Q. 49. Which is the second commandment ?
A. The second commandment is, Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them, for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
EXERCISE.
What are we not to make to ourselves? Who are not to make any graven image? Of what are we to make no likeness? What is here said to be above ? (Heaven. ) What are we not to do to any thing that is in the heaven above? What is here said to be beneath? (The earth.) What are we not to do to any thing that is in the earth beneath? What is here said to be under the earth? (The waters.) What are we not to do to any thing that is in the waters? What are we here forbidden to do to images, or idols, when they are made? (We are not to bow down ourselves to them, nor serve them.) What are we not to bow down? (Ourselves, or our bodies.) To what are we not to bow down ourselves? (To the image, or likeness of any thing.) What are we not to do to images or idols, besides not bowing down to them? (We are not to serve them.) What are we not to serve? Who are not to serve idols?
What does God here declare himself to be to all his creatures? (Their Lord.) What does God here say he is to us? (Our God.) What does God here say he is in himself? (A jealous God.) What does God here say with respect to the iniquity of the fathers? (He visits them upon the children.) Upon whom does God visit the iniquity of the fathers? What does God visit upon the children? Whose iniquities does God visit upon the children? Who visits the iniquities of the fathers upon the children? To what extent is it here said that God will visit the iniquities of the fathers upon the children? What dispositions have these generations towards God? (They hate him.) What does God do to the generations of those who hate him? What does God do to those who love him? Who shews mercy unto those who love God? To whom does God shew mercy? To how many does God here say he shews mercy? Whom do they love? What do those who love God do to his commandments? Whose commandments do they keep? What does God do to those who love him and keep his commandments?
EXPLANATIONS.
Graven image, Hewn, cut, or carved representation.
Bow, Bend.
Serve them, Perform the ceremonies which may belong to their worship.
A jealous God, A God exceedingly watchful and suspicions in any thing relating to my worship.
Visiting, Inflicting the punishment due to.
Iniquity, Sins.
Third and fourth generation, Grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Shewing mercy, Granting forgiveness, and shewing kindness.
PARAPHRASE Formed. The second commandment is, Thou shall not make unto thee any [hewn, cut, or carved representation,] or any likeness of
Q 50. What is required in the second commandment ?
A. The second commandment requireth the receiving, observing, and keeping pure and entire, all such religious worship and ordinances as God hath appointed in his word.
EXERCISE. What hath God in his word appointed to he observed? (Religious worship and ordinances.) Who hath appointed religious worship and ordinances to be observed? In what hath God given directions regarding his worship and ordinances? Who are to receive the ordinances of God as appointed in his word? What are we to observe as well as to receive? (The worship and ordinances of God.) What are we to do with respect to the worship and ordinances of God, besides receiving and observing them? (We are to keep them pure and entire.) What are to be kept? How are these ordinances to be kept? (Pure and entire.) What are to be kept pure? How are they to be kept, besides being kept pure? (They are to be kept entire.) What worship and ordinances are to be kept pure and entire? Where are these ordinances appointed? In whose word are they appointed?
How many things are here mentioned as having been appointed by God ? (Two.) What is the first thing here mentioned as having been appointed by God? (Religious worship.) What is the second thing here mentioned as having been appointed by God? (Religious ordinances.) Where has God given directions regarding his worship and ordinances? (In his word.) How many things are here required of us, in respect to God's worship and ordinances? (Four.) What is the first duty here required of us? (Receiving God's worship and ordinances.) What is the second duty here required of us? (Observing God's worship and ordinances.) What is the third duty here required of us? (Keeping God's worship and ordinances pure.) What is the fourth duty here required of us? (Keeping God's worship and ordinances entire.) How much of God's worship is to be received, observed, and kept pure and entire? (All such as he has appointed.) How many of God's ordinances are to be received, observed, and kept pure and entire? (All.) What commandment requires the keeping of God's ordinances pure and entire?
EXPLANATIONS.
Receiving, Accepting as a gift.
Observing, Doing what is enjoined.
Pure, Free from mixture.
Entire, Not taking any thing from.
Ordinances, Holy observances.
Appointed, Directed to be performed.
PARAPHRASE Formed.
The second commandment requireth the [accepting as a gift,] [doing what is enjoined,] and keeping [free from mixture] and [not taking any thing from,] all such religious worship and [holy observances] as God hath [directed to be performed] in his word.
DOCTRINES Separated And Proved.
227. Religious worship is to be paid to God—Psal. xlv. 11. He is thy Lord; and worship thou him.
228. God has appointed certain religious ordinances to be observed in his worship.—Lev. xviii. 4. Ye shall do my judgments, and keep mine ordinances, to walk therein: I am the Lord your God.
229. We are required to accept of and esteem the worship and ordinances of God.—Psal. cxix. 103. How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth.
230. We are required to observe God's worship and ordinances.—Mat. xxviii. 20. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you
231. We are required to keep God's worship and ordinances pure.—Deut. xii. 32. What thing soever I command you, observe to do it; thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.
232. We are to keep God's worship and ordinances entire Luke i. 6. They were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
Q. 51. What is forbidden in the second commandment ?
A. The second commandment forbiddeth the worshipping of God by images, or any other way not appointed in his word.
EXERCISE.
Who is not to be worshipped by images? By what is God not to he worshipped? What is not to be done by images? What commandment forbids the worshipping of God by images? Where has God given directions regarding his worship? Whose word gives directions regarding the worship of God? What are we not to do in any other way than that which has been appointed by God? (Worship God.)
EXPLANATIONS.
Images, Likenesses, or representations.
PARAPHRASE Formed.
The second commandment forbiddeth the worshipping of God by [likenesses, or representations,] or any other way not appointed in his word.
DOCTRINES Separated And Proved.
233. We are not to worship God by images Deut. iv. 15, 10. Take ye, therefore, good heed unto yourselves, (for ye saw no manner of similitude on the day that the Lord spake unto you in Horeb,) lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image.
234. We are not to worship God in any way not appointed in his word—Deut. iv. 2. Ye shall not add unto, the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you.
Q. 52. What are the reasons annexed to the second commandment ?
A. The reasons annexed to the second commandment are, God's sovereignty over us, his propriety in us, and the zeal he hath to his own worship.
EXERCISE.
Who has the sovereignty over us? What has God over us? Over whom has God the sovereignty? Whose property are we? What is it here said that God has in us? (A propriety, or property.) In whom has God a propriety? For what is God zealous? For whose worship is God zealous? Who is zealous for God's worship? What hath God for his own worship?
How many reasons for keeping the second commandment are annexed to it? (Three.) What is the first reason annexed to the second commandment? (God's sovereignty over us.) What is the second reason? (God's propriety in us.) What is the third reason? (The zeal which God has for his own worship.) To what commandment are these reasons annexed?
EXPLANATIONS.
Reasons, Motives to induce us to keep it.
Annexed, Added.
Sovereignty, Supreme power and authority.
Propriety in us, Being our only master and owner.
Zeal, Warm and passionate concern.
PARAPHRASE Formed.
The [motives to induce us to keep it] [added] to the second commandment, are, God's [supreme power and authority] over us, his [being our only master and owner,] and the [warm and passionate concern] he hath to his own worship.
DOCTRINES Separated And Proved.
235. God is our Lord and Sovereign.—Isa. xxxiii. 22. The Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; he will save us.
236. We are the property of God.—Psal. xcv. 7- He is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.
237. God is very zealous for the purity of his worship. Exod. xxxiv. 14. For thou shalt worship no other god; for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.
Of Gall, not many if any twists and turns when it comes to the Second Commandment as commented and laid out in written form by him!
ReplyDeleteSeems to me to parallel the Writings of Scripture.
As long as I have pondered these verses after first enlightened to them, I have fascinated my mind with them:
Psa 78:1 A Maskil of Asaph. Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth!
Psa 78:2 I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old,
Psa 78:3 things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us.
Psa 78:4 We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might, and the wonders that he has done.
Psa 78:5 He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children,
Psa 78:6 that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children,
Psa 78:7 so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments;
Psa 78:8 and that they should not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not steadfast, whose spirit was not faithful to God.
I have always marveled that God speaks to two generations in the womb there in verse six.
Amazing!
If this was not an indictment against abortion, I don't know what is one against it then?
I looked him on up Wikipedia.
ReplyDeleteInteresting...believed in inhabited planets!
Godith