Egypt. The Mount Sinai (or Horeb) becomes the most significant mount in the entire life of Israel, since God makes His covenant here. Sinai becomes the throne of the divine king, who enters into a covenant relationship with His people.   Israel Arrives at Mount Sinai Sinai becomes the place wh...
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