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Patriarchs and Prophets
“I the Lord thy God am a jealous God.” The close and sacred rela-
tion of God to His people is represented under the figure of marriage.
Idolatry being spiritual adultery, the displeasure of God against it is
fitly called jealousy.
“Visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third
and fourth generation of them that hate Me.” It is inevitable that chil-
dren should suffer from the consequences of parental wrongdoing, but
they are not punished for the parents’ guilt, except as they participate
in their sins. It is usually the case, however, that children walk in the
steps of their parents. By inheritance and example the sons become
partakers of the father’s sin. Wrong tendencies, perverted appetites,
and debased morals, as well as physical disease and degeneracy, are
transmitted as a legacy from father to son, to the third and fourth gen-
eration. This fearful truth should have a solemn power to restrain men
from following a course of sin.
“Showing mercy unto thousands of them that love Me, and keep
My commandments.” In prohibiting the worship of false gods, the
second commandment by implication enjoins the worship of the true
God. And to those who are faithful in His service, mercy is promised,
not merely to the third and fourth generation as is the wrath threatened
against those who hate Him, but to thousands of generations.
“Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain: for the
Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain.”
This commandment not only prohibits false oaths and common
swearing, but it forbids us to use the name of God in a light or careless
manner, without regard to its awful significance. By the thoughtless
mention of God in common conversation, by appeals to Him in trivial
matters, and by the frequent and thoughtless repetition of His name,
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we dishonor Him. “Holy and reverend is His name.”
Psalm 111:9
. All
should meditate upon His majesty, His purity and holiness, that the
heart may be impressed with a sense of His exalted character; and His
holy name should be uttered with reverence and solemnity.
“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou
labor, and do all thy work: but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the
Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor
thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor
thy stranger that is within thy gates: for in six days the Lord made