Honor the Lord

Read Exodus 20:1-11. What do you think of God? How do you speak about God? What do you do to honor God in your life?

In Hebrew terms, the Ten Commandments are the “ten words.” Alan Cole says: “The ‘ten words’ are at once the beginning and the heart of the Mosaic revelation.” Peter Enns says: “They show us something of the nature of God…we see in them not simply ‘what we must do’ but what God is like.” After reading the first four commandments, in your own words, what is God like? How does God call us to think about/speak about/do about it?

What is the basis of the Ten Commandments according to v. 2?

Peter Enns comments on the first commandment: “When they get [to Canaan], they are to remember what their God does to those, both divine and human, who oppose him.” What did God do to Egypt.

Read v. 4-6 again. What word pops out? Read Ex. 34:14. What is it not wrong that God is a “jealous” God?

There are clear blessings and curses in v. 5b-6. Peter Enns says: “Both obedience and disobedience have far-reaching implications for Israel’s life as God’s covenant people. If they disobey, the effects will be felt for a long, long time.” How have you seen this in your life? In your family history?

Tony Merida: “Idols will not satisfy. Only God will satisfy the human heart.” What idols do you struggle with in your life? To go deeper, read Rom. 1:18-25; Ezek. 14; Gal. 5:19-20. God commands “no graven images.” Alec Motyer: “Sinai brought no vision to the eyes, only a voice to the ears. Everything in worship must be ordered according to the word of God – a truth Jesus reiterated in Matthew 15:6b-9.” In what ways do we try to keep God in a box? Come to Him on our terms?

Read v. 8-11. Do you take a Sabbath each week? Why or why not? Desmond Alexander: “The Sabbath takes on a special significance, because it is the sign of the Sinai covenant (See Ex. 31:12-18; 31:1-4).”