Amazing Truth Hidden in the Ten Commandments

Here are the opening words of the Ten Commandments: “I am the Lord your God…” (Exodus 20:2). God Himself then repeats this phrase in the next commandment—the one that forbids the making of images and bowing down to them. He says, “You shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God” (v. 5, emphasis added). It is then repeated a third time, this time in the next commandment: “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain” (v. 7, emphasis added). The fourth repetition is in the middle of the commandment about the Sabbath: “Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God” (vv. 9-10, emphasis added). Then, the fifth commandment uses the four-word phrase once again: “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you” (v. 12, emphasis added).

“While most would deny that they hate God, a little digging will reveal that they don’t hate their self-made image of God. Tell them that He sees their sin, is angered by it, and will hold them accountable for every idle word and lustful thought on Judgment Day, and the hostility will almost certainly become evident.”

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This four-word phrase is so important. It’s repeated more than 150 times in the Bible. So, what does it mean? Let’s look at what it doesn’t say. It doesn’t say, “I am YOUR Lord your God,” but rather, “I am THE Lord your God.” In other words, God is saying that He is the absolute Supreme Ruler of the universe—THE Lord—the ultimate Judge. He is the one to whom we have to give an account. And by adding the two words “your God,” He is saying that He is also our God—our Creator. He is not the world’s ruler. This sinful world refuses to bow to His authority. But, despite their rebellion, He is still their God—their Creator. He is THE Lord their God. This rebellion is highlighted in the second commandment:

“For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me.” (Exodus 20:5, emphasis added)

While most would deny that they hate God, a little digging will reveal that they don’t hate their self-made image of God. Tell them that He sees their sin, is angered by it, and will hold them accountable for every idle word and lustful thought on Judgment Day, and the hostility will almost certainly become evident. This hatred is again addressed in the third commandment: “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain” (v. 7). What greater evidence is there of hatred for God than to use His name as a cuss word?

This loathing of God is seen in the world’s refusal to give Him praise for His creation or to show any genuine gratitude for life. Go to any secular museum, and you’ll see thousands of examples of His creation. But note that they give the glory to anyone or anything other than God. Watch documentaries (or search secular educational materials) about the marvels of what He created and see if you can find a glimmer of glory being given to Him. Their silence is both thunderous and shameful:

Although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. (Romans 1:21)

Despite all this, He is the Lord their God. He is the God of every atheist and agnostic, of the ignorant and of the ungrateful. And the day will come when they will bow to Him as Lord. On that terrifying Day of Judgment, they will find out that Jesus Christ—the one whose name they used as a cuss word—is the ultimate authority, the one the Bible calls the King of kings and the Lord of lords:

…that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow…and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord… (Philippians 2:10-11)

Until that day, we must warn every person of that terrifying day—in the hope that they will bow before Jesus and, like unbelieving Thomas, whisper, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28).