Lord's Day 22

Week 21 :: Week 22 :: Week 23

Devotion

The first commandment teaches that there is only one God, and we are to have no other gods before the Lord. In addition to the prohibition of idolatry (which we will explore next week), this command also teaches that, because the God who is revealed in Scripture is the only true God, we are to know and acknowledge Him as such, and worship Him accordingly. 

Perhaps you have never doubted the existence of God, have never needed to be convinced that the God of the Bible was real. Good for you! It is not enough, however, to acknowledge that God exists – even the demons will do that. We must also make every attempt to know God. Everything we need to know about God for our salvation is clearly revealed in Scripture. To know God, we must study His word. 

We also know God through worship. In worshiping God, we ascribe praise and glory to him, encountering His presence in prayer and song, in receiving and offering forgiveness, in hearing and meditating upon God’s word written and proclaimed, and in the sacraments we share. However, the way we worship God is as important as worship itself. Worship must be guided by scripture, we worship God has he has told us. The Westminster Confession states, “The acceptable way of worshiping the true God is instituted by Himself, and so limited by His own will, that he may not be worshiped according to the imaginations and devices of men… or any other way not prescribed in Scripture.” In other words, we can’t just do what we please, we come to God as God would have us come. This does not mean that our worship must cling to ancient rites, forms and traditions. Rather, our worship must be guided by the principles of scripture; we must worship God in spirit and truth. 

Prayer

Gracious God, we give you thanks and praise for revealing yourself to us, that we may know you and worship you as the one true God. May we continue to study your word to know you better, and may our worship bring you glory and draw us closer to you. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Question 45

Q. 45. Which is the first commandment?

A. The first commandment is, Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

Scripture Proofs

Ex. 20:3.

“You shall have no other gods before me.

Question 46

Q. 46. What is required in the first commandment?

A. The first commandment requireth us to know and acknowledge God to be the only true God, and our God, and to worship and glorify him accordingly.

Scripture Proofs

1 Chr. 28:9;

“And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever.

Deut. 26:17;

You have declared today that the Lord is your God, and that you will walk in his ways, and keep his statutes and his commandments and his rules, and will obey his voice.

Matt. 4:10;

Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written,

“ ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’ ”

Ps. 29:2.

Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;

worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.