First Things First

Introduction

It does not take much introspection to discover what is important to us. I enjoy sports. They have been a part of much of my life. There are some who know far more than I do about the subject. I follow certain teams but not as closely as some. But if you were to catch me in my quiet moments, you will discover that I read about sports, watch sports, and used to engage in playing sports with great regularity. I receive notifications on my phone from my ESPN app about certain teams. Those who have heard me preach for any length of time know that I use illustrations from the sports realm with some frequency. There is something about the area of life that appeals. Competition. Usually clearly defined rules. Winners and loser. People who apply more energy, effort, and sweat to perform well than most of us dream about in our own jobs and hobbies. There is something about this area that appeals.

Take for example the story of Michael Phelps. Considered by most the best swimmer in the world. Participated in 4 Olympics covering a sixteen year time span. At the age of 31, Phelps will participate in his fifth Olympiad in Rio. Already with 22 medals (18 Gold), he will compete in multiple events and will in all likelihood add to his medal totals. Phelps’ workout schedule as of 2012 consists of swimming for 6 hours a day. Additionally he lifts weights three days a week. He swims 8 miles a day for 6 days a week every week of the year. His workouts consist of being timed in multiple events being sure that he is prepared. He takes Christmas off only if it falls on his off day. He consumes 12000 calories a day in order to have the energy for what he does. Is there any doubt that he is driven by the desire to compete and win?

What about you? Anything like that for you? Maybe it is a job. Maybe it is a hobby. Maybe it is a relationship. Maybe it is a goal like retirement, or having kids, or being in the best neighborhood. Is there anything that captures your attention to such a degree that you think about it a lot, pour some sweat into it, and give time, energy, and money to make it happen? What is foundational about your life. What matters most to you? Sitting in a building singing songs, sharing the Lord’s Supper, praying, and listening to a lesson probably matters to you. And you are already ahead of me in knowing where our lesson today will go. That which is familiar is difficult to hear in a fresh way. Let’s see if we can do that today as we continue our study of Deuteronomy.

Rehearsal

It has been almost 40 years. The eastern side of the Jordan River has been secured. The people now meet to hear final instructions from Moses. Moses is going to rehearse the 10 commandments. These commandments are more than just words. They are to serve the people throughout the generations. They are to be the means by which the people will know that they are following the God who brought them out of Egypt. The commands are not difficult to understand, but like any command understanding and following are two different things.

Moses begins in 5:1 with the words “Hear, Israel…” These words are not just a matter of getting their attention. The words call for not only audibly hearing the words but to follow them. Notice that in 5:2–3 that Moses points out that these commandments had been given previously at Mount Horeb or Sinai. Moses emphasizes that the laws were given to the people who were listening. There were no doubt those currently living who could remember that experience but Moses makes it personal. The commands were given to us at that mountain. We all heard. We all stood face to face with God. The point is to make this personal. The people cannot argue that the law was given to another generation. The people are hearing this law and they are reminded that the law applies to them just as it did to their ancestors.

The first command is found in 5:7 — You shall have no other gods before me. While stated in the negative, the command is actually filled with positive implications. First, notice that the commands calls for faithfulness. Loyalty to God was not merely called for without any reason. Look back at verse 6. God begins with a reminder of what he did for them in Egypt. He faithfully brought them out of Egypt. For the last 40 years he has fed them and protected them. They never lacked for anything in the wilderness. As God has been faithful so now the people must demonstrate their faithfulness. They are getting to enter a new land. It is a land occupied by those who believe that the quality of life is connected to the appeasement of other gods. Crops will grow and children will be born only if the gods are pleased with the people. But God reminds them that they had seen that in Egypt. God had taken on the gods of Egypt and won complete and utter victory. There was no competition. Remain faithful to the God who won such a victory for you. Do not place your faith in something else.

We are tempted to believe that God is only an “and.” What’s the secret of your success? Hard work and God. What’s the secret of happiness? Take care of yourself and trust God. How do you get ahead in this world? It’s who you know and don’t forget God. God isn’t an “and.” He is worthy of our faithfulness.

We do not negate hard work. We do not negate taking care of self. We do not negate rising through the ranks. But make sure that no other gods compete for your faith. So many of us are frustrated, tired, upset, and anxious because God isn’t exclusive. We are constantly trying to live so that we have forgotten the God who is true life. Denn Guptill wrote, “Life isn’t worth living if we don’t have a god worth serving.” For many of us, our God is so small and insignificant. Other gods have taken his place and God has become a mere “and.”

The second command is found in 5:8–10. “You shall make no image of any created thing to worship.” The point is that no image was to be used to reflect the true God. The image would take the place of God and it would not be long before the image didn’t just symbolize God but became the means by which God was conceived. The lack of images was intentional. God could not be adequately captured in an image, but an image could be construed as just as good as God if not taking God’s place completely.

Remember the story of the bronze snake from Numbers 21. Israel was wandering in the desert and they again complain against God. God sends poisonous snakes among the people and many die. The people cry out to God and God instructs Moses to make a snake of bronze and put it on a pole. Whenever someone is bitten, then they can look at the snake and live. What happens to objects that seem to have power? People begin to worship it or treat it as a good luck charm.

So what happens. 2 Kings 18, King Hezekiah destroys the bronze snake because the people had been burning incense to it. They treated it as an object of worship. How many years from Moses to Hezekiah? About 700. The point. Even as God is giving this command the bronze snake is among them. At some point, it becomes an object of worship violating God’s command.

You have a good luck charm? An object that represents something akin to worship for you? Something that you look at or hold and feel better? Nothing wrong with sentimentality. Nothing wrong with objects passed down through generations. But be careful that no object takes God’s place.

The third command is in 5:11. “You shall not misuse God’s name.” While this command includes the idea of blasphemy — to use God’s name in a careless way so as to curse in his name or to show contempt for God — the idea includes more than that. To misuse God’s name also includes trying to use God’s name or power to manipulate your world. It includes praying selfishly for something that is not in God’s will. It is to use God’s name in a worthless and selfish way.

Israel was going to enter a land where incantations and drug-inducing potions were used to alter the mind. All of this was done to manipulate the future or to create trust in the one who used the incantation or created the potion.

The point for us is to use God’s name only with reverence, respect, and holiness. If you pray for something (and we should) then make sure that you are visually in God’s throneroom where his holiness and awesomeness is seen. This tempers requests from being selfish.

Application

One brief point from our text. Although 40 years passed from the first giving of the 10 commandments to the time that Moses rehearsed them on the eastern side of the Jordan River, the commandments were being given as if this new generation was the first to hear them. When Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment is, his answer summed up these three commands “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” Every generation must put God’s will first. But such a decision is not made based blindly. The commands begin with a statement about what God had already done.

What has God done?

He sent his son, Jesus, for you.

He has forgiven your sins.

He has promised eternal life.

He has promised to never leave you or forsake you.

He has promised to always provide a way out when tempted.

He has promised to love you.

He has promised to hear your prayers.

He has promised to be faithful when you are not.

What will be your response be? Moses told the people to remember. We need to remember and in those memories to “hear” again the words — There will be no other gods before me. God wants you — all of you to be his. Invitation.

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