Commandment 1: The people could not have any other god except Yahweh

Yahweh is the one true God and He rescued Israel. Therefore, Israel should not worship any other gods. Not that there were other gods, but Israel was not to claim that a man-made, hand-made idol had rescued them. God was also stopping them from other “idols” like pleasure, power, fame, one’s own pride or one’s own priorities. Israel was to have heart allegiance to Yahweh alone.

Commandment 2: The people could not make idols or images of Yahweh

All idols or images project a wrong or incomplete picture of Yahweh so He said not to make any. Yahweh revealed that He was a jealous God. What did this mean? As the one true God, He had a very focused love and attention for His people, so it was only right that the people had complete allegiance to Him. After all, He had already done so much for them!

The phrase “lay the sins of the parents upon their children” doesn’t mean that Yahweh brings generational curses upon a family. Yahweh isn’t that kind of God. Rather, it means that parents who practise idolatry often have children who follow the parents’ ways. Idolatry leads to sin and rebellion and this can last several generations. God will punish but He limits the results of idolatry to just three or four generations.

In contrast, He would lavish unfailing love upon a thousand generations to those who were loyal to Him. “Unfailing love” refers to God’s covenantal love for Israel. It wasn’t a love based on feelings, but on God’s unbreakable promises as found in the Abrahamic covenant. Because He has promised, He will not abandon Israel. We see that Yahweh is far more willing to bless than to curse.

Commandment 3: Do not use misuse Yahweh’s name

Do not misuse Yahweh’s name is often taken to mean don’t swear in God’s name or take His name lightly. It’s more than that. In Israel, when someone takes an oath, that is, makes a solemn promise or vow, He declares it in the presence of a witness who is a higher authority. Yahweh is that higher authority so oaths are pledged in His name.

God was warning the people not to enter into oaths that they had no intention of keeping. They were not allowed to frivolously or casually make a vow with Yahweh as the witness. That is what it meant to misuse Yahweh’s name.

Yahweh later added details to this commandment in Deuteronomy 6:13. “You must fear the Lord your God and serve him. When you take an oath, you must use only his name.”

As the witness to oaths taken in His name, Yahweh would hold people accountable to what they promised.

Commandment 4: Remember to observe the Sabbath

Almost midway through the list is the command to observe a rest day on the seventh day of each week. This was to be a unique mark of Israel, reflecting Yahweh’s character. In giving this command, God referred to the first work week at Creation. He had made everything in six ordinary days and then rested on the seventh.

The whole nation of Israel was to follow that pattern—to work six days and rest on the seventh. This rest day was called the Sabbath. While other nations treated each day the same, Israel would be distinguished by having a nation-wide day of rest for everyone and every animal.