“You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 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 fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.” (Deuteronomy 5:8-10).

At first glance the Second Commandment, just like the First one, might not seem to present much of a problem to us. But, is this really the case, since images of icons are often used in church worship?! In Deuteronomy chapter 4, Moses reminds the people that they: ‘saw no form on the day the Lord spoke to you at Horeb out the midst of the fire’ (v1). The idols of Egypt may have been a distant memory, but because Israel’s previous generation had indulged in idol worship with the Golden Calf, this was an area where they were susceptible to temptation!

The list of images and creatures that in Deuteronomy 4:17-18 is extensive, as at many points in history, mankind have worshipped each of these images or combined images of humans and animals. But there are two important points here. Firstly, any man-made image of God is bound to diminish Him in the eyes of the worshiper – the representation will never be adequate, as it cannot convey the majestic characteristics of an all-powerful God, who wants a relationship with those He has created, as:  ‘the carved Statue is no better than the artisan who formed it.’[1] Secondly, idol worship is degrading to human beings. In his book ‘The Ten Commandments’ Brian Edwards recounts a time when he was flicking through a magazine while waiting for an appointment and he came across a picture of a religious procession.  ‘As I looked at the serious faces of the men carrying their lavishly adorned idol I thought to myself, “that man may be a banker, and that one a university professor, and that man may be a shopkeeper or a doctor”. Perhaps they were all intelligent men, yet there they were, trundling through the streets a hideous image of one of their gods. It made them look foolish in the extreme.’[2]

But the important thing is God’s reaction to this kind of worship. We are reminded that God is ‘a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me’ (v9). That said, there are many examples of God’s love for those who turn to Him from pagan cultures. But children tend to imitate their parents, a real danger in the context of the extended families of that culture. But this is contrasted with the other aspect of God’s nature: ‘showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.’ (v10). Warren Wiersbe gives an illustration of God blessing successive generations of those who obey Him: ‘My great-grandfather prayed that there would  be a preacher of the Gospel in every generation of our family – and there has been; I minister today because of godly ancestors who trusted the Lord.’[3]

Failing to realise that idol worship limits Gods greatness and glory will certainly limit a person’s worship! As Jesus said “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:24). This commandment makes clear that anything else is unacceptable to God!

[1] McClelland, The Ancient Law for the New Age, A Concise Examination of the Ten Commandments (Toronto, Wittenburg Publications, 1990) 40.
[2] Brian H. Edwards, The Ten Commandments for Today (Bromley, Day one publications, 1996), 94.
[3] Warren Wiersbe, Be Equipped, Deuteronomy, Acquiring the Tools for Spiritual Success (Colorado Springs, Cook Communication Ministries, 1999), 36.