Observations on the WLC (106) and the WSC (48)--The First Commandment

Westminster Larger Catechism

Q. 106. What are we specially taught by these words before me in the first commandment?

A. These words before me or before my face, in the first commandment, teach us, that God, who seeth all things, taketh special notice of, and is much displeased with, the sin of having any other God: that so it may be an argument to dissuade from it, and to aggravate it as a most impudent provocation: as also to persuade us to do as in his sight, whatever we do in his service.
Westminster Shorter Catechism

Q. 48. What are we specially taught by these words before me in the first commandment?

A. These words before me in the first commandment teach us, that God, who seeth all things, taketh notice of, and is much displeased with, the sin of having any other God.

Observations:

1. The sin of idolatry or having other gods, persons, things, events and/or worldviews occurs in the presence of the Divine Being.

2. God’s knowledge is infinite, perfect and extends to the rising and falling every every sparrow, and, by extention, every fact in the universe, including idolatry. This excellence exists in God.

3. God sees all things at once, the beginning from the end, from the rise and fall of empires to each and every destiny of every human being.

4. God is the Cosmic Creator, Governor and Judge of the ends of the earth.

5. Sin is contrary to the law. Sin is any want of conformity or transgression of the law of God, 1 Jn.3.4. God sees these transgressions in the light of His law.

6. The sin referred to in this particular question refers to “having any other god.”

7. The sin of “having another god” refers to our minds, feelings, loves, affections, and wills going after, following, and embracing other objects or persons in the stead and place of God.

8. God “resents” and hates this behaviour with high displeasure. It is a stench in the divine nostrils. Dt.29.24-29.

9. God hates having a rival or competitor and is a jealous God. This necessarily involves lying and bearing false witness about the nature of God Himself.The awareness of this law should drive us to daily repentance and the daily embrace of Christ’s very righteousness, alien to us, but imputed to our account and received by faith alone. It should quicken and animate our insights into human behaviours of ourselves and others. It should inform us in all of our daily thoughts, deliberations and duties. It should engender the fear of God and deter us from all sins, being that they are such an odious offense to His Majesty, our one and only Judge.