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190
The Beginning of the End
worship to be sin. The attempt to represent the Eternal One by ma-
terial objects would lower our concepts of God. Our minds would
be attracted to the creature rather than to the Creator, and as our
concepts of God were lowered, the human race would become de-
graded.
“I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God.” The close relation
of God to His people is represented by the illustration of marriage.
Since idolatry is spiritual adultery, the displeasure of God against it
is fittingly called jealousy.
“Visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the
third and fourth generation of those who hate Me.” Children are not
punished for their parents’ guilt, except as they take part in their sins.
Usually, however, by inheritance and example the children become
partakers of the parents’ sin. Wrong tendencies, perverted appetites,
and debased morals, as well as physical disease and decline, are
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passed along from parent to child, to the third and fourth generation.
“Showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep
My commandments.” To those who are faithful in His service, God
promises mercy, not merely to the third and fourth generation like
the wrath threatened against those who hate Him, but to thousands
of generations.
(3) “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.”
This commandment forbids us to use the name of God in a light
or careless manner. By the thoughtless mention of God in common
conversation, and by frequent, thoughtless repetition of His name,
we dishonor Him. “Holy and awesome is His name” (
Psalm 111:9
).
We should speak it with reverence and solemnity.
(4) “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you
shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath
of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son,
nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant,
nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six
days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is
in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the
Sabbath day and hallowed it.”
The Sabbath is not introduced as a new institution but as having
been established at creation. Pointing to God as the Maker of the