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Give Thanks to God

Why We Need to Thank God

God has given us everything. Literally, everything. When we thank Him, we are better able to glorify Him, feel closer to Him, and sense His presence in our life. We will be better able to find peace by feeling satisfied with what we do have; pushing away feelings of envy and want. Being grateful strengthens our faith in Him, and is ultimately a testimony of our belief and relationship with God. 

What We Need to Thank God For

EVERYTHING! 

always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 5:20

Utilities

Your health

The Bible

At midnight I rise to give you thanks for your righteous laws.

Psalm 119:62

Transportation

His love

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;  his love endures forever.

1 Chronicles 16:34

The ocean

The mountains

Rain

The sun

Food

Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.

John 6:11

Your job

Your house

Your ability to make good choices

The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.

Luke 18:11

Your pet

Your neighbor

Your friends

Our salvation through Jesus

 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Romans 7:25

Clothing

Your car

Your education

Your family

His forgiveness

In that day you will say: “I will praise you, Lord. Although you were angry with me, your anger has turned away and you have comforted me.

Isaiah 12:1

Everything mentioned above, and everything in between. Again, EVERYTHING; Be grateful for all things. 

How We Show God Thanks

Here are some ways you can show your gratitude to God:

Through Giving

Through Prayer

Through Praise

Through Song

Through Faithful Living

One Last Thought

God sees you, He knows you, and He loves you. He wants the best for you, giving you what you need when you need it. Be humble in all doings, be grateful, and openly give thanks. 

-Torrance Church of Christ

The Rundown of the Prevailing Themes in Each Book of the Old Testament

The Keywords and Key Messages Encased Throughout Each Book of the Old Testament

 

Genesis: God of Promises and Blessings

Keywords & Messages: Creation, Beginnings, Fall of Man, Punishment for Wickedness

Key Verse: 

“I will make you into a great nation,  and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse, and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” 
Genesis 12:2-3

Exodus: God of Power

Keywords & Messages: Deliverance, Plagues and Fleeing Egypt The Ten Commandments, Moses’ Life, Covenants, Miracles of God

Key Verse:

Leviticus: God of Purity

Keywords & Messages: Instruction for Living a Moral Life, Ceremonial Law, Offerings and Atonement, Holiness

Key Verse:

“Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: ‘Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.”

Leviticus 19:2

Numbers: God of Perseverance

Keywords & Messages: Journeys, Importance of Faith, Leadership, Divine Punishment,  Census of the People, Wandering into the wilderness, Fulfillment of Promises to Abraham

Key Verse:

“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”

Numbers 6:24-26

Deuteronomy: God of Preparation

Keywords & Messages: Obedience, Renewal of Covenant, 10 Commandments, Moses’ Death

Key Verse:

The Lord will establish you as his holy people, as he promised you on oath if you keep the commands of the Lord your God and walk in obedience to him.

Deuteronomy 28:9

Joshua: God of the Land

Keywords & Messages: Conquest, Settling the Promised Land, God Keeps His Promises, Joshua’s Farewells

Key Verse:

Judges: God of the Rebels

Keywords & Messages: Deterioration, Deliverance, History of the Nation from Joshua to Samson, Need for a King, Consequences of Not Following Him, Sin will be Punished, Samson and Delilah 

Key Verse:

 In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit.

Judges 21:25

Ruth: God of Redemption

Keywords & Messages: Account of the Ancestors of the Family of Judah, Overcoming Trials, David’s Lineage, Loyalty, Integrity, Righteousness

Key Verse:

But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.  Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.”

Ruth 1:16-17 

1 Samuel: God of the Heart

Keywords & Messages: Transition, Leadership of Samuel, Dilemma Between David and Saul, David and Goliath, God Judges your Heart, Messianic King, Don’t be Prideful

Key Verse:

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

1 Samuel 16:7

2 Samuel: God of the Throne

Keywords & Messages: Account of Saul’s Death, Unification, Chronicle of the Reign of David, David’s Victories and Failures, Birth of Solomon, God’s Promise of David’s Royal Lineage

Key Verse:

1 Kings: God of Israel

Keywords & Messages: Disruption, History of the Nation from David's Death, Reign of Solomon, Division of the Kingdom, Conflict, Ministry of the Prophet Elijah

Key Verse:

The word of the Lord came to Solomon: “As for this temple you are building, if you follow my decrees, observe my laws and keep all my commands and obey them, I will fulfill through you the promise I gave to David your father. And I will live among the Israelites and will not abandon my people Israel.”

1 Kings 6:11-13

2 Kings: God of Israel

Keywords & Messages: Dispersion, Fall of the Two Nations, Wickedness, Babylonian Exile, Elisha 

Key Verse:

So the Lord was very angry with Israel and removed them from his presence. Only the tribe of Judah was left,  and even Judah did not keep the commands of the Lord their God. They followed the practices Israel had introduced. Therefore the Lord rejected all the people of Israel; he afflicted them and gave them into the hands of plunderers until he thrust them from his presence.

2 Kings 17:18-20

1 Chronicles: God of Judah

Keywords & Messages: Recap of Israel’s Spiritual History, Official Recorded History, Genealogy of Abraham, Genealogy of David, Genealogy of Saul,  Exploits of King David

Key Verse:

2 Chronicles: God of Judah

Keywords & Messages: God Rewards Obedience, Israel’s Spiritual Heritage, History of David’s Heirs, Focus on the Jerusalem Temple, Solomon

Key Verse:

 The Lord appeared to him at night and said: “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a temple for sacrifices. When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that my Name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there. As for you, if you walk before me faithfully as David your father did, and do all I command, and observe my decrees and laws, I will establish your royal throne, as I covenanted with David your father when I said, ‘You shall never fail to have a successor to rule over Israel.”

2 Chronicles 7:12-18

Ezra: God of the Temple

Keywords & Messages: Restoration, Return of the Jews from Babylonian Captivity, Rebuilding of the temple, Spiritual Reform, Accounts and Histories of Various Groups, Sin

Key Verse:

 “This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: ‘The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. Any of his people among you may go up to Jerusalem in Judah and build the temple of the Lord, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem, and may their God be with them.”

Ezra 1:2-3

Nehemiah: God of the Wall

Keywords & Messages: Reconstruction, Obstacles Encountered and Overcome, Rebuilding of the Wall and City, Covenant-Renewal, Principles for Living, Faith

Key Verse:

“Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.”

Nehemiah 1:11

Esther: God of the Gallows

Keywords & Messages: Preservation, Recounts Experiences of Jews who Remained Dispersed Outside the Land of Judah, Rebirth of a Nation in its Homeland, Account of Future Queen of Persia, Liberation of the Jews

Key Verse:

“Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”

Ester 4:16

Job: God of Pain

Keywords & Messages: Blessings Through Sufferings, Trials, Patience, Internal Conflict

Key Verse:

Psalms: God of Praise

Keywords & Messages: Praise, Worship of Jehovah, Lyrical Poems,  Instruction for Prayer, Instruction for Praise, 

Key Verse:

Let the sea resound, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy; let them sing before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples with equity.

Psalm 98:7-9

Proverbs: God of Prudence

Keywords & Messages: Practical Wisdom, Love of God, Love of Man, Blessings for those who Revere the Lord, 

Key Verse:

To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.

Proverbs 8:13

Ecclesiastes: God of Purpose

Keywords & Messages: All is Vanity Apart from God, Folly of Man, Meaninglessness in Material Goods, God Satisfies

Key Verse:

Song of Solomon: God of Passion

Keywords & Messages: Love, Joys of the Marriage Covenant, God’s Wisdom in Procreation

Key Verse:

My beloved is mine and I am his; he browses among the lilies.

Song of Solomon 2:16

Isaiah: God of Glory

Keywords & Messages: Predicts Exile in Babylon, God will Bless Israel, God will Bless the Nations, Prophecies of Jesus Christ, Salvation, Judgment Day

Key Verse:

Jeremiah: God of Weeping

Keywords & Messages: Judgment, Captivity of Judah, Punishment for Sins, False Gods, Emotional Struggles, Prophecies of Jesus Christ

Key Verse:

This is what the Lord says: “As for all my wicked neighbors who seize the inheritance I gave my people Israel, I will uproot them from their lands and I will uproot the people of Judah from among them.  But after I uproot them, I will again have compassion and will bring each of them back to their own inheritance and their own country.”

Jeremiah 12:14-15

Lamentations: God of Faithfulness

Keywords & Messages: Lament,  Jeremiah's sorrow, Capture of Jerusalem,  Destruction of the temple, Path of Suffering, Murmuring

Key Verse:

Ezekiel: God of Visions

Keywords & Messages: The Glory of the Lord, Messages of Warning, Messages of Comfort, Visions of the Lord’s Glory Departure from the Temple, Israel’s Restoration, Oracles of Future Blessings, The Shepherd

Key Verse:

You are my sheep, the sheep of my pasture, and I am your God, declares the Sovereign Lord.

Ezekiel 34:31

Daniel: God of History

Keywords & Messages: The Sovereignty of God, Prophecies Concerning Christ, God’s Future Plans for Israel, Beast of Precious Metals, Lion’s Den, Faith, Power of the Almighty

Key Verse:

 “I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. For he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end. He rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.”

Daniel 6:26-27

Hosea: God of the Unfaithful

Keywords & Messages: Unfaithfulness, Prophecies Relating to Christ, Latter Days, Metaphor of a Wayward Wife, God’s Compassion

Key Verse:

Joel: God of the Locusts

Keywords & Messages: The Day of the Lord, Prediction of Woes Upon Judah, God's Judgment, Apostate nation, Day of Judgment, Christ will Restore

Key Verse:

Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy hill. Let all who live in the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming. It is close at hand—

Joel 2:1

Amos: God of the Oppressed

Keywords & Messages: Judgment, Judgment on Israel, Judgment on Israel’s Neighbors, Restoration to the House of David

Key Verse:

Obadiah: God of the Mountain

Keywords & Messages: Righteous Judgment, Desolation of Edom, Christ’s Kingdom, Victory of Israel

Key Verse:

“The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rocks and make your home on the heights, you who say to yourself, ‘Who can bring me down to the ground?’ Though you soar like the eagle and make your nest among the stars, from there I will bring you down,” declares the Lord.

Obadiah 1:3-4

Jonah: God of Compassion

Keywords & Messages: God’s Grace to All People,  Account of the Prophet Jonah, Resurrection of Life, Faith, Salvation

Key Verse:

“Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God’s love for them. But I, with shouts of grateful praise, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. I will say, ‘Salvation comes from the Lord.’”

Jonah 2:8-9

Micah: God of Justice

Keywords & Messages: Divine Judgment, Predictions relating to Invasions, Revelation of the Birth of the Messiah in Bethlehem,  Corruption Among Leaders, God Promises Restoration, Deliverance and Punishment

Key Verse:

He has shown you, O mortal, 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.

Micah 6:8

Nahum: God of Wrath

Keywords & Messages: Consolation,  Destruction of Nineveh, God is a Jealous God, Prediction of the Downfall of Assyria, Christ is our Stronghold

Key Verse:

Habakkuk: God of Sovereignty

Keywords & Messages: Trusting a Sovereign God, Prophet Habakkuk and God Converse, Christ is God of Salvation, Faith, Righteousness 

Key Verse:

The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights.

Habakkuk 3:19

Zephaniah: God of Judgment

Keywords & Messages: The “Great Day of the Lord”, Prediction of Overthrow of Judah, Certainty of Coming Judgment, Israel's Restoration

Key Verse:

Haggai: God of Renewal

Keywords & Messages: Rebuilding the Temple, Spiritual Health needs Priority, Christ is the Desire of all Nations

Key Verse:

Then Haggai, the Lord’s messenger, gave this message of the Lord to the people: “I am with you,” declares the Lord. 

Haggai 1:13

Zechariah: God of Restoration

Keywords & Messages: God’s Deliverance, Trust and Obey the Lord, Foretelling of Christ, Plea for Repentance

Key Verse:

“Woe to the worthless shepherd, who deserts the flock! May the sword strike his arm and his right eye! May his arm be completely withered, his right eye totally blinded!”

Zechariah 11:17

Malachi: God of Worship

Keywords & Messages: Formalism Rebuked, Coming of Christ, Righteous Remnant will be Rewarded, Warning of Judgment Day, Convent Renewal

Key Verse:

-Torrance Church of Christ

https://torrancechurch.org/our-blog/an-overview-of-dominant-keywords-key-messages-themes-throughout-every-book-in-the-new-testament/

Diving Deeper into the 10 Commandments

What Are The Ten Commandments?

1. You shall have no other gods before Me.
2. You shall not make idols.
3. You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.
4. Keep the Sabbath Day holy.
5. Honor your father and mother.
6. You shall not murder.
7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
9. You shall not bear false witness.
10. You shall not covet.

How Did The Ten Commandments Come About?

In a brief summary, Moses received the Ten Commandments from God. Not too long after Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, the group found themselves at the base of Mount Sinai. They decided to rest here. Moses instructed the Israelites to stay at the foot of the mountain, while he went up to speak with God. Atop the mountain, God revealed Himself to Moses and gave him tablets made of stone that were inscribed with the Ten Commandments. Moses was ordered to share these Commandments with the Israelites. 

The Ten Commandments are referenced throughout the Bible, the Old Testament, and New Testament alike. However, The Book of Exodus and The Book of Deuteronomy both provide the entire account of Moses obtaining them. We’ve included the chapters in both Exodus and Deuteronomy at the bottom of the post that you’re welcome to check out.

Why Should You Abide By The Ten Commandments?

God gave us the Ten Commandments as a set of laws to uphold. They are simplified decrees that adhere to moral and spiritual health. When we strive to live the law of the Lord, we are keeping Him at the center of our lives. By following the Ten Commandments, we are living our lives on the path of righteousness. 

Is There Any Importance In The Order?

There is nothing in the Bible stating that the order of the Ten Commandments has any deeper meaning. Quite the opposite actually. Throughout the Bible, the Commandments are referenced in different orders. 

Let's Take a Look at What Each of the Commandments Mean

 

First Commandment- You Shall Have No Other Gods Before Me:

We need to acknowledge and accept that there is only one God, and He is the Creator of all things. Our hearts need to swell with this great knowledge and keep Him first in our lives. There are no other gods; we mustn't disrespect Him by entertaining the possibility. 

Second Commandment- You Shall Not Make Idols:

Akin to the first Commandment, the second Commandment tells us to worship only Him and to steer clear of idols. The word idols has an assortment of definitions that apply to this Commandment. Foremost, idols take on the definition of false gods. There are no other gods, it is only He who we must honor. The second Commandment also means we must not craft any objects, visuals, or pieces in His image, for that handiwork becomes an idol. We need to remember that God is almighty and we will never be able to replicate something so great and divine. Additionally, if you are not careful, anything can be categorized as idols: money, celebrities, careers, a partner, material items, etc. If something/someone is placed above God, it is an idol. 

Third Commandment- You Shall Not Take The Name Of The LORD Your God In Vain:

By using the Lord’s name in Vain, we are practicing defamation. We are slandering His good name, tarnishing His name with profanity and irreverence. 

Psalms 34:3 reads:

Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt His name together.

We are to exalt His great name and keep His name clean and holy. 

Fourth Commandment- Keep The Sabbath Day Holy:

The Sabbath is sanctioned as a day of rest. It is a day we set aside our daily tasks and focus on The Esteemed. 

In Mark 2:27, Jesus says:

Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” 

This scripture tells us that God gave us the Sabbath as a gift, and we need to respect it. This does not mean we must stay and worship if there is an emergency we need to attend to. 

In Matthew 12:10- 12 we learn if there is an emergency, we can take the actions to solve it, even if it is the Sabbath:

and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to bring charges against Jesus, they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” He said to them, “If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out? How much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”

Our Father blessed us with this day of rest. We should take advantage of this gift and use the day to show our gratitude for Him. 

Fifth Commandment- Honor Your Father And Mother:

The fifth Commandment is twofold. The first half being we are required to honor our Father in Heaven. We can find countless scriptures supporting this. The second half is about our responsibility to honor and serve our earthly parents. It is our duty to abide by our parents, obey their teachings, and respect their rules and decisions. 

Sixth Commandment- You Shall Not Murder:

This Commandment seems a little obvious, murder is wrong. Taking someone’s life is a sin. But let’s delve a little deeper. 

Matthew 5: 21-22 reads:

You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.

Likewise, 1 John 3:15 states:

Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.

What do these scriptures mean? What is the underlying message? These verses teach us that murder doesn’t only mean to kill or take a life. They teach us that murder in the Bible is parallel to hate. 

This Commandment instructs us to banish hate from our hearts, and to avoid abuse, whether it be physical, mental, or verbal. It expresses the underlying need to love. 

Seventh Commandment- You Shall Not Commit Adultery:

Marriage is a sacred commitment. The acts that happen within a marriage are revered and meant to stay within the marriage. God wants us to uphold our marriage commitment, respect our spouse, and keep our relationships clean. It is vital we do not take our marriage commitment lightly. 

Eighth Commandment- You Shall Not Steal:

In some instances, we might justify stealing as a means to meet our needs. Some may steal just to do it, get a thrill, or fulfill a want. No matter the reason behind the act- stealing is wrong. It shows disrespect toward another. 

Stealing also breaks a multitude of Commandments: we are dishonest in our actions, coveting another, perhaps idolizing whatever was stolen, and committing adultery if the stolen is someone else’s spouse. 

Ninth Commandment- You Shall Not Bear False Witness:

You need to keep honest in all of your words and doings. When you deceive, you are not respecting yourself or others. On top of that, God is immersed in truth. His actions, His promises, His words are imbued with honesty. 

We learn in John 8:44, that the adversary, Satan, is known as the father of lies. The verse reads:

You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

Lying and deceit are Satan’s most powerful weapon. When we lie, we are working hand-in-hand with Satan, doing the opposite of God. God wants us to follow His path, not the path of evil. 

Tenth Commandment- You Shall Not Covet:

What does it mean to covet? Common synonyms of covet are, desire, want, and envy, just to name a few. Oxford defines covet as: yearn to possess or have (something). So why would covet be included in the Ten Commandments? When we allow ourselves to covet, we are actively showing discontent and ungratefulness in our own lives. This leaves us feeling dissatisfied and begrudging. God doesn’t want us to harbor feelings of ill-will. These feelings are contradictory to those He wants us to bear. Instead, we need to feel appreciative of what we have, and what He has given to us. We must show our thanks to the Lord for all that he has blessed us with. 

What Can We Learn From The Commandments? What Can We Expect From Following Them?

The Ten Commandments essentially define sin. They were given to us by God in order for us to live a righteous life. When we incorporate them into our daily lives, we are choosing to walk the right path that enables us to return to Him. By following them, we are denying Satan access to our hearts and opening the door for God to grant us blessings. 

What If We Break A Commandment?

God knows we are imperfect. That is why He sent His son to be sacrificed for us: to clean away our sins. If we repent, we will be forgiven. He loves us and doesn’t want us to hurt or suffer. He designed a way for us to clean our slates when we slip up. 

To Conclude

Many of the Commandments go hand-in-hand with each other. Their messages are interwoven, united together as God’s will. God showed His love for us when He presented us with the Ten Commandments. He provided us with the laws we need to follow in order to receive everlasting life with Him. He blessed us with a fail-safe in the form of repentance. Heed His warning. Commit yourself to follow His law. If we do our part, He will do his. 

-Torrance Church of Christ

Chapters From Exodus and Deuteronomy

In Exodus chapter 20, we learn the story of Moses receiving the Ten Commandments. It reads:

1 And God spoke all these words:

2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 3 “You shall have no other gods before me. 4 “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 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 parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments. 7 “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. 8 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. 12 “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you. 13 “You shall not murder. 14 “You shall not commit adultery. 15 “You shall not steal. 16 “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. 17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” 18 When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance 19 and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.” 20 Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.” 21 The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was. 22 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites this: ‘You have seen for yourselves that I have spoken to you from heaven: 23 Do not make any gods to be alongside me; do not make for yourselves gods of silver or gods of gold. 24 “‘Make an altar of earth for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, your sheep and goats and your cattle. Wherever I cause my name to be honored, I will come to you and bless you. 25 If you make an altar of stones for me, do not build it with dressed stones, for you will defile it if you use a tool on it. 26 And do not go up to my altar on steps, or your private parts may be exposed.’

We see this again in Deuteronomy chapter 5:

1 Moses summoned all Israel and said:

Hear, Israel, the decrees and laws I declare in your hearing today. Learn them and be sure to follow them. 2 The Lord our God made a covenant with us at Horeb. 3 It was not with our ancestors that the Lord made this covenant, but with us, with all of us who are alive here today. 4 The Lord spoke to you face to face out of the fire on the mountain. 5 (At that time I stood between the Lord and you to declare to you the word of the Lord, because you were afraid of the fire and did not go up the mountain.) And he said: 6 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 7 “You shall have no other gods before me. 8 “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 9 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 parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 10 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments. 11 “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. 12 “Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the Lord your God has commanded you. 13 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 14 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your ox, your donkey or any of your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns, so that your male and female servants may rest, as you do. 15 Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the Lord your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the Lord your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day. 16 “Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you. 17 “You shall not murder. 18 “You shall not commit adultery. 19 “You shall not steal. 20 “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. 21 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. You shall not set your desire on your neighbor’s house or land, his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” 22 These are the commandments the Lord proclaimed in a loud voice to your whole assembly there on the mountain from out of the fire, the cloud and the deep darkness; and he added nothing more. Then he wrote them on two stone tablets and gave them to me. 23 When you heard the voice out of the darkness, while the mountain was ablaze with fire, all the leaders of your tribes and your elders came to me. 24 And you said, “The Lord our God has shown us his glory and his majesty, and we have heard his voice from the fire. Today we have seen that a person can live even if God speaks with them. 25 But now, why should we die? This great fire will consume us, and we will die if we hear the voice of the Lord our God any longer. 26 For what mortal has ever heard the voice of the living God speaking out of fire, as we have, and survived? 27 Go near and listen to all that the Lord our God says. Then tell us whatever the Lord our God tells you. We will listen and obey.” 28 The Lord heard you when you spoke to me, and the Lord said to me, “I have heard what this people said to you. Everything they said was good. 29 Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever! 30 “Go, tell them to return to their tents. 31 But you stay here with me so that I may give you all the commands, decrees and laws you are to teach them to follow in the land I am giving them to possess.” 32 So be careful to do what the Lord your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left. 33 Walk in obedience to all that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess.