How does Psalm 86:10 connect with the First Commandment in Exodus 20:3? The Unrivaled Greatness of God in Psalm 86:10 “For You are great and perform wonders; You alone are God.” • David proclaims undeniable facts, not poetic hyperbole. • “Great”: immeasurable in power, glory, holiness. • “Perform wonders”: tangible, historic acts (Red Sea, manna, resurrection). • “You alone are God”: a singular, exclusive claim that no other being shares His divine nature. The Exclusive Demand of Exodus 20:3 “You shall have no other gods before Me.” • Spoken by the same God who delivered Israel from Egypt (v. 2). • Command is absolute—no rivals, no additions, no substitutes. • Establishes the foundation for the entire moral law: worship belongs to God alone. Where the Two Passages Meet • One Voice, One Message – Psalm 86:10 states the fact; Exodus 20:3 issues the command built on that fact. – God’s uniqueness (“You alone”) undergirds His right to exclusive worship (“no other gods”). • Revelation and Relationship – Wonders (Psalm 86) reveal who He is; covenant (Exodus 20) defines how we respond. – The miracles prove His deity; the command secures our allegiance. • Unity of Scripture – Deuteronomy 4:35,39: “The LORD He is God; there is no other.” – Isaiah 45:5: “I am the LORD, and there is no other.” – 1 Corinthians 8:4–6 affirms the same monotheistic truth in the New Testament. Practical Implications for Daily Life • Worship: Direct praise, prayer, and adoration to God alone—no saints, ancestors, or self. • Obedience: Every moral choice flows from acknowledging His sovereign authority. • Trust: Because He alone performs wonders, we rely on Him, not human schemes. • Witness: Declare His exclusivity in a culture of pluralism and relativism. Living Free from Modern Idolatry • Reject material idols: wealth, success, entertainment, technology. • Guard the heart: what dominates thought, affection, and time reveals our true “gods.” • Celebrate God’s wonders daily—Scripture, creation, redemption—to keep affection centered on Him. The Whole Bible Echoes the Same Chorus • John 17:3—Eternal life is knowing “the only true God.” • Revelation 15:3–4—All nations will worship the One who alone is holy. • Hebrews 13:8—Jesus Christ, the unchanging embodiment of that one God, confirms the everlasting validity of both Psalm 86:10 and Exodus 20:3. God declares His singularity; He commands exclusive devotion. The fact and the demand are inseparable, calling every believer to wholehearted, undivided allegiance to the One who alone is God. |
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