“Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments,” verses 4-6.
HOW WE WORSHIP THE LORD IS NOT UP TO OURSELVES
“Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image.”
- Men believe it is helpful to have an image of God. They say it helps them to think upon Him when worshipping! All an image can do is ‘CONVEY A VERY WRONG LIKENESS’ to the Lord. We cannot fashion a likeness of ONE we have NOT SEEN! “And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live,” Exodus 33:20. To do so is the act of a fool. Romans 1:22-23. We must depend upon the Bible’s depiction of the spiritual glory of God. We can see there in Christ, God’s love, mercy, wisdom, greatness and power, 1 John 4:12, 14,16. “Jesus saith . . . he that hath seen me hath seen the Father,” John 14:9.
- Israel illustrates man’s tendency to make idols. Exodus 32:1-6. This was the very time Moses was receiving the 10 Commandments. So it continued, Jeremiah 32:31-35.
- This folly is seen in many false religions. Even to this day! The Hindu deity Ganesha stupidly thought to be drinking milk offerings, September 1995!!! World-wide frenzy followed! Concrete statue will ‘soak up’ liquid as does my concrete yard!
- This folly will be seen in last days of this ages when MAN will be worshipped. The man of sin, 2 Thess 2:3-4.