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fiery law for them。 Yea； He loved the people； all His saints are in Thy
hand： and they sat down at Thy feet； every one shall receive of Thy words。〃
Deuteronomy 33：2； 3。
Jehovah revealed Himself； not alone in the awful majesty of the judge and
lawgiver； but as the compassionate guardian of His people： 〃I am the Lord
thy God； which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt； out of the house
of bondage。〃 He whom they had already known as their Guide and Deliverer；
who had brought them forth from Egypt； making a way for them through the
sea； and overthrowing Pharaoh and his hosts； who had thus shown Himself to
be above all the gods of EgyptHe it was who now spoke His law。
The law was not spoken at this time exclusively for the benefit of the
Hebrews。 God honored them by making them the guardians and keepers of His
law； but it was to be held as a sacred trust for the whole world。 The
precepts of the Decalogue are adapted to all mankind； and they were given
for the instruction and government of all。 Ten precepts； brief；
comprehensive； and authoritative； cover the duty of man to God and to his
fellow man； and all based upon the great fundamental principle of love。
〃Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart； and with all thy soul；
and with all thy strength； and with all thy mind； and thy neighbor as
thyself。〃 Luke 10：27。 See also Deuteronomy 6：4； 5； Leviticus 19：18。 In the
Ten Commandments these principles are carried out in detail； and made
applicable to the condition and circumstances of man。
〃Thou shalt have no other gods before Me。〃
Jehovah； the eternal； self…existent； uncreated One； Himself the Source and
Sustainer of all； is alone entitled to supreme reverence and worship。 Man is
forbidden to give to any other object the first place in his affections or
his service。 Whatever we cherish that tends to lessen our love for God or to
interfere with the service due Him； of that do we make a god。
〃Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven 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： thou shalt not bow down thyself to them； nor serve
them。〃
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The second commandment forbids the worship of the true God by images or
similitudes。 Many heathen nations claimed that their images were mere
figures or symbols by which the Deity was worshiped； but God has declared
such worship to be sin。 The attempt to represent the Eternal One by material
objects would lower man's conception of God。 The mind； turned away from the
infinite perfection of Jehovah； would be attracted to the creature rather
than to the Creator。 And as his conceptions of God were lowered； so would
man become degraded。
〃I the Lord thy God am a jealous God。〃 The close and sacred relation of God
to His people is represented under the figure of marriage。 Idolatry being
spiritual adultery； the displeasure of God against it is fitly called
jealousy。
〃Visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and
fourth generation of them that hate Me。〃 It is inevitable that children
should suffer from the consequences of parental wrongdoing； but they are not
punished for the parents' guilt； except as they participate in their sins。
It is usually the case； however； that children walk in the steps of their
parents。 By inheritance and example the sons become partakers of the
father's sin。 Wrong tendencies； perverted appetites； and debased morals； as
well as physical disease and degeneracy； are transmitted as a legacy from
father to son； to the third and fourth generation。 This fearful truth should
have a solemn power to restrain men from following a course of sin。
〃Showing mercy unto thousands of them that love Me； and keep My
commandments。〃 In prohibiting the worship of false gods； the second
commandment by implication enjoins the worship of the true God。 And to those
who are faithful in His service； mercy is promised； not merely to the third
and fourth generation as is the wrath threatened against those who hate Him；
but to thousands of generations。
〃Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain： for the Lord will
not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain。〃
This commandment not only prohibits false oaths and common swearing； but it
forbids us to use the name of God in a light or careless manner； without
regard to its awful significance。 By the thoughtless mention of God in
common conversation； by appeals to Him in trivial matters； and by the
frequent and
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thoughtless repetition of His name； we dishonor Him。 〃Holy and reverend is
His name。〃 Psalm 111：9。 All should meditate upon His majesty； His purity and
holiness； that the heart may be impressed with a sense of His exalted
character； and His holy name should be uttered with reverence and solemnity。
〃Remember the Sabbath day； to keep it holy。 Six days shalt thou labor； and
do all thy work： but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God： in
it thou shalt not do any work； thou； nor thy son； nor thy daughter； thy
manservant； nor thy maidservant； nor thy cattle； nor thy stranger that is
within thy gates： for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth； the sea；
and all that in them is； and rested the seventh day： wherefore the Lord
blessed the Sabbath day； and hallowed it。〃
The Sabbath is not introduced as a new institution but as having been
founded at creation。 It is to be remembered and observed as the memorial of
the Creator's work。 Pointing to God as the Maker of the heavens and the
earth； it distinguishes the true God from all false gods。 All who keep the
seventh day signify by this act that they are worshipers of Jehovah。 Thus
the Sabbath is the sign of man's allegiance to God as long as there are any
upon the earth to serve Him。 The fourth commandment is the only one of all
the ten in which are found both the name and the title of the Lawgiver。 It
is the only one that shows by whose authority the law is given。 Thus it
contains the seal of God； affixed to His law as evidence of its authenticity
and binding force。
God has given me six days wherein to labor； and He requires that their own
work be done in the six working days。 Acts of necessity and mercy are
permitted on the Sabbath； the sick and suffering are at all times to be
cared for； but unnecessary labor is to be strictly avoided。 〃Turn away thy
foot from the Sabbath； from doing thy pleasure on My holy day； and call the
Sabbath a delight； the holy of the Lord； honorable； and 。 。 。 honor Him； not
doing thine own ways； nor finding thine own pleasure。〃 Isaiah 58：13。 Nor
does the prohibition end here。 〃Nor speaking thine own words；〃 says the
prophet。 Those who discuss business matters or lay plans on the Sabbath are
regarded by God as though engaged in the actual transaction of business。 To
keep the Sabbath holy； we should not even allow our minds to dwell upon
things of a worldly character。 And the commandment includes all within our
gates。 The inmates of the
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house are to lay aside their worldly business during the sacred hours。 All
sho