"you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. 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, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments." (Exodus 20:5-6)
The Israelites were a cherished treasure before God. He chose them to be a vessel of honor to His name (Deuteronomy 7:7-8). If the Jews remained loyal to Him, then that would ensure their continual protection and support. He would regularly bless Israel. God unambiguously condemned the worship of heathen deities. He required that His people serve Him in ways that He ordains. God would punish descendants who followed in their parent's idolatrous footsteps.
The love and mercy of God is extended to all who love Him. These realities will be manifested for eternity. God is devoted to those who love and serve Him. These people have found favor in His sight. His love for sinners is unbounded. His mercy is immeasurable. If we truly love God, then we will keep His commandments (John 14:15).
The Israelites were a cherished treasure before God. He chose them to be a vessel of honor to His name (Deuteronomy 7:7-8). If the Jews remained loyal to Him, then that would ensure their continual protection and support. He would regularly bless Israel. God unambiguously condemned the worship of heathen deities. He required that His people serve Him in ways that He ordains. God would punish descendants who followed in their parent's idolatrous footsteps.
The love and mercy of God is extended to all who love Him. These realities will be manifested for eternity. God is devoted to those who love and serve Him. These people have found favor in His sight. His love for sinners is unbounded. His mercy is immeasurable. If we truly love God, then we will keep His commandments (John 14:15).
God is said to be "jealous" only in contexts relating to idolatry. The Hebrew term used here is "qanna" and underscores that He fervently wants us to serve Him. Our worship and loyalty belongs to Him alone. The backdrop of this passage would be that the Israelites were vulnerable to worship the gods of pagans in neighboring lands due to coming from Egypt, which contained the worship of many gods. They were desensitised to this issue. Idolatry was a problem for them time and time again.
The Mosaic Law made known the way in which God's redeemed people were to live before Him. This is evident in the preface to the Ten Commandments: "I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, therefore..." First, God redeemed Israel. Then, He gave instructions as to how His redeemed people would walk before Him. Consequently, the Mosaic Covenant could not have been a system of works righteousness. We recognize the same pattern found in the New Testament: justification followed by sanctification.
The Mosaic Law made known the way in which God's redeemed people were to live before Him. This is evident in the preface to the Ten Commandments: "I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, therefore..." First, God redeemed Israel. Then, He gave instructions as to how His redeemed people would walk before Him. Consequently, the Mosaic Covenant could not have been a system of works righteousness. We recognize the same pattern found in the New Testament: justification followed by sanctification.
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