Biblical Church Worship: A Study of the Ten Commandments Bible Study
Exodus 20:3
The First Commandment: Have No Other Gods
Readings: I Chronicle 16:28, 29; Exodus 20:3-17; Psalm 96:1-13; Deuteronomy 5:1-33

No Other Gods
We must acknowledge that other gods exist. Whether they are other humans, idols of wood, or spiritual beings, they are gods in the sense that they receive worship.
“God” as expressed in the Hebrew word “el-o-heem” can mean different entities. For example, in the Lord’s judgment of Egypt, He also judged their gods (Exodus 12:12; 18:11; Numbers 33:4). The gods of Egypt could refer to human leaders and magistrates. More than likely, these gods are idols worshipped by the Egyptian people who ultimately represented spiritual entities (demons).
In this first commandment, God explains that He is the only true God. He is the God of all gods, who stands supreme (Deuteronomy 4:35; Psalm. 96:5; Isaiah. 44:6). The Lord’s supremacy is evident because He is the Creator of all things (Genesis 1:27), the Savior of sinners (Isaiah 43:11; Acts 13:23; Titus 1:4), and the Judge of all mankind (Psalm 50:6; Acts 10:42, 43). Therefore, the Almighty gives this first commandment because He demands and deserves mankind’s sole devotion. (Deuteronomy 6:5; Joshua 23:11; Luke 14:26; I John 2:15).

Implication
There is only one God who exists supremely over all other Gods.  This supreme God names Jesus of Nazareth as His Messiah (Romans 1:4; 10:9; Philippians 2:9-11). This Jesus is declared as both Savior and Lord to whom mankind must submit (Acts 4:12; Romans 1:4; Psalm 2:11, 12; Galatians 2:20). Biblical worship begins when an individual submits to Jesus Christ as the supreme God.

​Questions to Ask Yourself
1. Who or what do I love more than Jesus Christ?
2.  Who or what do I value over Jesus Christ?
3. Who or what do you rely upon rather than Jesus Christ?

​First delivered to a fledgling Hebrew nation; the Ten Commandments established an Israelite’s duty toward God. They were the covenant made by God with Israel (Deuteronomy. 5:2). The commands, also known as The Decalogue, instructed the Hebrews how to live in respect to both God and man. Within these ten commands, lay the whole moral law.

Jesus summarizes the ten commandments as loving God and one’s neighbor (Matthew 22:36-40). By looking at the Decalogue, these two great commands can be clearly seen. The first four of the ten commands instruct how to love God (Exodus 20:3-11). The last six of the ten commands instruct how to love one’s neighbor (Exodus 20:12-17).

The ten commandments are not just for the Jews. They also apply to all men. But, under his or her own strength, no person can perfectly keep these laws. This inability to keep the ten commandments is due to the sinful nature which resides within mankind (Romans 3:23; 7:15).

The Church, those people who have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, are now enabled to obey the ten commandments. This is because believers are dead to sin and alive to God (Romans 6:11). Therefore, Christians should seek to live in obedience to the Lord’s ten commands, not to merit His favor, but because He has freed them from slavery to sin.
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The Church, when she lives in obedient submission to the Lord, is the Church at worship. Biblical worship occurs when believers, individually and corporately, present themselves as a living sacrifice and conform to godliness (Romans 12:1, 2). The ten commandments guide the Church in true worship.
If the Decalogue guides believers into worship God (which I am convinced the do), they are worth our time to examine. Let us study, meditate upon, and obey them.
Pastor Randy Weddle