Carved Images

English Standard Version Chapter 20

20 And God spoke all these words, saying,

2 “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

3 “You shall have no other gods before me.

4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.

English Standard Version Chapter 20

And God spoke all these words, saying,

2 “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

3 “You shall have no other gods before me.

4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.

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Testing 1 2 3

God’s Lordship

Whenever you see the word LORD in all caps in your Bible, that’s the name Yahweh (YHWH). This is God’s personal name given to Moses. It means Lord, specifically the Lord of the covenant given to Israel, and has connotations of a God who is eternal, unique, unchangeable and always actively present with His people. It expresses God’s role as Israel’s Redeemer and covenant Lord.

God is reminding them who He is—that He deserves their reverence and obedience not only because of what He did for them (rescuing them from Egypt) but also because He is the one true God.

English Standard Version Chapter 42

I am the LORD; that is my name;

my glory I give to no other,

nor my praise to carved idols.

Review of Last Week

Specifics of Idolatry/Carved Images

English Standard Version Chapter 4

15 “Therefore watch yourselves very carefully. Since you saw no form on the day that the LORD spoke to you at Horeb out of the midst of the fire, 16 beware lest you act corruptly by making a carved image for yourselves, in the form of any figure, the likeness of male or female, 17 the likeness of any animal that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged bird that flies in the air, 18 the likeness of anything that creeps on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the water under the earth. 19 And beware lest you raise your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun and the moon and the stars, all the host of heaven, you be drawn away and bow down to them and serve them, things that the LORD your God has allotted to all the peoples under the whole heaven. 20 But the LORD has taken you and brought you out of the iron furnace, out of Egypt, to be a people of his own inheritance, as you are this day. 21 Furthermore, the LORD was angry with me because of you, and he swore that I should not cross the Jordan, and that I should not enter the good land that the LORD your God is giving you for an inheritance. 22 For I must die in this land; I must not go over the Jordan. But you shall go over and take possession of that good land. 23 Take care, lest you forget the covenant of the LORD your God, which he made with you, and make a carved image, the form of anything that the LORD your God has forbidden you. 24 For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.

25 “When you father children and children’s children, and have grown old in the land, if you act corruptly by making a carved image in the form of anything, and by doing what is evil in the sight of the LORD your God, so as to provoke him to anger, 26 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that you will soon utterly perish from the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess. You will not live long in it, but will be utterly destroyed. 27 And the LORD will scatter you among the peoples, and you will be left few in number among the nations where the LORD will drive you. 28 And there you will serve gods of wood and stone, the work of human hands, that neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell. 29 But from there you will seek the LORD your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul. 30 When you are in tribulation, and all these things come upon you in the latter days, you will return to the LORD your God and obey his voice. 31 For the LORD your God is a merciful God. He will not leave you or destroy you or forget the covenant with your fathers that he swore to them.

God first provides the reason for the second commandment—God gave no visible form to His spirit when He came to speak to His people. So we are not fashion any visible idol of either some other god or the God of scripture.

While this won’t be the primary focus of what I’m going to talk about today, I did want to touch on this aspect of the second commandment:

While it’s obvious that God does not prohibit all forms of “carved likenesses” because He gives instruction to the artists of Israel to fashion cherubs for the ark of the covenant, it does seem clear that the second commandment prohibits the creation of images that are supposed to represent God in any other way than that in which He’s chosen to reveal Himself.

This was one of the main problems with the medieval Roman Catholic church: They would often use paintings and sculptures to help illiterate peasants to understand the narratives and doctrines in the Bible.

What’s the problem with this? It could lead to worshipping the objects instead of God himself.

This ended up leading to the praying to statues of saints and Mary, which is a very obvious violation of the second commandment. We have to be careful.

So

God provides a pretty extensive list of the kinds of idols that one should not make. Even though most of us would think it ridiculous today to make idols of wood or stone or to worship the sun or moon, we would probably all agree (and we’ve talked about this before) that we still can go after idols.

But to really understand idolatry, we have to understand what was so attractive about it to the original audience.

But it goes even deeper than that. We make idols in all sorts of ways, and each and every one of these idolatrous acts is sinful.

Let’s learn more about what this meant for the original audience so we can understand what idolatry meant for the ancient world.

Idolatry in the Ancient World

Why were so many Israelites lured away from God to idols?

Idolatry was guaranteed.

The formula was simple. Carve a god out of wood or stone and the god would enter the icon. Now that you have a god in your midst, you can get his (or her) attention quickly. Your incantations, oaths, and offerings will always be noticed.

Idolatry was selfish.

Scratch the gods backs and they’ll scratch yours. They need food and sacrifices; you need blessings. Do your stuff and they’ll be obliged to get you stuff.

Idolatry was easy.

Ancient idolatry encouraged vain religious activity. Do what you like with your life. So long as you show up consistently with your sacrifices, you’ll be in good shape.

There were no moral or ethical requirements. It was all about ritual.

Idolatry was normal.

Everyone did it. It’s how woman got pregnant, how crops grew, how armies conquered. Idolatry was like oil: nothing ran in the ancient world without it.

Idolatry was logical.

Nations are different. People are different. Their needs and desires are different. Obviously, there must be different deities for different strokes. How could one god cover all of life? You don’t eat at one restaurant do you? The more options the better. They can all be right some of the time.

Idolatry was pleasing to the senses.

If you are going to be especially religious, it helps to be able to see your god. It’s harder to impress people with an invisible deity.

Idolatry was indulgent.

Sacrificing to the gods did not often require sacrifice for the worshiper. Leftover food could be eaten. Drink could be drunk. Generosity to the gods leads to feasting for you.

Idolatry was sensual.

The whole system was marked by sex. Rituals often featured sex as an important aspect. Sex on earth often meant sex in heaven, and sex in heaven meant big rain, big harvests and multiplying herds.

Can we see the attraction of idolatry?

Does it sound familiar to other religious or semi-religious activities or beliefs today?

“Let’s see, I want a spirituality that gets me lots, costs me little, is easy to see, easy to do, has few ethical or doctrinal boundaries, guarantees me success, feels good, and doesn’t offend those around me.” That’ll seem great.

We want the same things that they wanted, we just go after them in different (albeit similar) ways. Often this can show up in Christianity itself. And that’s one of the main things I want to focus on—idolatry can show up in what we believe about church or God. We can make carved images not just through wanting money or power or relationships over God, we can make carved images by wanting a God that we’ve made ourselves.

We want a faith that gets us stuff and guarantees success. Does that sound familiar to a false gospel today? Prosperity gospel.

We want church that’s always convenient. Virtual Church.

We want a religion that is all about rituals and doesn’t care about morality. Nominal Christianity/going through the motions.

We want a spirituality that no matter what encourages sexual expression. LGBT/liberal sexual freedom.

So, let’s dig into these two aspects of idolatry more fully:

Idolatry often means making God in our image instead of the other way around.

Idolatry is often related to compromising with the culture around us.

Let’s start with that first one.

Making God Into Our Image

How many of you have heard these statements:

“My God is a God of love. He would never send people to Hell.”

“God has a wonderful plan for your life and he just wants you to be happy.”

The problem is, even though those statements seem really nice…they’re not true. Which means what? If something isn’t true, what is it?

“

So when we say things like this, we are LYING about the Lord of the Universe. About YHWH, our Lord.

English Standard Version Chapter 17

29 Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. 30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”

Scripture is the water, and we are looking into it to try to see who God is. We have to make sure we’re actually looking at the water, and not merely the reflection, which is our own and we try to read into the text.

Exegesis, eisegesis, narcigesis.

We have to go back to God’s infallible word to know what God has said about Himself, and we have to let the text speak for itself.

God isn’t some illusionist who’s trying to trick us about who He is, He wants us to know, and so He has made it clear in scripture if we just read it, interpreting scripture with scripture.

This is why theology is important. Theology—the study of God. We can only properly love and worship God if we know who He is.

If you had a person you claimed was your best friend but you refused to learn anything about them or know them better, and instead just made up lies about them based on who YOU thought they were, how well would you be loving them?

Alright, moving on to the second part of idolatry that is relevant today.

Being Influenced By The World

English Standard Version Chapter 23

Therefore, be very strong to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, turning aside from it neither to the right hand nor to the left, 7 that you may not mix with these nations remaining among you or make mention of the names of their gods or swear by them or serve them or bow down to them, 8 but you shall cling to the LORD your God just as you have done to this day.

This goes right along with what we were talking about. We have to understand God on His own terms, not our own.

We can often be influenced by the culture around us instead of what the Bible says, or worse, try to impose ideas from the world into scripture to make it say something it doesn’t.

This was a major problem for the Israelites, and that’s why God had such harsh commandments related to the pagan nations around Israel. All of these nations were following after false gods.

God commanded the Israelites to completely destroy the cities and all that were in them when they conquered the Promised Land. They were even to kill the animals. God wanted them to completely wipe out the evil, God-hating culture that existed there so that His people wouldn’t be tempted to follow their ways.

God also commanded the Israelites to not marry anyone from the surrounding nations, so they wouldn’t be led away by their spouses to false gods. That’s what happened to Solomon.

We have to be very careful, just like the Israelites, to not be influenced by the culture around us, but always to go back to the Word of God as our authority.

So what does God say about idols in His word?

The Impotence of Idols

English Standard Version Psalm 115

Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory,

for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!

2  Why should the nations say,

“Where is their God?”

3  Our God is in the heavens;

he does all that he pleases.

4  Their idols are silver and gold,

the work of human hands.

5  They have mouths, but do not speak;

eyes, but do not see.

6  They have ears, but do not hear;

noses, but do not smell.

7  They have hands, but do not feel;

feet, but do not walk;

and they do not make a sound in their throat.

8  Those who make them become like them;

so do all who trust in them.

9  O Israel, trust in the LORD!

He is their help and their shield.

10  O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD!

He is their help and their shield.

11  You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD!

He is their help and their shield.

If those who make the idols will become like them, that means they will

Have eyes but cannot see

Have ears but cannot hear, etc.

English Standard Version Psalm 102

25  Of old you laid the foundation of the earth,

and the heavens are the work of your hands.

26  They will perish, but you will remain;

they will all wear out like a garment.

You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away,

27  but you are the same, and your years have no end.

28  The children of your servants shall dwell secure;

their offspring shall be established before you.

Idols shouldn’t be made or worshipped because they come out of the created order, whereas God himself is above that, separate from it, He is the creator

English Standard Version Chapter 10

11 Thus shall you say to them: “The gods who did not make the heavens and the earth shall perish from the earth and from under the heavens.”

12  It is he who made the earth by his power,

who established the world by his wisdom,

and by his understanding stretched out the heavens.

13  When he utters his voice, there is a tumult of waters in the heavens,

and he makes the mist rise from the ends of the earth.

He makes lightning for the rain,

and he brings forth the wind from his storehouses.

14  Every man is stupid and without knowledge;

every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols,

for his images are false,

and there is no breath in them.

15  They are worthless, a work of delusion;

at the time of their punishment they shall perish.

16  Not like these is he who is the portion of Jacob,

for he is the one who formed all things,

and Israel is the tribe of his inheritance;

the LORD of hosts is his name.

English Standard Version Chapter 10

Thus says the LORD:

“Learn not the way of the nations,

nor be dismayed at the signs of the heavens

because the nations are dismayed at them,

3  for the customs of the peoples are vanity.

A tree from the forest is cut down

and worked with an axe by the hands of a craftsman.

4  They decorate it with silver and gold;

they fasten it with hammer and nails

so that it cannot move.

5  Their idols are like scarecrows in a cucumber field,

and they cannot speak;

they have to be carried,

for they cannot walk.

Do not be afraid of them,

for they cannot do evil,

neither is it in them to do good.”

6  There is none like you, O LORD;

you are great, and your name is great in might.

7  Who would not fear you, O King of the nations?

For this is your due;

for among all the wise ones of the nations

and in all their kingdoms

there is none like you.

8  They are both stupid and foolish;

the instruction of idols is but wood!

9  Beaten silver is brought from Tarshish,

and gold from Uphaz.

They are the work of the craftsman and of the hands of the goldsmith;

their clothing is violet and purple;

they are all the work of skilled men.

10  But the LORD is the true God;

he is the living God and the everlasting King.

At his wrath the earth quakes,

and the nations cannot endure his indignation.

11 Thus shall you say to them: “The gods who did not make the heavens and the earth shall perish from the earth and from under the heavens.”

12  It is he who made the earth by his power,

who established the world by his wisdom,

and by his understanding stretched out the heavens.

13  When he utters his voice, there is a tumult of waters in the heavens,

and he makes the mist rise from the ends of the earth.

He makes lightning for the rain,

and he brings forth the wind from his storehouses.

14  Every man is stupid and without knowledge;

every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols,

for his images are false,

and there is no breath in them.

15  They are worthless, a work of delusion;

at the time of their punishment they shall perish.

16  Not like these is he who is the portion of Jacob,

for he is the one who formed all things,

and Israel is the tribe of his inheritance;

the LORD of hosts is his name.

God’s Power Over Idols

Statement after thus you shall say in Aramaic

Apologetics towards the pagans around them

This translates to apologetics for us—it is our responsibility as God’s people to let others know that the gods they are worshipping are false if it’s not the God of the Bible

English Standard Version Chapter 16

19  O LORD, my strength and my stronghold,

my refuge in the day of trouble,

to you shall the nations come

from the ends of the earth and say:

“Our fathers have inherited nothing but lies,

worthless things in which there is no profit.

20  Can man make for himself gods?

Such are not gods!”

21 “Therefore, behold, I will make them know, this once I will make them know my power and my might, and they shall know that my name is the LORD.”

This is the beauty of the Gospel. Athanasius, one of the early church fathers, had this to say about the power of God in salvation, leading unbelievers to leave their idols and follow Christ:

The Saviour does daily so many works, drawing men to religion, persuading to virtue, teaching of immortality, leading on to a desire for heavenly things, revealing the knowledge of the Father, inspiring strength to meet death, shewing Himself to each one, and displacing the godlessness of idolatry, and the gods and spirits of the unbelievers can do none of these things, but rather shew themselves dead at the presence of Christ, their pomp being reduced to impotence and vanity; whereas by the sign of the Cross all magic is stopped, and all witchcraft brought to nought, all the idols are being deserted and left, and every unruly pleasure is checked, and every one is looking up from earth to heaven… For the Son of God is 'living and active,' and works day by day, and brings about the salvation of all. But death is daily proved to have lost all his power, and idols and spirits are proved to be dead rather than Christ.

The Jealousy of God

English Standard Version Chapter 20

You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.

English Standard Version Chapter 6

It is the LORD your God you shall fear. Him you shall serve and by his name you shall swear. 14 You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are around you— 15 for the LORD your God in your midst is a jealous God—lest the anger of the LORD your God be kindled against you, and he destroy you from off the face of the earth.

Being Influenced By The World

English Standard Version Chapter 23

Therefore, be very strong to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, turning aside from it neither to the right hand nor to the left, 7 that you may not mix with these nations remaining among you or make mention of the names of their gods or swear by them or serve them or bow down to them, 8 but you shall cling to the LORD your God just as you have done to this day.

God demands our exclusive worship. He is a jealous God. This makes sense, because God IS God, the only true God, and so it’s logical that He would not allow His people to follow after gods that don’t exist. Besides the simple fact that God has commanded it, here are two other important reasons why we should offer exclusive worship to God alone:

Making God Into Our Image

Test

We should worship God alone because our life’s purpose is to glorify God and offer Him worship, and He is the only one worthy of that worship. The Lord commands us to worship Him because He is a jealous God, and He exists to glorify Himself (which isn’t a bad thing, but God’s glory is the thing which we should desire).

English Standard Version Chapter 17

29 Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. 30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”

Scripture is the water, and we are looking into it to try to see who God is. We have to make sure we’re actually looking at the water, and not merely the reflection, which is our own and we try to read into the text.

We should worship God alone because God is the most perfect, wonderful, beautiful thing in the universe. And worshipping anything else is at best a pale substitute. It’s like having the best gourmet meal by the finest chef in the classiest restaurant before you, and you walk out, go to the garbage dump, and eat a dirty diaper full of poop instead. I know that’s graphic, but that’s what it’s like. God has offered to give us Himself, and we turn it down for scraps.

We shouldn’t want anything else but God. The real God. The God of scripture. And we can only understand that God by reading His Word.

I know that’s graphic, but that’s what it’s like.