Having confessed the Ten Commandments as the summary of God’s law in Question 8, Questions 9-12 now aim to give us a concise synopsis of each commandment. Here the first three commandments are fittingly presented together, for these first commandments deal directly with how we are to worship and honor God as the only true and living God.

The First Commandment reads, “You shall have no other gods before me.” While the wording of the command is negative, the catechism summarizes it positively: that we know and trust God as the only true and living God. This is because each negative prohibition in the Ten Commandments also implies a positive exhortation. We are forbidden to have others gods before the LORD because, in reality, there is none like Him. Yahweh is the only true and living God, and He alone is worthy of being our God. Indeed, the very act of honoring something as divine is to recognize its greatness and place one’s trust in it, and our hearts are prone to know and trust many such “gods.” But there is only one true and living God who is the Creator of all things, and He alone is worthy to be known and trusted as such.

The actual text of Second Commandment is significantly longer than the First:

You shall not make for yourself a carved 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. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.

Exodus 20:4-6

The catechism explanation reads: that we avoid all idolatry and do not worship God improperly. This rightly clarifies that the Second Commandment is not forbidding the making of art by way of paintings or sculptures; rather, the making of idols is being forbidden, of crafting any image for the purpose of worshiping it. Yet as the second part of the answer notes, the Second Commandment also commands that we worship God properly, as He Himself has appointed. This implication is derived from the fact that images of God are also forbidden for worship. This is because God cannot be imaged by anything other than humanity (imperfectly) and Jesus Christ (perfectly). To fashion an image of God and worship it is essentially a denial of His incomprehensible holiness. Indeed, the deaths of Nadab and Abihu are a warning that God deserves proper worship as well as exclusive worship.

The Third Commandment reads: “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.” The catechism notes that this commandment requires that we treat God’s name with fear and reverence, honoring also his Word and works. Treating God’s name with fear and reverence means honoring it as holy rather than a vanity. Since a vanity is something that is frivolous and worthless, the use of “God” or “Jesus Christ” as simple exclamations is an all-too-common breaking of this commandment. God’s name is the reflection of His being and character. To know God’s name is to know God Himself. His name is His honor, His reputation, and His character. To treat His name as vain, as common or ordinary, is, therefore, nothing less than a denial of God’s holiness and of His divinity.

To see how God’s name is always connected with His Word and works, meditating over Psalm 19 is a great place to begin.

With these commands now set before us, it is worth reminding ourselves why God’s demand for exclusive worship is not megalomania. God is not narcissistic to command us to love Him because He is the supreme object worthy of love. His worship is also for our good because He is actually God. To worship anyone or anything else is a game of charades; it’s calling a house of cards your home. After all, what husband or wife does not have the right to demand the faithful and exclusive love of his or her spouse? How much more then should the Creator expect the love of His creation?

Brothers and sisters, do not love yourself, your spouse, your children, your job, your home, your hobby, your reputation, your money, your things, your time, or anything else with all your being.

Love God.

Love Him first and last and everywhere in between. Set north on the compass of your heart, soul, and might toward love for Him. Fan this love into a flame so bright that many waters cannot quench it. Indeed, it is the only fire that will burn for eternity! Love Him so fully that every aspect of your life is fixed upon the goal of displaying the holiness and glory of His great name, where in word or deed, whether eating or drinking.