1. Thus says the Lord of all His commandments: _"I, the Lord, thy God, am a jealous God."_ God reminds us that He who has given us His commandments is the _Lord._ He is our Lord, we are His servants. He, as our Lord, has the right to give us His commandments, and we are in duty bound to obey them.--He furthermore reminds us that He is _our God._ Through Christ, our Savior, God has become our God, our Father. A father will give only good gifts to His children. Our heavenly Father means well in giving His commandments. They are to be a blessing to us and will be a blessing, if we rightly use them. We should thank Him for His commandments.--God tells us that He is a _jealous God._ God is not like a weak father who gives his children commands, but does not see to it that his children obey. God is a strict, a very strict father. He watches over His children whether they fulfil His commandments or break them.--And do not forget: Our God is the _almighty_ God. He has the power to do what He says, to carry out His threats and to fulfil His promises. _"There is one Lawgiver_ [this lawgiver is God, who has given us His commandments], _who is able to save and to destroy."_ Jas. 4,12. 2. God is a _jealous_ God. This He shows by _"visiting the iniquity_ [the wickedness] _of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Him."_ That means: _"God threatens to punish all that transgress these commandments."_ Those who break the commandments of God surely deserve punishment. By breaking the Law of God they sin against Him, they show that they _hate_ God, who has created and preserved them, who gives them life and all they need, who wants to be their Father in Christ, that they may become His children. Instead of loving God, they hate Him, who is the Giver of all they have and enjoy.--What punishment does God threaten those who hate Him? This is what He threatens: _"Cursed be he that confirmeth_ [keeps] _not all the words of this Law to do them."_ God's displeasure, His curse, His anger and wrath, will be upon him that sins. How fearful is it to be cursed by the almighty God!--When God gave Adam the first command, He said: _"In the day that thou eatest thereof_ [of the tree] _thou shalt surely die."_ Gen. 2,17. God threatens _death_ to every sinner. _"The soul that sinneth, it shall die."_ Ezek. 18,20. _"The wages of sin is death,"_ God tells us in His Word. Rom. 6,23. And after death eternal damnation awaits the sinner. _Verily, we should fear God's wrath and terrible punishment and not act contrary to His commandments._ We should daily pray our heavenly Father for grace to help us shun and flee all sins, even every evil thought that would bring God's wrath and punishment upon us. Daily we will go to Christ, our only Savior, who has redeemed us from all sin, from death, and from the power of the devil.