Worship Of The One True God

Minister:
Date: AM
Text: Deuteronomy 4; Lord's Day 35
Psalters: 259, 337, 137, 374
  1. The meaning.
    1. God requires that He be worshiped, loved, and thanked as He has revealed Himself.
      1. God reveals Himself to all men in creation (Rom. 1:18,20).
      2. God further reveals Himself in His Word and in the preaching of His Word (I Cor. 1:21).
    2. Images are contrasted to God’s revelation of Himself.
      1. The lively preaching of His revelation (I Cor. 1:21) is God’s way of instructing.
      2. We must knowledgeably use Scriptures revelation out of sincere love for God.
    3. Thus, this commandment establishes the “regulative principle” of worship.
    4. The seriousness of image worship is that it is hating God.
  2. There are good reasons why we must serve God only as He has commanded.
    1. First, God is a Spirit (John 4:24), so images of Him are impossible.
    2. Second, God is infinite, in His being and in His glory, in His majesty and in each of His virtues.
    3. Third, we need not make images, because of the nature of God’s covenant with us.
    4. The fourth reason is this is how we show our love for God.
  3. There are inducements God gives for our obeying Him.
    1. First, God pursues with anger and jealousy those who hate Him by not worshiping Him as He commands.
    2. Second, God makes clear that the violation of this command bears fruit on our children.
    3. Obedience is encouraged when God promises to show His mercy on those who serve Him as He commands.
    4. Resulting admonitions.