Sermon Tone Analysis

Welcome—why the Ten Commandments?

Influential: perhaps no other ethical code has had a greater influence; Alan Dershowitz, a Harvard Law Professor, said that the ten commandments are a “precursor to all Western Law.”

Our understanding of social equality, property rights, sexual ethics, and the value of the family are all influenced by this remarkable text.

Integral to Christianity, these aren’t just ten random rules.

They offer a pathway into understanding ultimate reality.

I know that sounds like an unbelievable claim, hyperbolic perhaps, but when you study these words, and when you start to see God’s logic behind them, and the psycho-spiritual and social realities they correspond to, you’ll come to realize that these words point us towards freedom and truth.

So let’s dig into the second commandment.

• Influential in the world: perhaps no other ethical code has had a greater influence; Alan Dershowitz, a Harvard Law Professor, said that the ten commandments are a “precursor to all Western Law.”

Our understanding of social equality, property rights, sexual ethics, and the value of the family are all influenced by this remarkable text.

As we approach the second commandment, it will be worth spending a minute or so ensuring that we understand it correctly—because its connected to the first commandment (read verses 3-5a).

The thing to notice is the grammatical link: in verse 5, the “you shall not bow down to them” is plural, so it refers back to the “other gods” of verse 3 (also plural) rather than the “image” of verse 4 (singular).

So there must be a connection between these two, such that to break the second command is also to break the first.

So when you create an image that seeks to depict God, you ending up worshiping a false god.

• Integral to Christianity: these aren’t just ten random rules.

They offer a pathway into understanding ultimate reality.

I know that sounds like an unbelievable claim, hyperbolic perhaps, but when you study these words, and when you start to see God’s logic behind them, and the psycho-spiritual and social realities they correspond to, you’ll come to realize that these words point us towards freedom and truth.

How does this work?

Well, let’s unpack this in stages.

So let’s dig into the second commandment.

As we approach the second commandment, it will be worth spending a minute or so ensuring that we understand it correctly—because it’s connected to the first commandment (read verses 3-5a).

The thing to notice is the grammatical link: in verse 5, the “you shall not bow down to them” is plural, so it refers back to the “other gods” of verse 3 (also plural) rather than the “image” of verse 4 (singular).

So there must be a connection between these two, such that to break the second command is also to break the first.

So when you create an image that seeks to depict God, you ending up worshiping a false god.

How does this work?

Well, let’s unpack this in stages.

False images misrepresent

False images misrepresent

Whenever we create an image of God, we misrepresent Him.

The reason why any image will always misrepresent is simple: God is the infinite and invisible Creator.

Any depiction of him is necessarily material, local, and created.

Created things cannot represent the Creator.

By definition, any image of God will necessarily misrepresent Him.

Now, for the Israelite this was a radical idea.

Every religion around them would have used idols to depict their gods—the Egyptians, the Canaanites, and the various religions of the ANE all would have had carved images that represented their gods.

Often, the image chosen was designed to praise the god.

So, for example, a popular choice was a young bull—famous for its power.

The Israelites had experienced the power of the Lord in rescuing them from Egypt, why not depict him as a young bull?

Whenever we create an image of God, we misrepresent Him.

The reason why any image will always misrepresent is simple: God is the infinite and invisible Creator.

Any depiction of him is necessarily material, local, and created.

Created things cannot represent the Creator.

By definition, any image of God will necessarily misrepresent Him.

And the answer, is that any depiction of him will be limited and skewed.

Images of God misrepresent.

In the book of Exodus, God reveals himself in many ways—as a Father, a Warrior, and a Redeemer to mention just a few.

So to create an image limits and therefore misrepresents him.

Now, before we move on and dismiss these guys as hopelessly unsophisticated, we would do well to consider what images of God we have created.

Not material images perhaps, but mental images.

It’s common to hear people talk about their mental image of God using phrases like this: “well, the God I believe in is a God of love.

The God I know is an artist.

The God I know is a God of peace.”

Those things are certainly true, but they are not all that God is.

I think, just as people in the ANE visually carved images of God that they liked, so we mentally carve out images of God that we like.

Typically, we want a god that suits us, that meets our needs, that cares about our values, and that furthers our agenda.

Now, for the Israelite this was a radical idea.

Every religion around them would have used idols to depict their gods—the Egyptians, the Canaanites, and the various religions of the ANE all would have had carved images that represented their gods.

Often, the image chosen was designed to praise the god.

So, for example, a popular choice was a young bull—famous for its power.

The Israelites had experienced the power of the Lord in rescuing them from Egypt, why not depict him as a young bull?

Is it possible that what often looks like genuine spirituality is actually just psychological projection?

As humans, we absolutise our ideals.

We collate them into a deity.

We make gods in our image, projecting our desires into our theology.

So I think it’s worth asking: what image of God do we have?

When you conceive of God in your heart and mind, who springs to mind?

And the answer, is that any depiction of him will be limited and skewed.

Images of God misrepresent.

In the book of Exodus, God reveals himself in many ways—as a Father, a Warrior, and a Redeemer to mention just a few.

So to create an image limits and therefore misrepresents him.

Now, before we move on and dismiss these guys as hopelessly unsophisticated, we would do well to consider what images of God we have created.

Not material images perhaps, but mental images.

It’s common to hear people talk about their mental image of God using phrases like this: “well, the God I believe in is a God of love.

The God I know is an artist.

The God I know is a God of peace.”

Those things are certainly true, but they are not all that God is.

I think, just as people in the ANE visually carved images of God that they liked, so we mentally carve out images of God that we like.

Typically, we want a god that suits us, that meets our needs, that cares about our values, and that furthers our agenda.

Is it possible that what often looks like genuine spirituality is actually just psychological projection?

As humans, we absolutise our ideals.

We collate them into a deity.

We make gods in our image, projecting our desires into our theology.

So I think it’s worth asking: what image of God do we have?

When you conceive of God in your heart and mind, who springs to mind?

False images misrepresent God.

Can I suggest a thought experiment that will help you discern whether your mental image of God is accurate?

A god of your own making will never contradict you.

A god of your own making will always endorse you, affirm you, agree with you—but never teach you, contradict you, or offend you.

So the prohibition is there because false images of God misrepresent.

But the other side to this prohibition is that images misrepresent the way we relate to God.

So, when God builds relationship with His people, He doesn’t use images—He uses words.

We relate to God, not by vision, but by voice.

Think about what’s happening right now—God is present at Sinai, but all everyone sees is a thick cloud.

It’s what they hear that matters—and right now they are hearing God speak to them as he seeks to build relationship with them.