The Law of God Miscellanies (20)

“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me.” Exodus 20.2, 3

Reflect and discuss.
1.  What gives someone authority over other people, to tell them what to do? What is authority? Why is it necessary?

2.  What dangers are inherent in authority? How can those dangers be checked?

Think about it.
God has the right to command, and that for two reasons. 

First, He is the Creator of all that exists, every person and thing, and everything we as people depend upon for daily existence. He made it all, and it all belongs to Him. He can do with it as He pleases (Ps. 135.5, 6). 

Happily, God’s work of creation shows that He is infinitely wise, good, and powerful. We do not have to worry that He might abuse His authority over the world He has made and love (Jn. 3.16).  God remains the gracious and benevolent Owner of all that He created, including the very time in which we live. 

Second, God has the right to command because He is the redeemer of the world, and especially of those He takes to Himself as His people. He has mercy on those He saves. He sets them free from their bondage to sin and brings them out unto Himself in the Kingdom of His own dear Son. In Jesus, they realize and enjoy God’s favor and the promises of His covenant.

Even those who do not receive His grace, He continues to love (Matt. 5.43-48). If He did not, they would enjoy nothing of the many good things which come to them in life.

God has a right to command. He made us; He sustains us; and He has redeemed us. We have a duty to obey, and to obey without having to understand God’s reasoning for all His commandments. It is enough that we understand His meaning and our responsibility. 

As creatures, dependent on Him for every good and perfect gift; and especially as the redeemed of the Lord, our duty is to understand His will and to perform it faithfully, consistently, and gladly. To neglect the commandments of God is a grave sin and can bring the discipline of the Lord against us for believing that we know better than God how our lives should be lived (Heb. 12.3-11). 

God has the right to command, because all authority in heaven and on earth belongs to Him, and He has bestowed that mighty authority on Jesus Christ.

Meditate and discuss.
1.  Meditate on Matthew 28.18-20, Colossians 2.2 and 3, and Hebrews 1.3. How would you describe the authority our Lord Jesus wields? By what right does He possess such authority?

2.  Meditate on Psalm 33.1-12. We fear the Lord, Who loves us; but we do not fear His authority, how He might wield it. Why (Rom. 8.1; Heb. 12.3-6)? How should knowing this help us whenever we are faced with the temptation to sin?

3.  The Law of God derives from God’s authority. What are the implications of this for us?

“In the first commandment of the Decalogue, just as the worship and service of the one Lord God is most clearly commanded, so for adoration and service to be shown by the faithful to any creature is most vehemently forbidden.” Fulgentius (467-532 AD)

Lord, I recognize Your authority to command; help me daily to submit to that authority, so that…

Pray Psalm 33.1-12.
As you pray, dwell on the grounds for God’s authority mentioned here. Give Him appropriate thanks and praise.

Psalm 33.1-7 (Truro: Shout, for the Blessed Jesus Reigns)
Sing with rejoicing in the Lord, 
for praise becomes His righteous ones!
With harps and songs raise grateful words, 
and let new songs of praise be sung!

Joyfully shout!  His Word is true; 
He does His work in faithfulness.
His love prevails the whole world through;
the Lord loves truth and righteousness.

God spoke and heaven came to be, 
and all its hosts His Spirit wrought.
He heaps the waters of the sea; 
the deeps their dwelling place are taught.

T. M. Moore

For more insight to the Law of God and its role in the life of faith, order the book The Ground for Christian Ethics  by clicking here. If you’d like a free copy of our Kingdom Catechism, write to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  and request it.

Not yet a subscriber to our Crosfigell teaching letter? You’re missing a wealth of insight from Scripture and Celtic Christian leaders. Use the pop-up at the website to update your subscriptions today.

Please prayerfully consider sharing with The Fellowship of Ailbe through your giving. You can contribute to The Fellowship by clicking the Contribute button at the website or by sending your gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, 19 Tyler Drive, Essex Junction, VT 05452.

Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006.