The children and I are learning The Ten Commandments. I had never before realized how similar #1 and #2 were. I told them I would study and get back with them to teach how the two are different.
My searching led me to this:
Commandment #1 has to do with WHO we worship – “You shall have no other gods before Me.” (Exodus 20:3)
Commandment #2 has to do with HOW we worship – “You shall not make for yourself a carved image…” (Exodus 20:4-6)
An example to show the difference can be found in Exodus 32. Tired from waiting for Moses to come down from the mountain, the Israelites made a golden calf and said it was the god who brought them out of Egypt. They made an alter to it and proclaimed a feast to the LORD.
“The LORD” here is the word Yᵊhōvâ, Jehovah, the proper name of the one true God.
They knew this golden calf just crafted wasn’t the one who brought them out of Egypt. Were they worshiping the right God, but in a man-made way that didn’t please Him?
The unbelieving world around the Israelites carved idols for worship; so the Israelites modeled culture in their efforts to worship the one true God.
How often does the church do this today?
In what ways does the church model the unbelieving world around us in efforts to worship the one true God?
Is our worship of Jehovah pleasing to Him?
What kind of worship does the LORD find pleasure in?
True worship is done in spirit and truth.
“But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:23-24)
Could it be that the modern-day breaking of the #2 Commandment is to worship the one true God but not in spirit and truth?
To worship in the spirit, you have to be filled with the Spirit. To be filled with the Spirit you have to be cleansed through repentance and faith.
Has the church turned to empty worship with unrepentant hearts? Are they worshipping the right Person, but in a way that displeases Him and makes His wrath burn hot?
We need to examine ourselves to make sure we are walking in His Spirit and being led in all truth.
We need to not raise our hands until we have bowed our hearts.