Q48. What are we specially taught by these words "before me" in the first commandment?
These words "before me" in the first commandment teach us, that God, who seeth all things, taketh notice of, and is much displeased with, the sin of having any other god.
Scripture Proofs — King James Version
Ezekiel 8:5–6
“Then said he unto me, Son of man, lift up thine eyes now the way toward the north. So I lifted up mine eyes the way toward the north, and behold northward at the gate of the altar this image of jealousy in the entry. He said furthermore unto me, Son of man, seest thou what they do? even the great abominations that the house of Israel committeth here, that I should go far off from my sanctuary? but turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations.”
Psalm 44:20–21
“If we have forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a strange god; Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.”