![]() ![]() ![]() Hence it comes to pass, that those, who frame for themselves gods of corruptible materials, superstitiously adore the work of their own hands. And surely whosoever reverently and soberly feels and thinks about God Himself, is far from this absurdity nor does any desire or presumption to metamorphose God ever creep in, except when coarse and carnal imaginations occupy our minds. And assuredly it is a most gross indecency to make God like a stock or a stone… I do not deny that these things are to be taken connectedly, since superstitious worship is hardly ever separated from the preceding error for as soon as any one has permitted himself to devise an image of God, he immediately falls into false worship. There is no need of refuting the foolish fancy of some, that all sculptures and pictures are here condemned by Moses, for he had no other object than to rescue God’s glory from all the imaginations which tend to corrupt it. Therefore, to devise any image of God, is in itself impious because by this corruption His Majesty is adulterated, and He is figured to be other than He is. ![]() “There are two parts in the Commandment - the first forbids the erection of a graven image, or any likeness the second prohibits the transferring of the worship which God claims for Himself alone, to any of these phantoms or delusive shows. ![]() 4), and do not worship God with the use of images (v. 20:4-5).ġ) There are two parts in the second commandment: do not make an image of God (v. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God… ” (Ex. “ 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. To worship God however we would like is the very definition of idolatry. The second commandment teaches that God alone prescribes how He wants to be worshiped. It is very easy for something to get in the way of our relationship with God. That’s the purpose of the second commandment 3,500 years ago.The first commandment teaches who the true God is and that He alone is to be worshiped. Is there anything today (even something “innocent” in and of itself) that has become a graven image or mini-god to us? For some, the earth itself has become a god to be worshiped. For others, it’s the remote control. Our phones. Our computers. Our social media. Our kids’ ball games. Our jobs. Our prestige. Our money. Our credit cards. Our bucket list. 18:4). Something innocent had become a god to them. What about us? 20:4). That’s so “3,500 years ago”! Fast forward about 700 years from Exodus 20 and God’s people had hung on to “the bronze serpent” Moses made in Numbers 20 to save the people from the fiery serpents, and for centuries they worshiped and “burned incense to it” (2 Kgs. Growing up and memorizing the Ten Commandments, the second commandment seemed so obvious that it’s not even necessary to teach it today. Right? “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image” (Ex. ![]()
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