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The Ten Commandments, Part 2

“You shall not make for yourself an idol 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 fathers 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)

This command is comprehensive. We are not to make an idol of anything, like anything, anywhere. This should be clear, but it is not clear to many people.

• You shall not make…
• You shall not bow…

If for some reason an idol got made, it is not to be worshipped.

Why? The real creator, God, is jealous and will punish to the fourth generation those who:

• hate God
• disobey God

He will show love to a thousand generations those who:

• love God
• obey God

Do you get the message?

“Not to us, O LORD, not to us
but to your name be the glory,
because of your love and faithfulness.
Why do the nations say,
‘Where is their God?’
Our God is in heaven;
he does whatever pleases him.
But their idols are silver and gold,
made by the hands of men.
They have mouths, but cannot speak,
eyes, but they cannot see;
they have ears, but cannot hear,
noses, but they cannot smell;
they have hands, but cannot feel,
feet, but they cannot walk;
nor can they utter a sound with their throats.
Those who make them will be like them,
and so will all who trust in them.” (Psalm 115:1-8)

Idolatry is not innocent. It is a great evil.

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