Genesis 2
God rested and sanctified the seventh dayverses 1-3
Thus the heavens and the earth were finished – and the host of them
and on the seventh day God ended HIS work which HE had made
and HE rested on the seventh day from all HIS work which
HE had made
And God blessed the seventh day and SANCTIFIED it
BECAUSE that in it HE had rested from all HIS work
which God created and made
Review of creationverses 4-7
These are the generation of the heavens and of the earth when
they were created – in the day that the LORD God made
the earth and the heavens
And every plant of the field before it was in the earth
and every herb of the field before it grew
for the LORD God had not caused it
to RAIN on the earth and there was
not a man to till the ground
BUT there went up a mist from the earth
and watered the whole face of the ground
And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground
and BREATHED into his nostrils the BREATH of life
and man became a living soul
Garden of Eden describedverses 8-14
And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden
and there HE put the man whom HE had formed
And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that
is pleasant to the sight – and good for food
and the tree of life also in the midst of the garden
and the tree of knowledge of good and evil
And a river went out of Eden to water the garden
and from thence it was parted – and became four heads
The name of the FIRST is Pishon
that is it which compasses the whole land of Havilah
where there is gold – and the gold of that land was good
there is bdellium and onyx stone
And the name of the SECOND river is Gihon
the same is it that compasses the whole land of Ethiopia
And the name of the THIRD river is Hiddekel
that is it which goes toward the east of Assyria
And the FOURTH river is Euphrates
Man put in garden to dress and keep itverse 15
And the LORD God took the man
and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and keep it
LORD gave instruction regarding treesverses 16-17
And the LORD God commanded the man saying
Of every tree of the garden thou may freely eat
but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil
you shalt not eat of it
For in the day that thou eat thereof
YOU SHALT SURELY DIE
Adam names the animalsverses 18-20
And the LORD God said
It is not good that the man should be alone
I will make him an help fit for him
And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field
and every fowl of the air – and brought them to Adam to see
What he would call them – and whatsoever Adam called
every living creature that was the name thereof
And Adam gave names to all cattle – the fowl of the air
and every beast of the field
BUT for Adam there was not found an help fit for him
Description of creation of womanverses 21-23
And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam
and he slept – and HE took one of his ribs
and closed up the flesh instead thereof
and the rib – which the LORD God had taken from man
made HE a woman
And Adam said – This is now bone of my bones – and flesh of my flesh
she shall be called Woman
BECAUSE she was taken out of man
Instructions regarding marriageverses 24-25
THEREFORE shall a man leave his father and his mother
and shall CLEAVE unto his wife
and they shall be ONE flesh
And they were both naked – the man and his wife
and were not ashamed
COMMENTARY
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it HE had rested from all HIS work which God created and made (8697 “rested” to cease, stop, be at a standstill, observe the sabbath, desist, or celebrate)
DEVOTION: The Godhead was involved in the creation of the world. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit were involved in every part of creation. They were especially concerned with the creation of man and woman. Man was made in the image of God. Jesus Christ came to this earth as a man.
Now we have God resting from creation. The seventh day was called a day of rest. When the LORD gave the Law to Moses resting on the seventh day was required. No work was to be done. They were to rest from their labors. Even in the wilderness God didn’t send manna on the seventh day. They were to gather enough for two days on Friday.
So throughout the Old Testament the children of Israel keep the seventh day holy to the LORD.
Today we remember the resurrection of Jesus Christ on the first day of the week. The Sabbath commandment or seventh day commandment was not repeated in the New Testament. The Jews still worshiped on the Sabbath day throughout the New Testament even till today. They have not accepted Jesus Christ as their Messiah.
Our worship of the LORD is done on Sunday. We are to give honor and glory to HIM in our worship. We are to honor and glorify HIM seven days a week.
CHALLENGE: Everyday needs to be a day we through the ministry of the Holy Spirit should live a holy life. Every day is a worship day especially on Sunday!!!
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. (5315 “soul” [nephash] means a breathing creature, vitality, breath, mind, life, or person)
DEVOTION: In chapter one we are told that God created man and woman on the sixth day. Now we have a longer account of what happened.
First Adam was created. God gave him the responsibility to dress and keep the Garden of Eden. HE also gave him the responsibility to name all the animals. However, in the process HE knew that it was not good for man to be alone. HE wanted to provide him a help fit or helpmate.
This helpmate was to be woman. Eve completed the first couple. Eve and Adam completed the first marriage. It was one woman and one man living together with no shame. There is even a statement for future generations that they are to leave father and mother and CLEAVE to each other. Does that mean that they are to dishonor their parents? NO!! They are to honor their parents but to start a fresh life together.
God tells Moses the greater details of the creation of man. Man was formed out of the dust of the ground. The other parts of creation were just spoken into existence. God took the time, like a potter with clay, to form man in HIS image or likeness.
After HE formed man HE got up close and personal and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. This is different that when HE created the animals.
Man is unique. Man is different from the rest of creation. Man had a personal relationship with God. God gave him special responsibilities right from the beginning. God also gave him special instruction regarding what he could eat and what he could not eat. This is the first warning in Scripture.
Here we find the first time the combination of God and LORD are used. Remember that God is the Hebrew word “Elohim” and LORD is the Hebrew word “Jehovah.” Each name gives a characteristic of God. The name Jehovah means HE is a personal God who keeps covenants with HIS people. Elohim is the plural but singular name for God showing that all three persons of the Godhead were involved in creation. So the name LORD God informs us that we serve a personal or intimate Creator. HE wants a relationship with the humans HE created. Only they can have a close relationship with HIM.
We have the creation by God of the first person, Adam. This person was able to breathe with the help of God. This person had a mind given to him by God. None of the animals were given the responsibility to name the other or to tend the garden. Man was special.
All of this was part of being created in the image of God. Once we accept Christ as our personal Savior we can use our mind the way HE wanted it used at the beginning. The New Testament tells us that we have the “mind of Christ” when we follow HIM. Let’s use our renewed mind. With each breath that we take we should thank God.
CHALLENGE: Remember that we are fearfully and wonderfully made by God. We have the breath of life from God with the purpose that we are to serve HIM. HE gave us existence – honor HIM!!!
: 9 And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. (1847 “ability, discernment, understanding, intelligence, or skillful)
DEVOTION: We have apple and pear trees in our side lot here. Each year we have a new crop. Sometimes the trees produce a good fruit. Sometimes before they are completely ripe we have someone come and pick the fruit and leave us little. So they must like the fruit.
God created the fruit trees. In this verse it is said that every fruit tree was pleasant to the eyes and good for food. When God creates something, HE calls it “good.” HE wants us to enjoy HIS creation. HE told Adam and Eve that the trees were to be eaten from except one tree. They could eat of all the rest of the trees. There is enough good trees for them to have all they needed to eat. They would not go hungry if they didn’t eat of one tree.
So God points out two trees in the Garden of Eden to get our attention. The one was the tree of life. This is mentioned again in the book of Revelation that we just finished. It takes three and a half years to go through the Bible a chapter at a time. It is good to read the book of Revelation and then begin again in the book of Genesis. We have the beginning and the end of life in these two books. In heaven those who are believers will eat of the tree of life.
Now we have the tree of the knowledge of good and evil that will be restricted according to the command of God. Remember that all the trees were good for fruit and pleasant to the eyes.
Too often we forget that God offers us so much in the area of good things that we can do and we can only think of the things HE doesn’t want us to do. We need to concentrate on all the good things we can do in our Christian life and not concern ourselves with the things that HE has restricted us from doing. It is for our own good that HE restricts them.
Our old nature keeps bugging us to do the things that HE restricts because it will never be satisfied with what HE wants us to do.
CHALLENGE: We will always find ourselves in the middle of a decision regarding obedience and disobedience.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. (1692 “cleave” [dabaq] means follow hard, joined, stay close, join to, fasten oneself to, be united, to cling, stay with, to be glued, or to adhere)
DEVOTION: How did marriage begin? We find that God started marriage. HIS design was for one man to be married to one woman for the rest of their life.
Adam and Eve didn’t have parents to leave but everyone else has had this command to obey. Too often is not obeyed by either the man or the woman in some marriages.
The idea of staying close is not as easy sometimes as others but the LORD wanted to see marriage work. The only way it was going to work is for the husband and wife to work out their differences with the LORD as the center of the marriage.
If the Scriptures state and they do that it is a one flesh relationship than that means that the couple have to work together to keep the marriage working properly. Marriage is W.O.R.K. as I preach at wedding.
Worship is the first part of the marriage that helps couples stay together. If Jesus Christ is at the center of the marriage, they can always turn to HIM in prayer for answers to whatever difficulties they face. This means that the local church should be encouraging couples to stay together. They should especially give them support when they are going through any hard times. If they need finances the church can help or show them to places that can help. If there are marital issues, they can find a good Biblical counselor to help them. A church that supports marriage between one man and one woman is an encouragement. They are honoring the LORD.
Organization is also necessary to keep the marriage going. That means the husband and wife divide the responsibilities around the house. Each does their part to help the other. It is not just a woman’s place to clean up and cook. It can be a joint effort. The man can do the dishes or laundry. Taking care of the children is a major project for a family. The husband is to be the spiritual leader in the home. He should lead the family in daily devotions which include reading the Bible, singing and prayer.
Routine is the next letter in the word. One of the problems with many marriages is that sometimes it is boring. The day to day activity can be such that there is no joy or excitement. It can cause the couple to look for some excitement outside the home. It must be accepted as part of marriage that there are going to be boring days. Sometimes couple get into a rut they don’t know how to get out of. That is when they need to do the “K” of work.
Keepsake means to go on a vacation and take a lot of pictures. Sometimes it can be a one day vacation. Every so often a couple needs to get away from the routine and do something out of the ordinary. Go out for a special dinner. Go to a place that both would enjoy going. We go to antique shops and look around. My wife likes Betsy Clark ordainments. They came before Precious Moments. They are hard to find but we keep looking. When we get together with our children and grandchildren, we take a lot of pictures to remember our times together. It is building memories that can last a lifetime.
God has ordained marriage to be between one woman and one man. HE didn’t create Adam and Steve. HE created Adam and Eve to live together for the rest of their life.
CHALLENGE: If you are married work at your marriage. There will be hard times but the LORD is able to keep you together. This honors the LORD. My wife and I have been married 49 years. This year 2017 we will be married 50 years LORD willing on August 26.
:25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. (954 “ashamed” [buwsh] means 1 to put to shame, be ashamed, be disconcerted, be disappointed. 1a (Qal). 1a1 to feel shame. 1a2 to be ashamed, disconcerted, disappointed (by reason of). 1b (Piel) to delay (in shame). 1c (Hiphil). 1c1 to put to shame. 1c2 to act shamefully. 1c3 to be ashamed. 1d (Hithpolel) to be ashamed before one another. [Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship])
DEVOTION: The first mention of shame in the Bible is a negative of shame mentioned found in this chapter. Nothing about the relationship of Adam and Eve in their unfallen state was shameful. They were able to fully communicate with and accept one another.
The idea mentioned in the preceding verse that God blesses the covenant of marriage is so that man and woman can be fully one. The means not only physically, but also emotionally and spiritually. It is the one relationship in this life (apart from our relationship with God) where we can be fully open to one another and not be fearful of one another’s condemnation.
Of course, what we often see in marriages today is that one or both partners want to change the other spouse to make them more like themselves in some way. That critical spirit is what closes down the other spouse and makes them not want to become vulnerable, less they be found lacking when seen “naked” or as they are. As far as believers are concerned, we are never truly naked in the Lord’s eyes anyway; rather, He sees each of us as clothed with the blood of Jesus Christ.
There should be no shame in the marriage relationship. Each partner should work constantly at building up the other and edifying each other. The only shame should be when God convicts us of sin toward Him.
CHALLENGE: Resolve to have a positive (and not critical) spirit toward your mate in what you say today. (MW)
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Seventh day blessed and sanctifiedverse 3
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
God – Elohimverses 2-5, 7-9, 15, 16, 18, 19, 21, 22
God rested on seventh dayverses 2-3
sanctified seventh day
Creatorverses 3, 4
LORD – Jehovahverses 4, 5, 7-9, 15, 16, 18, 19, 21, 22
LORD Godverses 4, 5, 7-9, 15, 16, 18, 19, 21, 22
LORD God planted a gardenverse 8
LORD God grew trees
Tree of Life
Tree of knowledge of good and evilverse 9
God formed every beast of the field
every fowl of the airverse 19
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Heavens and earth finishedverse 1
Earth watered with mistverse 6
Man formed out of dust of the groundverses 7, 8, 15
breath of life
living soul
put in garden to dress it and keep it
Edenverses 8-17
River
Four heads
Pison in land of Havilah
Gihon – land of Ethiopia
Hiddekel – Assyria
Euphrates
Man not to eat of tree of
knowledge of good and evilverse 17
Help meet for manverses 18, 20-25
Deep sleep on Adam
God took one of his ribs
Made a Woman
Adam named
every living creature
every fowl of the air
gave names to all cattle
gave names to fowl of the air
gave names to every beast of the fieldverses 19, 20
Man shall leave his father and mother cleave to his wife & one flesh both naked and not ashamedverses 24, 25
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on angels)
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
DONATIONS:
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QUOTES regarding passage
Adam was alone and that was not good; all else in Creation was good (cf. 1:4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 25). As man began to function as God’s representative (naming the animals [2:19–20] represented his dominion over them; cf. 1:28), he became aware of his solitude (2:20). God therefore put him to sleep (v. 21) and created Eve from his flesh and bone (vv. 21–23).
God decided to make a helper suitable (lit., “a helper corresponding to him,” or “a corresponding helper”) for the man (v. 18). “Helper” is not a demeaning term; it is often used in Scripture to describe God Almighty (e.g., Pss. 33:20; 70:5; 115:9, where it is trans. “help” in the niv). The description of her as “corresponding to him” means basically that what was said about him in Genesis 2:7 was also true of her. They both had the same nature. But what man lacked (his aloneness was not good) she supplied, and what she lacked he supplied. The culmination was one flesh (v. 24)—the complete unity of man and woman in marriage. Since Adam and Eve were a spiritual unity, living in integrity without sin, there was no need for instruction here on headship. Paul later discussed that in relationship to the order of Creation (1 Cor. 11:3; 1 Tim. 2:13). (.)Ross, A. P. (1985). Genesis. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 31). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books
The dignity of woman (vv. 18–22). The woman was by no means a “lesser creature.” The same God who made Adam also made Eve and created her in His own image (1:27). Both Adam and Eve exercised dominion over Creation (v. 29). Adam was made from the dust, but Eve was made from Adam’s side, bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh (2:23).
The plain fact is that Adam needed Eve. Not a single animal God had created could do for Adam what Eve could do. She was a helper “meet [suitable] for him.” When God paraded the animals before Adam for him to name them, they doubtless came before him in pairs, each with its mate; and perhaps Adam wondered, “Why don’t I have a mate?”
Though Eve was made to be a “suitable [face-to-face] helper” for Adam, she wasn’t made to be a slave. The noted Bible commentator Matthew Henry wrote: “She was not made out of his head to rule over him, nor out of his feet to be trampled upon by him, but out of his side to be equal with him, under his arm to be protected, and near his heart to be beloved.” Paul wrote that “the woman is the glory of man” (1 Cor. 11:7, niv); for if man is the head (1 Cor. 11:1–16; Eph. 5:22–33), then woman is the crown that honors the head. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1998). Be basic (p. 42). Colorado Springs, CO: Chariot Victor Pub.)
2:18 It is not good: This is the first time a negative assessment appears in Genesis. God did not want Adam to be lonely, so He fashioned a helper comparable to him. This phrase indicates that this helper (or partner) would be truly fitting and fully adequate—just right. Some have thought that the term is demeaning, but it simply means “one who helps,” and in fact is used to describe God when He comes to our aid (Pss. 33:20; 115:9, 10, 11). It does not refer to someone who is secondary or inferior. (Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1999). Nelson’s new illustrated Bible commentary (Ge 2:18). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.)
2:18 not good. When God saw His creation as very good (1:31), He viewed it as being to that point the perfect outcome to His creative plan. However, in observing man’s state as not good, He was commenting on his incompleteness before the end of the sixth day because the woman, Adam’s counterpart, had not yet been created. The words of this verse emphasize man’s need for a companion, a helper, and an equal. He was incomplete without someone to complement him in fulfilling the task of filling, multiplying, and taking dominion over the earth. This points to Adam’s inadequacy, not Eve’s insufficiency (cf. 1Co 11:9). Woman was made by God to meet man’s deficiency (cf. 1Ti 2:14). (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Ge 2:18). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers)
Ver. 18. And the Lord God said, &c.] Not at the same time he gave the above direction and instruction to man, how to behave according to his will, but before that, even at the time of the formation of Adam; and which he said either to him, or with himself: it was a purpose or determination in his own mind, and may be rendered, as it is by many, he had said, on the sixth day, on which man was created, it is not good that man should be alone; not pleasant and comfortable to himself, nor agreeable to his nature, being a social creature; nor useful to his species, not being able to propagate it; nor so much for the glory of his Creator: I will make him an help meet for him; one to help him in all the affairs of life, not only for the propagation of his species, but to provide things useful and comfortable for him; to dress his food, and take care of the affairs of the family; one like himself, in nature, temper, and disposition, in form and shape; or one as before him, that would be pleasing to his sight, and with whom he might delightfully converse, and be in all respects agreeable to him, and entirely answerable to his case and circumstances, his wants and wishes. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 1, pp. 19–20). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
“And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.” Before Adam was aware of his incompleteness without a wife, God anticipated his need and planned for it. God set out to create a partner for Adam, one exactly suited to him. Adam’s wife was in the mind of God long before she was ever in the arms of Adam.
Marriage is ordained of God. The whole idea originated with Him. He knows the heart’s needs of every one of His children. He plans to meet those needs. Nothing can be worse than an unhappy marriage, a marriage resulting from selfwill and courtship divorced from the mind and will of God. Can we not trust God to bring into our lives the one He has made just for us? C. S. Lewis puts some potent words into one of the letters Screwtape sent to Wormwood. Screwtape, of course, was a senior devil, Wormwood a junior devil being given instructions in the art of temptation. Wormwood’s patient, the particular human being he was supposed to be conducting safely to hell, had become a Christian. Seeking to make the best of that deplorable situation, Screwtape, among other things, advised what he called “a desirable marriage.” Admitting that marriage was God’s idea, Screwtape explained to Wormwood that marriage has its uses even for the cause of Satan. He advised Wormwood to seek out some woman in the neighborhood, marriage with whom would make his patient’s Christian life extremely difficult.
“It is not good that the man should be alone.” God’s plan for us is described as “that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:2). Surely God knows best what kind of person we should marry. (Phillips, J. (2009). Exploring Genesis: An Expository Commentary (Ge 2:18). Kregel Publications; WORDsearch Corp.)
2:18 Not good is a jarring contrast to 1:31; clearly, the situation here has not yet arrived to “very good.” I will make him can also be translated “I will make for him,” which explains Paul’s statement in 1 Cor. 11:9. In order to find the man a helper fit for him, God brings to him all the livestock, birds, and beasts of the field. None of these, however, proves to be “fit for” the man. “Helper” (Hb. ‘ezer) is one who supplies strength in the area that is lacking in “the helped.” The term does not imply that the helper is either stronger or weaker than the one helped. “Fit for him” or “matching him” (cf. ESV footnote) is not the same as “like him”: a wife is not her husband’s clone but complements him. (Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (p. 54). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.)
FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
A STEADFAST SPIRIT
Renew a right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10
One characteristic of the Christian is always this: a profound distrust of self and a realization of the power of God. Listen to David: “Create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me (Psalm 51:10). The Revised Version margin puts it this way: Renew a steadfast spirit within me.
You see, what he was conscious of was his own unsteadiness. Well might David have felt that. He was a man who had experienced God’s blessing, and he had known the joy of the Lord; and yet he had fallen into terrible sins. So he cries out for this renewal and for this reliable spirit within himself. I make bold to say that every Christian knows what this means.
A Christian is not a man who relies upon himself. It is only the Christian who knows his own weakness. It takes a Christian to see the darkness of his own heart and the frailty of his own nature. There is a type of Christian, I regret to say, who behaves as if he can do everything. He has had an experience of conversion, and now he is ready to face hell and the devil and everything. Poor fellow, he will not go very far before he loses that sense of confidence. Let him that thinketh he standeth, said the apostle Paul to such people, take heed lest he fall (1 Corinthians 10:12). No; the Christian is a man who knows his own weakness, and he is afraid of it. So he prays for a steady spirit, a reliable spirit. He wants to be a sound man.
A Thought to Ponder: The Christian is a man who knows his own weakness, and he is afraid of it. (From Out of the Depths by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, pp. 105-106.
1 Kings 7
King Hiram of Tyre supplies artisans and craftsmen to finalize the glorious temple.
INSIGHT
Not only is the work of the temple designed to reflect the splendor and glory of God, but also the layout of the temple is designed to reflect His work in atoning for our sin. The bronze laver, the candlesticks, the tables of showbread, the Holy of Holies-all are designed to picture for us the atoning work of Christ. All this is in keeping with what Paul wrote in Romans 15:4: “Whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.”
(Quiet Walk)
No Other Gods
“Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:3)
This first commandment, written by the finger of God Himself on Mount Sinai—twice (Exodus 31:18; 34:1)—contains a very intriguing choice of words.
“Thou shalt have no” is rendered from the Hebrew word lo, which is an emphatic negative: “never,” “neither,” “not,” etc. The word “other” translates the Hebrew word acher, which is derived from another word meaning “behind” or “less.” This word is also translated “following,” “next,” “[an]other,” or “strange”—in the sense of being less than the previous object. Elohim is the Hebrew word for “gods,” the term for “powerful ones.”
The Holy Spirit’s most unusual choice of words is the phrase ‘al paniym at the end of the sentence, translated “before me.” That phrase literally means “against the faces” or in the sense of “on top of.” So, a direct translation of the command would be “Never place a less powerful being on top of my faces.” It can also be rendered “Don’t ever let any other god get between your face and my face.”
Moses gave several instructions on how we are to observe the command. We are not to worship (prostrate, bow down to) any other god (Exodus 34:14), or mention (call to memory) the name of other gods (Exodus 23:13), or walk behind other gods (Deuteronomy 6:14). We are not to forget (mislay, be oblivious of) YAHWEH and in so doing serve other gods (Deuteronomy 8:18-19). We must not allow our hearts to be deceived (become broad, liberal, “open”-minded) and worship other gods (Deuteronomy 11:16). And we are not to go aside (turn off, withdraw) from the words of God and by doing so serve other gods (Deuteronomy 28:14).
No wonder our Lord Jesus called this the “first and great commandment” and insisted that we must “love the Lord thy God with all thy heart” (Matthew 22:37-38).
(HMM III, The Institute for Creation Research)
We are not offered a spiritual smorgasbord where we pick and choose what we want and where we want to serve. Rather the gifts are determined by the sovereignty of God and are assigned based upon HIS design for the congregation (v. 18). ….
As leaders of the church, we need to assist people in discovering the ministry that God has called them to and provide them opportunities to exercise their gifts for the benefit of the whole congregation.
(p. 146, Developing Leaders for the Small Church by Glenn C. Daman)
Visit our Facebook page for Small Church Ministries – please invite others to join us on Facebook. Thank you. Look for the logo from the devotionals.