How does Deuteronomy 5:6 connect to the First Commandment in Exodus 20:2? Scripture at a Glance • Deuteronomy 5:6: “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.” • Exodus 20:2: “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.” Same Voice, Same Authority • Both statements come directly from God; Moses simply relays them. • Identical wording signals that the covenant-making God has not changed between Sinai (Exodus) and the plains of Moab (Deuteronomy). • The repetition underscores permanence: the Ten Commandments are not situational advice but enduring, divine law (cf. Malachi 3:6; James 1:17). The Preamble That Grounds the First Commandment • Exodus 20:2 and Deuteronomy 5:6 serve as the theological foundation for the First Commandment (“You shall have no other gods before Me,” Exodus 20:3; Deuteronomy 5:7). • God first declares who He is and what He has done—redeemer from Egypt—before commanding exclusive allegiance. • Redemption precedes obligation: obedience flows from gratitude for deliverance (cf. Titus 2:11-14). Why the Exodus Matters • Egypt represents bondage; God’s rescue showcases His unrivaled power (Deuteronomy 4:34). • By reminding Israel of this rescue, God disqualifies every rival deity (Exodus 12:12). • The past act of salvation becomes the ongoing reason to worship Him alone (Psalm 81:10). Monotheism Made Practical • “I am the LORD your God” = one God, personal and covenantal (Deuteronomy 6:4). • “You…out of slavery” = God’s goodness proven in history, demanding trust in daily life (Psalm 95:7-8). • Therefore, no syncretism, no divided loyalties, no functional idols—then or now (1 Corinthians 8:4-6). Continuity for Today • Christ’s greater exodus—deliverance from sin and death—intensifies the call to undivided devotion (Luke 9:31; Colossians 1:13-14). • The moral heart of the First Commandment remains: worship God alone because He has redeemed us (1 Peter 2:9). • Remembering God’s saving acts fuels love, loyalty, and obedient living (John 14:15). |
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