“You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
The second Commandment
In 1964 an American judge was to define a certain term in regards to a case he was trying. To which he replied “I cannot define it, but I know it when I see it.” I wonder to what extent we can say that about idolatry? Yet idolatry is a sneaky little sin, we can see easily see it in others but find it had to identify when we are doing it.
What is idolatry?
When most of us think of idolatry I’m sure that the first image that pops into minds is of some heathen tribe bowing down before a carved statue, rocking back and forth and mumbling strange words. In the context of Exodus 20 that would have indeed been the prevailing expression of idolatry. Yet this expression of idolatry began far earlier in the heart. It is the exact reverse of Genesis 1, rather than God creating man in his image the idolater has created a god is his image.
This is not something exclusive to ancient pagans, in fact I would argue it is the prevailing religion of modern man. I will never forget explaining to Gospel to a work colleague who said they believed in God and even said the Lord’s prayer before going to sleep. However when confronted with the reality of the Gospel – sin and the need to repent and fly to the Saviour they immediately became annoyed claiming that God would never punish anyone. You see they had constructed a mental idol – a ‘grandfather-in-the-sky’ god who was only ever benevolent and simply ‘winked’ at sin. Evangelist, Ray Comfort who I mentioned in a previous blog when confronted with the ‘religious’ but lost person who said “My god would never send anyone to hell.” He replied “You’re right your god never would; that is because your god doesn’t exist, it’s an idol.”
How else can idolatry happen?
John Calvin said "the human heart is a perpetual idol factory". Modern mankind scoffs at the idea of carved idols yet is no less idolatrous. Our idols today do not take the form of ‘gods’, rather modern man worships other man made objects, cars, houses, football teams, film/music stars. We have become so brazen as to not even hide the fact – I’m sure you have all heard of American Idol based on the UK series Pop Idol.
Unfortunately this form of idolatry is not limited to non-Christians and I’m sure if we examine our heart we have all been guilty of it at some time or another. When we put anything ahead of God and make that the object of our affections such that it is all we think about we have created an idol. These could be our jobs, our education and even our families. When things are going well in these areas we are elated but the moment something goes wrong with our idol (We don’t get that promotion, we flunk an exam, we fall out with a family member) we are down and nothing can lift our spirit. And that is the problem, idols will always let us down and God has a way of tearing them away from us so that we can return to the pure worship of Him alone.
Serving the true God the wrong way.
Another way we can violate the second Commandment is attempting to worship the true God but in such a way that either dishonours Him or that he has not commanded. If you read Exodus 32 carefully you will notice that Aaron upon making the golden calf said “This is your god, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt.” 5 Now when Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made a proclamation and said, “Tomorrow shall be a feast to the Lord.” Though Aaron believed that he was making a true image of the LORD this was clearly an idol and something that angered God as he had not approved it.
God takes His worship very seriously and has prescribed way in which it should be done and we are not at liberty to do it any way we please – just ask Nadab and Abihu who offered ‘strange fire’ before the Lord in Leviticus 10. I am grieved when I hear of some of the ‘goings on’ in some so-called ‘Christian’ churches from the wacky to the downright blasphemous. They should be thankful that God is gracious but he will not be mocked.
Summing it up
Idolatry is so serious and so easily fallen into that the Apostle John had to write “Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.” This is an admonition that we have to adhere to every day. I’m sure that none of us are in danger of making a carved or metal statue, lighting candles and incense and praying before it yet it is the more subtle idolatry that can trip us up. God has given us many wonderful things to enjoy and those include cars, jobs, families, sports and hobbies. Let us enjoy them as God has intended and not make them an idol that detracts from the worship of God or displaces Him from our hearts. If we do, then do not be surprised if God tears them away from us, not because he hates us but rather because he loves us and knows that pure satisfaction and pleasure can only be found in Him.
Prayer for the day
Our Loving Heavenly Father,
We confess that far too often our hearts are full of idolatry and not fully committed to you. We ask that you will take away every idol from our minds and our affections and turn our devotion fully to you. Allow us to commit you as you really are and take delight in all that you have revealed to us about yourself. We confess that in our own strength we would not be able to do this so we plead the aid of the Holy Spirit and the intercession of your Son every day.
In Christ name and by His blood we pray.
Amen.
Song for the day
As I was writing this one verse kept playing in my mind;
The dearest idol I have known,
Whate’er that idol be,
Help me tear if from Thy throne,
And worship only Thee.
That is why this song is the song for the day. A familiar song with a modern tune can found here
O for a closer walk with God,
A calm and heavenly frame,
A light to shine upon the road
That leads me to the Lamb.
Where is the blessèdness I knew
When I first saw the Lord?
Where is that soul-refreshing view
Of Jesus and His word?
O Fire of God, come burn in me
Renew a holy passion
Till Christ my deepest longing be
My never-failing fountain
My never-failing fountain
What peaceful hours I once enjoyed,
How sweet the memory still!
But they have left an aching void
The world can never fill!
The dearest idol I have known,
Whate’er that idol be,
Help me tear if from Thy throne,
And worship only Thee.
So shall my walk be close with God,
Calm and serene my frame;
So purer light shall mark the road
That leads me to the Lamb.
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