27th February 2025

27th February 2025


Pray (ACts)


Read (Exodus 20v1-21)


Message (Scott Woodburn)


On Tuesday we considered the second commandment which calls us to shun the making of any carved images which we will end up bowing down to in worship. That seems straightforward enough and most of us could probably say that we have never done such a thing. But is that all there is to it? Can we move on?


Our Larger Catechism helps us once again by outlining for us the duties required in the second commandment. The answer to Q108 states “The duties required in the second commandment are, the receiving, observing, and keeping pure and entire, all such religious worship and ordinances as God hath instituted in his Word; particularly prayer and thanksgiving in the name of Christ; the reading, preaching, and hearing of the Word; the administration and receiving of the sacraments; church government and discipline; the ministry and maintenance thereof; religious fasting; swearing by the name of God, and vowing unto him: as also the disapproving, detesting, opposing, all false worship; and, according to each one’s place and calling, removing it, and all monuments of idolatry.”


Many words once more but allow me to paraphrase them. The second commandment requires us to strive for purity in worship and to oppose all that is false. What is pure worship? God tells us in His Word. We have not worshipped rightly without prayer and thanksgiving in Christ’s name. Our worship is lacking if the Word is not read, preached and heard. We do well by observing the sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. A fellowship that is structured according to Scripture brings glory to God and a church which takes seriously church discipline is a blessing to God’s people. There may also be appropriate times of fasting and calling upon the Lord as well as vows made unto God.


If this is pure worship then we must disapprove of anything which falls short. The worship of the Lord is a serious business and it is not our place to tell Him what He should like. Therefore if the love of preaching has disappeared from our church we must strive to correct this error, if we no longer come to the Lord’s Table because we don’t want to make visitors feel awkward we must repent of our sin and if the statue of Jesus in our graveyard has become a place for prayer and even if not, it must be torn down.


When the Lord called upon us not to make any carved images He was declaring the terms on which He was to be worshipped. Our innovations might come from a good place but the Lord is only worshipped rightly when He is worshipped according to His Word. This is the duty required by the second commandment - may we not be found wanting.  


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC


Q18 Wherein consists the sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell? The sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell, consists in the guilt of Adam’s first sin, the want of original righteousness, and the corruption of his whole nature, which is commonly called original sin; together with all actual transgressions which proceed from it.
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