And hallowed it— Sanctified it. See Genesis 2:3.
REFLECTIONS.—Never before, nor since, was such an auditory, or such a speaker. God himself appears from heaven to promulge that sacred law which once was written on the heart, but by sin was defaced and obliterated. Observe,
1st. The preface. He is the Lord, who has a right to demand the obedience he enjoins; and their God, in a covenant of peculiar favour, who would never be wanting in any instance of regard which almighty power, joined with boundless love, could shew. He had manifested himself to them already in their deliverance from Egypt, and this is the earnest of what he further could and would do for them. Note; That dear Redeemer, who has delivered us from bondage worse than Egyptian, may justly claim our bounden duty and service in return.
2nd. The moral law. It opens with the duty we owe to God our Creator; enjoins his worship, service, and obedience.
1. God must alone be the object of our worship; no other may be joined with him: for there is no other God besides him, and on him must be placed our supreme confidence, fear, and love. To set them on any creature or thing in preference to him is immediately to become idolaters. How few, then, are worshippers of the true God, when pleasure, gain, honour, and the whole train of worldly gratifications, afford so many gods to the idol-heart of fallen man!
2. God must be worshipped, not under any representation, but as a spirit, in spirit and in truth. No image must be made of him: we are not, even in our minds, to liken him to any object which is seen; and he is to be served with the internal affections of the soul, and with the outward service of prayer and praise. He threatens as a jealous God to visit offenders. They who neglect his worship, or walk contrary to his command herein, shall be treated as haters of him; and children's children shall suffer for it, who, taught by their fathers' example, shall share in their visitations: while they who serve him in his prescribed way shall find his mercy, and entail their blessing on generations yet to come. Note; (1.) The idolatry of the Romish church in such gross violations of this commandment, which they artfully would conceal from the people, by omitting the second commandment in their catechisms, and joining the reasons against idolatry here given to the first. (2.) The necessity of the conscientious and constant worship of God, without which we never can be enabled to love him and keep his commandments.
3. God's name must not be taken in vain, by hypocritical prayers which never come from the heart, nor by vows of fidelity to him which we are negligent to keep; by any rash or false swearing, or by light and irreverent use of his holy Name in our ordinary conversation: and however little attended to this commandment may be, the same sanction guards it as ever. God will not hold the transgressor guiltless, and it is a fearful thing to meet him in wrath.
4. The sabbath-day must be kept holy. Nothing should break in to disturb the sacred rest; all worldly business must be laid aside, and the whole employed in the more immediate service of God. And not only ourselves, but all under our roof must cease from labour, and join with us in the celebration of the holy day. Note; Nothing will conduce more, as a means of our preparation for the eternal rest which remains for the people of God, than a serious and constant observance of the seventh day.