Question 106
What are we specially taught by these words “before me” in the first commandment?
These words before me, or before my face, in the first commandment, teach us, that God, who seeth all things, taketh special notice of, and is much displeased with, the sin of having any other God: that so it may be an argument to dissuade from it, and to aggravate it as a most impudent provocation:a as also to persuade us to do as in his sight,: Whatever we do in his service.b
What are we specially taught by these words “before me” in the first commandment?
These words before me, or before my face, in the first commandment, teach us, that God, who sees all things, takes special notice of, and is much displeased with, the sin of having any other God: that so it may be an argument to dissuade from it, and to aggravate it as a most impudent provocation:a as also to persuade us to do as in his sight,: Whatever we do in his service.b
a. Ezekiel 8:5–6; Psalm 44:20–21
Ezekiel 8:5–6
8:5 Then said he unto me, Son of man, lift up thine eyes now the way toward the north. So I lifted up mine eyes the way toward the north, and behold northward at the gate of the altar this image of jealousy in the entry. 8:6 He said furthermore unto me, Son of man, seest thou what they do? even the great abominations that the house of Israel committeth here, that I should go far off from my sanctuary? but turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations.
8:5 "Son of man," He said to me, "now lift up your eyes to the north." So I lifted up my eyes to the north, and in the entrance north of the Altar Gate I saw this idol of jealousy. 8:6 "Son of man," He said to me, "do you see what they are doing-the great abominations that the house of Israel is committing-to drive Me far from My sanctuary? Yet you will see even greater abominations."
Psalm 44:20–21
44:20 If we have forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a strange god; 44:21 Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.
44:20 If we had forgotten the name of our God or spread out our hands to a foreign god, 44:21 would not God have discovered, since He knows the secrets of the heart?
King James VersionBerean Standard Bible
b. 1 Chronicles 28:9
1 Chronicles 28:9
28:9 And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.
28:9 As for you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve Him wholeheartedly and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands the intent of every thought. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.
King James VersionBerean Standard Bible
