The Positive Side Of The Ten Commandments: The Second Commandment

A. INTRODUCTION

1. People are worshippers. What is suggested in the Commandments? “If you will indeed obey My voice and keep My commandments . . . then you shall be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Ex. 19:5).

2. Worship reflects God. How should people worship? “God is spirit, and they that worship Him, must worship Him in spirit and truth” (John 4:24).

3. An idol rejects God. Why is it wrong to worship God with “representatives”, i.e., idols? “Them that hate me” (v. 5).

4. An idol replaces God. People begin using “something” to help them worship, but end up worshipping the “thing.”

5. Worship and bow down to God. What is the positive side of the Second Commandment? “Do not make idols of any kind, . . . you must never worship or bow down to them” (v. 3).

SECOND COMMANDMENT

“You shall not make for yourself a carved image--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; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments”

(Ex. 20:4-6, NKVJ).

B. WHAT DOES EACH WORD/PHRASE MEAN?

1. Thou shalt not make.

a. To create

b. To substitute

2. Unto thee, i.e., your initiative

3. Graven, i.e., carved or sculpted, your best.

4. Image . . . likeness. “Let us make man in Our image, after Our likeness” (Gen. 1:26).

5. Heaven . . . earth . . . water. The Living Bible translates birds, animals, and fish.

6. Bow down thyself. Worship is reserved for God.

7. Serve them.

a. Give money or sacrifice to idols.

b. Obey or please idols.

8. The Lord thy God is a jealous God, i.e., intolerant of rivalry.

9. Visiting, i.e., charging. When you worship an idol you run up the debt on your children’s credit card.

10. Iniquity, Aven root, “to be bent or controlled, i.e., a tree limb bent out of direction.

11. Them that hate Me, i.e., to reject God is to hate God.

12. Showing mercy, i.e., forgiveness.

13. Thousands, i.e., generations.

14. Love Me and keep My commandments.

a. To love God is to place Him first.

b. To obey God is to follow His directions.

C. IDOLATRY DEFIES LOGIC

1. We were created in God’s image, and then we turn around and create something in God’s image. We become god-makers.

2. We think we are honoring God, but we are bringing God down to our level. We become god-minimizes.

3. We think we are worshipping God, but we are worshipping ourselves. We are god-compromisers.

4. God wants us to recognize who He is and what He has done for us. God made us worshippers.

D. OUR IDOLATRY

1. Michelangelo said, “Look within the marble to discover what is there, then sculpt it accordingly.”

a. We look within our heart, and then make a god of it.

b. Our god is money, possessions, hobbies, achievements, etc.

c. Anything that we make in the place of God is an idol.

2. Look within the nature of God to discover what to worship.

a. Worship Him for His holiness and justice, i.e., punishment.

b. Worship Him for His mercy, i.e., forgiveness.

If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:

Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God. Please contact me at eltowns@liberty.edu and tell us about your salvation experience so that we can rejoice with you.