TO LOVE, FEAR, SERVE, WORSHIP AND OBEY THE LORD GOD

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

1. Question: What does the Lord God require of his people?

2. Question: Were there specific warnings from the Lord God regarding idolatry and not keeping his commandments and decrees?

3. Question: Did the Israelites obey the Lord God?

4. Question: What was the consequence of Israelites' disobedience to the Lord God?

5. Question: At present, are there ways of worship that are not in accordance with the will of God?

6. Question: What kind of worshipers are pleasing to God?

7. Question: What is the first and greatest commandment of the Lord God?

1. Question: What does the Lord God require of his people?

Answer: The Lord God requires his people to love him with all their heart and with all their soul and with all their strength, fear him, serve him, worship him and obey his commands and decrees and walk in all his ways.

The Ten Commandments of God

(Exodus 20:3, NIV) “You shall have no other gods before me.

(Exodus 20:4, NIV) “You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.

(Exodus 20:7, NIV) “You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.

(Exodus 20:8, NIV) “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.

(Exodus 20:12, NIV) “Honour your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.

(Exodus 20:13, NIV) “You shall not murder.

(Exodus 20:14, NIV) “You shall not commit adultery.

(Exodus 20:15, NIV) “You shall not steal.

(Exodus 20:16, NIV) “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbour.

(Exodus 20:17, NIV) “You shall not covet your neighbour’s house. You shall not covet your neighbour’s wife, or his man servant or maid servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbour.”

(Exodus 23:25, NIV) Worship the LORD your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you,

(Deuteronomy 6:5, 13, 24, NIV) Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. (Deuteronomy 6:13) Fear the LORD your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name. (Deuteronomy 6:24) The LORD commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear the LORD our God, so that we might always prosper and be kept alive, as is the case today.

(Deuteronomy 10:12, NIV) And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul,

(Deuteronomy 11:1, NIV) Love the LORD your God and keep his requirements, his decrees, his laws and his commands always.

(Deuteronomy 31:12, NIV) Assemble the people — men, women and children, and the aliens living in your towns — so that they can listen and learn to fear the LORD your God and follow carefully all the words of this law.

(Joshua 22:5, NIV) But be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you: to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to obey his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and all your soul.”

(Joshua 24:14, NIV) “Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshipped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.

(II Chronicles 30:8, NIV) Do not be stiff-necked, as your fathers were; submit to the LORD. Come to the sanctuary, which he has consecrated for ever. Serve the LORD your God, so that his fierce anger will turn away from you.

(Ecclesiastes 12:13, NIV) Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.

(Micah 6:8, NIV) He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.`

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2. Question: Were there specific warnings from the Lord God regarding idolatry and not keeping his commandments and decrees?

Answer: There were specific warnings from the Lord God regarding idolatry and not keeping his commandments and decrees. Some of them are as follows:

(Exodus 20:5, NIV) You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,”

(Exodus 34:14, NIV) Do not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.

(Leviticus 19:4, NIV) “‘Do not turn to idols or make gods of cast metal for yourselves. I am the LORD your God.

(Deuteronomy 8:19, NIV) If you ever forget the LORD your God and follow other gods and worship and bow down to them, I testify against you today that you will surely be destroyed.

(Judges 6:10, NIV) I said to you, `I am the LORD your God; do not worship the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you live.’ But you have not listened to me.”

(I Samuel 12:15, NIV) But if you do not obey the LORD, and if you rebel against his commands, his hand will be against you, as it was against your fathers.

(II Chronicles 7:19, NIV) “But if you [The Hebrew is plural.] turn away and forsake the decrees and commands I have given you [The Hebrew is plural.] and go off to serve other gods and worship them,

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3. Question: Did the Israelites obey the Lord God?

Answer: Many of the Istraelites did not obey the Lord God and instead worshipped other gods.

(Exodus 32:31) So Moses went back to the LORD and said, “Oh, what a great sin these people have committed! They have made themselves gods of gold.

(Numbers 25:1-3) While Israel was staying in Shittim, the men began to indulge in sexual immorality with Moabite women, (Numbers 25:2) who invited them to the sacrifices to their gods. The people ate and bowed down before these gods. (Numbers 25:3) So Israel joined in worshipping the Baal of Peor. And the LORD’s anger burned against them.

(Deuteronomy 29:26) They went off and worshipped other gods and bowed down to them, gods they did not know, gods he had not given them.

(Judges 2:11-12, NIV) Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD and served the Baals. (Judges 2:12) They forsook the LORD, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of Egypt. They followed and worshipped various gods of the peoples around them. They provoked the LORD to anger

(I Kings 11:4-7, 33, NIV) As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father had been. (I Kings 11:5) He followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and Molech [Hebrew Milcom; also in verse 33] the detestable god of the Ammonites. (I Kings 11:6) So Solomon did evil in the eyes of the LORD; he did not follow the LORD completely, as David his father had done. (I Kings 11:7) On a hill east of Jerusalem, Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the detestable god of Moab, and for Molech the detestable god of the Ammonites. (I Kings 11:33) I will do this {division of Solomon's kingdom} because they have [Hebrew; Septuagint, Vulgate and Syriac because he has] forsaken me and worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Molech the god of the Ammonites, and have not walked in my ways, nor done what is right in my eyes, nor kept my statutes and laws as David, Solomon’s father, did.

(I Kings 14:22, NIV) Judah did evil in the eyes of the LORD. By the sins they committed they stirred up his jealous anger more than their fathers had done.

(II Kings 17:15-19, 33-34, NIV) They {Israelites} rejected his decrees and the covenant he had made with their fathers and the warnings he had given them. They followed worthless idols and themselves became worthless. They imitated the nations around them although the LORD had ordered them, “Do not do as they do,” and they did the things the LORD had forbidden them to do. (II Kings 17:16) They forsook all the commands of the LORD their God and made for themselves two idols cast in the shape of calves, and an Asherah pole. They bowed down to all the starry hosts, and they worshipped Baal. (II Kings 17:17) They sacrificed their sons and daughters in [Or They made their sons and daughters pass through] the fire. They practiced divination and sorcery and sold themselves to do evil in the eyes of the LORD, provoking him to anger. (II Kings 17:18) So the LORD was very angry with Israel and removed them from his presence. Only the tribe of Judah was left, (II Kings 17:19) and even Judah did not keep the commands of the LORD their God. They followed the practices Israel had introduced. (II Kings 17:33) They worshipped the LORD, but they also served their own gods in accordance with the customs of the nations from which they had been brought. (II Kings 17:34) To this day they persist in their former practices. They neither worship the LORD nor adhere to the decrees and ordinances, the laws and commands that the LORD gave the descendants of Jacob, whom he named Israel.

(Jeremiah 11:13, NIV) You have as many gods as you have towns, O Judah; and the altars you have set up to burn incense to that shameful god Baal are as many as the streets of Jerusalem.’

(Jeremiah 18:15, NIV) Yet my people have forgotten me; they {Judah} burn incense to worthless idols, which made them stumble in their ways and in the ancient paths. They made them walk in bypaths and on roads not built up.

(Jeremiah 44:3, 5, NIV) because of the evil they {Judah} have done. They provoked me to anger by burning incense and by worshipping other gods that neither they nor you nor your fathers ever knew. (Jeremiah 44:5) But they did not listen or pay attention; they did not turn from their wickedness or stop burning incense to other gods.

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4. Question: What was the consequence of Israelites' disobedience to the Lord God?

Answer: The Lord became furious. During the time of the kings, the kingdom of Solomon was divided (Judah-southern kingdom- with 2 tribes and Israel-northern kingdom- with 10 tribes); war broke out between Judah and Israel; they were given to their enemies, while some were exiled to foreign lands and became slaves.

(Deuteronomy. 29:27-28, NIV) Therefore the LORD’s anger burned against this land, so that he brought on it all the curses written in this book. (Deuteronomy 29:28) In furious anger and in great wrath the LORD uprooted them from their land and thrust them into another land, as it is now.”

(Judges 10:7, NIV) he became angry with them. He {the Lord} sold them into the hands of the Philistines and the Ammonites,

(I Kings 11:10-11,13, 31, NIV) Although he {the Lord} had forbidden Solomon to follow other gods, Solomon did not keep the LORD’s command. (I Kings 11:11) So the LORD said to Solomon, “Since this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees, which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates. (I Kings 11:13) Yet I will not tear the whole kingdom from him, but will give him one tribe for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen.” {I Kings 12:17, 21}* (I Kings 11:31) Then he said to Jeroboam, “Take ten pieces for yourself, for this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: `See, I am going to tear the kingdom out of Solomon’s hand and give you ten tribes

*Related Verses: (I Kings 12:17, 21, NIV) But as for the Israelites who were living in the towns of Judah, Rehoboam still ruled over them. (I Kings 12:21) When Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem, he mustered the whole house of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin — a hundred and eighty thousand fighting men — to make war against the house of Israel and to regain the kingdom for Rehoboam son of Solomon.

(I Kings 15:17, NIV) Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah and fortified Ramah to prevent anyone from leaving or entering the territory of Asa king of Judah.

(II Kings 17:6-7, 18-19, 22-23, NIV) In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria and deported the Israelites to Assyria. He settled them in Halah, in Gozan on the Habor River and in the towns of the Medes. (II Kings 17:7) All this took place because the Israelites had sinned against the LORD their God, who had brought them up out of Egypt from under the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt. They worshipped other gods (II Kings 17:18) So the LORD was very angry with Israel and removed them from his presence. Only the tribe of Judah was left, (II Kings 17:19) and even Judah did not keep the commands of the LORD their God. They followed the practices Israel had introduced (II Kings 17:22) The Israelites persisted in all the sins of Jeroboam and did not turn away from them (II Kings 17:23) until the LORD removed them from his presence, as he had warned through all his servants the prophets. So the people of Israel were taken from their homeland into exile in Assyria, and they are still there.

(II Kings 18:11-12, NIV) The king of Assyria deported Israel to Assyria and settled them in Halah, in Gozan on the Habor River, and in towns of the Medes. (II Kings 18:12) This happened because they had not obeyed the LORD their God, but had violated his covenant — all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded. They neither listened to the commands nor carried them out.

(II Kings 21:12, NIV) Therefore this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I am going to bring such disaster on Jerusalem and Judah that the ears of everyone who hears of it will tingle.

(II Kings 22:16-17, NIV) `This is what the LORD says: I am going to bring disaster on this place and its people, according to everything written in the book the king of Judah has read. (II Kings 22:17) Because they have forsaken me and burned incense to other gods and provoked me to anger by all the idols their hands have made, [Or by everything they have done] my anger will burn against this place and will not be quenched.’

(II Kings 23:27, NIV) So the LORD said, “I will remove Judah also from my presence as I removed Israel, and I will reject Jerusalem, the city I chose, and this temple, about which I said, `There shall my Name be.’“

(II Kings 24:2, NIV) The LORD sent Babylonian, [Or Chaldean] Aramean, Moabite and Ammonite raiders against him (Jehoiachin, king of Judah). He sent them to destroy Judah, in accordance with the word of the LORD proclaimed by his servants the prophets.

(I Chronicles 9:1, NIV) All Israel was listed in the genealogies in the book of the kings of Israel. The people of Judah were taken captive to Babylon because of their unfaithfulness.

(II Chronicles 36:19-20, NIV) They {Babylonians} set fire to God’s temple and broke down the wall of Jerusalem; they burned all the palaces and destroyed everything of value there. (II Chronicles 36:20) He {Nebuchadnezzar} carried into exile to Babylon the remnant who escaped from the sword, and they became servants to him and his sons until the kingdom of Persia came to power.

(Jeremiah 11:17, NIV) The LORD Almighty, who planted you, has decreed disaster for you, because the house of Israel and the house of Judah have done evil and provoked me to anger by burning incense to Baal.

(Ezekiel 39:23, NIV) And the nations will know that the people of Israel went into exile for their sin, because they were unfaithful to me. So I hid my face from them and handed them over to their enemies, and they all fell by the sword.

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5. Question: At present, are there ways of worship that are not in accordance with the will of God?

Answer: At present, there are still ways of worship that are not in accordance with the will of God.

(Romans 1:23, NIV) “and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.”

(Romans 1:25, NIV) “They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator — who is forever praised. Amen.”

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6. Question: What kind of worshipers are pleasing to God?

Answer: God wanted the true worshipers to worship him in spirit and in truth. These are the kind of worshipers that God seek.

(John 4:23-24, NIV) "Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. (John 4:24) God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.”

The example of giving praises to God was noted in the letter of apostle Paul to the Corinthians and the Ephesians (II Corinthians 1:3; Ephesians 1:3) and in the letter of apostle Peter to some members of the church (I Peter 1:3):

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ”

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7. Question: What is the first and greatest commandment of the Lord God?

Answer: The first and the greatest commandment is: “`Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’

(Matthew 22:37-39, NIV) Jesus replied: “`Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ [Deut. 6:5]* (Matthew 22:38) This is the first and greatest commandment. (Matthew 22:39) And the second is like it: `Love your neighbour as yourself.’ [Lev. 19:18]*

*Related Verses:

Deuteronomy 6:5, NIV - Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength

Leviticus 19:18, NIV - “‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbour as yourself. I am the LORD

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Summary:

The Lord God requires his people to love him with all their heart and with all their soul and with all their strength, fear him, serve him, worship him and obey his commands and decrees and walk in all his ways (Exodus 20:3; Exodus 20:4; Exodus 20:7; Exodus 20:8; Exodus 20:12; Exodus 20:13; Exodus 20:14; Exodus 20:15; Exodus 20:16; Exodus 20:17; 23:25; Deuteronomy 6:5, 13, 24; 10:12; 11:1; 31:12-13; Joshua 22:5; 24:14; II Chronicles 30:8; Ecclesiastes 12:13; and Micah 6:8).

There are specific warnings from the Lord our God regarding idolatry and keeping his commandments and decrees (Exodus 20:5; Exodus 20:23; 34:14; Leviticus 19:4; Judges 6:10; I Samuel 12:15; II Chronicles 7:19-20).

Many of the Israelites did not obey the Lord and instead worshipped (god) Baal of Peor, Ashtoteths/Asherah, Chemosh god of Moabites and Molech god of Ammonites (Exodus 32:31; Numbers 25:1-3; Deuteronomy 29:26; Judges 2:11-12; I Kings 11:4-7, 33; 14:22; II Kings 17:15-19, 3334; Jeremiah 11:13; 18:15; 44:3, 5).

As a consequence, the Lord became furious. During the time of the kings, the kingdom of Solomon was divided (Judah-southern kingdom-2 tribes and Israel-northern kingdom-10 tribes); war broke out between Judah and Israel; they were given to their enemies, while some were exiled to foreign lands and became slaves (Deuteronomy 29:27-28; Judges 10:7; I Kings 11:10-11,13, 31; 15:17; II Kings 17:6-7, 18-19, 22-23; 18:11-12; 21:12, 22:16-17; 23:27; 24:2; I Chronicles 9:1; II Chronicles 36:19-20; Jeremiah 11:17; Ezekiel 39:23).

At present, there are still forms of worship that are not in accordance with the will of God because some worshipers exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man (Romans 1:23) and exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator (Romans 1:25).

God wanted the true worshipers to worship him in spirit and truth (John 4:23-24). These are the kind of worshipers that God seeks. It is not pleasing to God if we worship him other than the way that he wants us to do. We should always give praise to God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ in spirit and truth (II Corinthians 1:3; Ephesians 1:3; I Peter 1:3).

So let us not give the wrath of God a way. Let us not repeat the blunder that the Israelites did in the old era. Always remember the first and the greatest commandment: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength" (Matthew 22:37-39). If we truly love God, we should follow him. It is important to know and The True Meaning according to the Holy Scriptures!