God takes opportunities to reintroduce Himself to man. The Patriarchal Age. Power at Creation, Grace in clothing Adam and Eve; Faithfulness by keeping His promises. The Law. Moral perfection. “I am the Lord your God. You shall therefore consecrate yourselves, and you shall be holy; for I am holy” (Lev 11:44). Sacrifices. Jesus. “The law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (Jn 1:17). God “has in these last days spoken to us by His Son” (Heb 1:2).

God Reigns

Exodus 20:1-17

Because God reigns, He is a Sovereign God. Only One who is over all can give instructions about how all should live. “The Lord is King forever and ever” (Ps 10:16). “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever” (1 Tim 1:17).

Because God reigns, He is a Speaking God. “God spoke all these words” (v 1). Why is that important? One: God speaks in understandable terms. “From childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim 3:15). Two: God inspired words. The very words of Scripture are inspired of God. “These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches” (1 Cor 2:13).

Because God reigns, He is a Surviving God. “I am the Lord your God” (v 2). When Moses asks God for His name, Yhwh says, “I AM WHO I AM” (Ex 3:14).

Because God reigns, He is a Strong God. “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage” (v 2). God has marvelous power. God used His marvelous power to help His people. The Egyptians “set taskmasters over them to afflict them with their burdens” (Ex 1:11). Pharaoh forced the Israelites to gather their own straw and kept the quote of bricks the same (Ex 5:6-8). The keeping of the Sabbath (vv 8-11). Why did the Hebrews need to keep the Sabbath? God created the universe in six days and ceased on the seventh.

Because God reigns, He is a Singular God (vv 4- 6). God wants our total service. “You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve” (Matt 4:10). “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other” (Matt 6:24).

Because God reigns, He is a Spiritual God. “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth” (v 4). Why? Yes, God is a jealous God. But, we could never make a likeness of God. God is a Spirit (Jn 4:24). “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?” (Ps 139:7).

Because God reigns, He is a Subduing God. If God’s people made idols and worshiped them, God would visit “the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me” (v 5). But, sons cannot bear the iniquity of the father (Ez 18). My opinion: The sons learned sin from their fathers. The Lord will subdue all of His enemies. “Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord” (Rom 12:19). “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb 10:31).

God Reigns

God reigns through Jesus, our King. “The King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world’” (Matt 25:34). Jesus claims to be a king when asked by Pilate (Jn 18:37). How should we, therefore, live? Jesus taught us how. We follow the first and second great commandments, for “on these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets” (Matt 22:40).

One: We put God first. The first four commandments are about putting God first. Man was created in order to put God first (Eccl 12:13). Jesus taught us to put God first. “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me” (Matt 10:37). “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matt 22:37).

In a practical way, how do we put God first in our lives? One: We give generously to the Lord’s work “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matt 6:21). What does your budget reveal about where your heart is? Two: We bring every thought in subjection to Jesus. Paul sought to bring “every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor 10:5). Where did God factor in the last big decision you make? Three: We spend time serving God. Keep a diary and see where you are spending your time.

Two: We put others before self. The second half of the Ten Commandments refer to the way we treat our fellow man. “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matt 22:39). Why do we need to love our neighbor? “In the day that God created man, He made him in the likeness of God” (Gen 5:1). As we put others before self, we serve our fellow man. “He who is greatest among you shall be your servant” (Matt 23:11). “Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others” (Phil 2:4).

What can you do this week to look out for the interest of others? Find a Christian who needs to be served. Find a non-Christian whom you can serve.

As we look at the giving of the Law, we find that God reigns. Because God reigns, God is a Sympathetic God. God says that He shows “mercy to thousands, to those who love [Him] and keep [His] commandments” (v 6). God stands ready to forgive. Ps 103:8-14. Mic 7:18-20.

Do you need God’s mercy?

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