Ten Commandments, P2: No Images in Our Worship
“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. 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, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.” (Exodus 20:4-6, NIV)
If the first commandment is about holding God as supreme over our lives, not having any idols or distractions that take precedence over Him, then it might seem at first glance that the second commandment is a little redundant.
Sure, the second commandment talks about not making images and bowing down to them. In ancient times, those ideas were closely linked. The Egyptian gods all had likenesses and images. Each god had animals that incarnated and represented each of their deities. As such, these animals were considered sacred, such as the cat which represented Bastet the goddess of protection, pleasure and good health, or a jackal which embodied Anubis the guide to the underworld and protector of graves.
Today, we can see similar ideas at work in the world. In India, the cow is considered to be a sacred animal according to the Hindu faith. They’re allowed to roam free in city centers and the slaughter of these animals is controversial to say the least. Why? Because they believe the cow to be a symbol of the ‘mother goddess,’ who represents fertility and bountifulness.
In America, this specific mode of religion might seem foreign to us. While we might not have animals that we worship because they represent Jesus, we have symbols that are sacred to us. Take the American flag for instance: we have etiquette and reverence for it. It’s considered a faux pas to walk on one or allow it to be cast on the ground. The US Flag code says that when an American flag is tattered beyond being “a fitting emblem that it be disposed of in a dignified way, preferably by burning.”
And whereas that may be symbolism that we can understand and get behind, there is still the glaring reality that some take their nationalism to a level that could be considered worship. In this, we can remember the second commandment: that we should not make any images in heaven or on earth for the purpose of bowing or worshiping the ideal behind the image.
So the American flag? Not evil in and of itself. The representation it holds of American nationalism and pride? Not a bad thing. But the second that nationalism usurps the role of God in our lives as supreme over all and becomes an item of worship, it displeases God and becomes a stumbling block to us.
And the reason is right there in the commandment, written in plain language we can understand. God is a God that wants us wholly. He doesn’t want a part or portion of us. He wants us in our entirety– our devotion, our attention, our passion, and our reverence. He doesn’t want to share us with other gods or idols. He doesn’t want to timeshare us with other valiant causes. He calls Himself a jealous God, and that’s not to say that He’s coveting or committing a sin that he doesn’t allow us to commit. In reality, you can’t covet what is rightfully yours. As the Church, we are already His bride, and therefore God has a love for us that is attentive, vigilant, and protective.
So when God says He is a jealous God, he really is declaring His love for His people and those who follow Him. If we are saved and redeemed by that love, we shouldn’t seek to give our adoration and worship to another. That would be like turning your back on a spouse or holding someone else as more important than your partner.
God wants you. He is jealous for the pinnacle of your heart. He wants all of you, your worship, and your devotion. Even to the point where we shouldn’t even have images that represent or incarnate Him. Why? Because He already incarnated Himself in His Son, Jesus. The image of our living God has already come and is currently with us through His Holy Spirit. To create an image as a vehicle to worship and bow down before Him is to cheapen what He has already given us: Himself. We don’t need an image, idol, animal, or focal point to concentrate our worship upon.
He doesn’t want our communion with Him to be veiled behind an image. He wants us face-to-face. And those that know Him and truly worship Him in spirit and truth, without anything else to aid their worship, are blessed in knowing Him. For in their love and worship, they receive mercy and grace.
We don’t need to make an image so that we can better focus our thoughts, prayers, and adoration on Him. We don’t need to carry around familial statues and idols in order to worship our God. There is nothing you can construct, erect, or create in order to make our prayers better heard or our praises better received. Instead, we need only to go to Him and be pure in heart to commune with Him. And that’s something that cannot be stolen come hell or high water.
