1st Commandment

 

Summary of the Sermon

The sermon begins by establishing the dramatic context of the Ten Commandments' delivery at Mount Sinai, emphasizing the personal and direct nature of God's address to the Israelites. It immediately delves into the textual and theological complexities of how the first commandment is numbered across different Jewish and Christian traditions, highlighting that these variations reflect deep-seated theological priorities.

The historical analysis frames the first commandment as a revolutionary act in the polytheistic world of the Ancient Near East. It was a radical declaration of exclusive loyalty to Yahweh, setting the Israelites apart from surrounding cultures. The sermon traces the scholarly understanding of Israel's journey from monolatry (worship of one god among many) to absolute monotheism, a belief solidified by the prophetic tradition and the trauma of the Babylonian Exile. A key insight presented is the parallel between the Decalogue and ancient suzerainty treaties, which reframes the covenant as a political allegiance, making the first commandment a declaration of divine kingship and national independence.

Theologically, the sermon posits the commandment not as a philosophical statement but as a call to a covenantal relationship rooted in God's redemptive act of bringing the Israelites out of Egypt. It explores the Jewish philosophical debate between understanding the commandment as a command to know God intellectually (Maimonides) versus a call for loyalty to the God of history (Halevi, Nachmanides). The sermon also touches upon the distinct interpretations of God's oneness in Judaism (the Shema), Islam (Tawhid), and Christianity (the Trinity).

Sociologically, the commandment is presented as the foundation of Israelite nationhood, forging a "mixed multitude" of former slaves into a unified people. This shared allegiance to a single divine Lawgiver provided social cohesion, a unified legal framework, and a distinct cultural identity preserved through boundary-marking laws. The document also acknowledges the inherent tension in this, as the creation of a strong in-group identity can lead to the exclusion of outsiders, a conflict witnessed within the biblical narrative itself.

Psychologically, the sermon argues that the first commandment provides a stable moral compass, a coherent worldview, and a foundation for a mature moral identity. By demanding singular allegiance, it offers liberation from the anxiety and fragmentation that comes from serving multiple "gods," whether ancient deities or modern idols like materialism and nationalism. This singular focus is presented as the key to an integrated self and true psychological freedom.

The conclusion synthesizes these four functions, framing the commandment as a multifaceted and enduring invitation. It calls the audience to reflect on their own ultimate allegiances in the "pantheon of modern life," concluding that true fulfillment lies in the singular, loving devotion to God.

Outline of the Sermon

Introduction: The Voice from the Mountain - What is the First Commandment?

• A. The Revelation at Sinai: A dramatic retelling of the scene at the foot of the mountain. ¹¹¹¹
• B. A Personal Address: God's speech in the second person singular ("I am the LORD your God"). ²²²²
• C. The Problem of Numbering: The Bible does not number the commandments, leading to different traditions. ³
• D. Comparative Numbering Systems: ⁴
  • Jewish Tradition: "I am the LORD your God..." is the first command. ⁵
  • Catholic & Lutheran Tradition: Combines the declaration and prohibitions against polytheism and idolatry. ⁶
  • Protestant & Orthodox Tradition: The prologue is separate; the first command is "You shall have no other gods before Me." ⁷
• E. A Unified Theological Reality: The sermon will treat the opening declaration and demand for allegiance as a single whole. ⁸

Part I: The Historical Function - A Revolution in a World of Gods

• A. The Ancient Near East Context: A world saturated with polytheism. ⁹
• B. A Radical Command: The call for exclusivity was a command to "clear the pantheon entirely." ^10101010
• C. The Evolution of Monotheism:
  • From monolatry/henotheism (belief in many gods, worship of one) to absolute monotheism. ¹¹
  • The role of the prophets and the Babylonian Exile in cementing monotheistic belief. ¹²
• D. The Covenant as a Political Treaty:
  • The structure of the Decalogue mirrors ancient Hittite and Assyrian suzerainty treaties. ¹³
  • This frames the First Commandment as a radical political declaration of independence, establishing Yahweh as Israel's only king. ^14141414

Part II: The Theological Function - The Heart of the Covenant

• A. A Theology of Gratitude: The command is a response to God's act of liberation from Egypt; relationship precedes rules. ^15151515
• B. Jewish Philosophical Debates:
  • Maimonides: A command to know God philosophically. ¹⁶
  • Halevi and Nachmanides: A command for loyalty to the personal God of history. ¹⁷
• C. The Covenant as a Marriage Vow: God's "jealousy" is the righteous zeal of a loving, covenantal partner. ¹⁸
• D. Comparative Theology of Oneness:
  • Judaism: The Shema and the absolute, indivisible unity of God. ¹⁹
  • Islam: Tawhid as the uncompromising oneness of God, the foundation of the faith. ²⁰
  • Christianity: Oneness understood through the Trinity, a unity of communion. ²¹
• E. An Epistemological Claim: The command to have no other gods "before My face" establishes God as the ultimate source of all truth and reality. ^22222222

Part III: The Sociological Function - Forging a People

• A. Nation-Building: The commandment provided the central axiom for a new, unifying identity for the "mixed multitude." ^23232323
• B. Social Cohesion:
  • Religion as a powerful social glue (Durkheim). ²⁴
  • Establishing one divine Lawgiver created a unified legal and moral framework. ²⁵
• C. Identity through Distinction: Creating sharp cultural boundaries to prevent assimilation. ^26262626
• D. Social Justice Implications:
  • God as the ultimate sovereign and owner of the land provides the basis for laws protecting the poor, the stranger, and the vulnerable. ²⁷
• E. The Tension of Exclusion: The same mechanism that creates in-group cohesion can lead to the violent exclusion of the "other," a tension present within the Bible itself. ^28282828

Part IV: The Psychological Function - The Anchor of the Soul

• A. An Ultimate Moral Compass: Establishing God as the transcendent source of morality. ²⁹
• B. A Coherent Worldview: Monotheism provides a framework for a stable moral identity, reducing the anxiety of serving conflicting "masters." ^{303030303030303030}
• C. The End of a Compartmentalized Life: The command calls for an integrated self where all of life is lived before the face of God. ^31313131
• D. Liberation from Psychological Bondage:
  • The command is a release from the anxiety of trying to appease a pantheon of ancient or modern idols. ^32323232
  • Its primary psychological function is liberation, not oppression. ^33333333

Conclusion: The Invitation in the Command

• A. Synthesis of Functions: A summary of the historical, theological, sociological, and psychological dimensions. ³⁴
• B. An Enduring Invitation: The command is framed not as a prohibition but as a gracious invitation out of slavery and into freedom. ^35353535
• C. A Living Question: The sermon concludes by posing the question to the modern audience: Who or what is the ultimate authority in their lives? ³⁶
• D. The Final Answer: To obey is to love God with one's entire being. ³⁷