The Second Word
Introduction
Our God is a jealous God because He is perfect, and His love is perfect. If a man kisses pictures of his wife, but not her, she has a right to be jealous because the husband isn’t loving her. The picture does not replace her.
The Passage
“You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. “You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments. Exodus 20:4–6
Explain the Passage
If the last word was about not worshipping anything we want, this word is about not worshipping God any way we want. This passage regulates how we worship. We cannot put God in a box by making images of Him, nor can we give religious devotion to images. Notice, worship involves our bodies. We “worship”, which means to bow down. We “serve” which is all the actions the priests did. We should use our bodies in worship, just not toward a visual placeholder for God.
The second word shows us how powerful sight is among the other sense. In scripture, God’s eyes are used for judgment (Ps 11:4). In Genesis, God sees creation is good (Gen 1:31), Eve sees fruit is good for eating (Gen 3:6), and both Adam and Eve’s eyes were opened after eating (Gen 3:7). If we see something, we feel like we can understand it and even control it. But God cannot be controlled.
The reason you can’t worship God this way is because He is jealous. He deserves your worship, not your wallet picture of Him. God promises to end the generations of those who worship Him wrongly while showing blessing to those who love Him for thousands of generations. The way we worship today affects the worshippers of tomorrow.
Idols are for Losers
Last week, I made the argument that the first word is the root of all actions for Christians. Idolatry in the heart is where all other sin starts. That being said, breaking the second commandment is more common that you would think. For example, while Moses is on the mountain receiving God’s laws for the tabernacle, the rest of Israel grows impatient and pressures Aaron to make a golden calf to worship as a representation of God (Ex 32:1-4). Worshipping images is easier than waiting on worshipping the one true God. Another example of this kind of false worship shows up in the book of Kings. After the Northern tribes rebel against Solomon’s son, King Jeroboam makes golden calves to represent God and keep everyone from going down to Jerusalem to worship (1 Kings 12:26-30). Worshipping images keeps comfortable people from worshipping rightly. So, don’t discount the power of what you see to affect what and how you worship. How much time do you give to phone screens, computer screens, and TV screens? The sinful heart wants spectacle. But Christians are to live tuned to hearing the word of God.
Jesus is the Image of the Invisible God
God prohibits worshipping images of himself because He already sent His image. Jesus is the image of the invisible God (Col 1:15). He is the Word of God who tabernacled in our flesh (John 1:14). Jesus has a body, a hair color, eye color, a height and a weight. Jesus has a grip if He were to shake your hand and an accent if He were to talk to you. For 33 years, people really saw God with their two eyes. But Jesus came, lived, died, rose from the grace, and now sits at God’s right hand. Even though Jesus ascended into heaven, He sent us His Holy Spirit. Even though we cannot see the Holy Spirit, He still ministers to us in other senses. We walk by faith, not by sight (2 Cor 5:7). We hear His word, we water, we smell bread, and we taste wine. Christ rules and reigns from heaven, but He sent His Spirit to comfort us with four things: Word and water, Bread and wine. We receive these gifts by faith because one day we will see Him as He truly is with our eyes (1 John 3:2).
Watch out for what you Watch
What do we do with pictures of Jesus in our story books or on our walls at home? Be careful with them. Some Christians think any picture of Jesus breaks the second commandment. But in order to apply that, you must first know what Jesus looked like. I think most pictures of Jesus are blasphemous, not violations of the second word. So, whether it’s breaking the second word or the third, we should be careful with anything about Jesus. If a particular painting of Jesus comforts you, then you’re puckering your lips to kiss the wallet picture again. Pictures of Jesus do not comfort, Jesus comforts. If The Chosen or The Passion of the Christ becomes your imagination when you read the gospels, then stop. You will eventually be judging the gospels like book fans judge the movie of their favorite book; they like some parts more than others. You are using your eyes to judge between a scene from John’s gospel and a scene from a TV show, which is exactly what God forbids.
We are Images of Christ
One day, everyone will see Jesus (Phil 2:9-11). But until then, how will this lost world see that Jesus is king over this world? By seeing His people. Christians, have the Spirit of Christ (2 Cor 3:18) who is shaping our lives to look more like Jesus (Rom 8:29). That means we should stop living like how we want but start living like Christians among one another (Col 3:9-11). Today, Natalie, Rowan, and Brooklynn have been joined to Christ in His baptism. We sing as one bride sings for her groom. And in a moment, we will take the one body of Christ in the bread. “There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all (Eph 4:4–6).” We are the people of Christ and all that we do should be about and for Him.
Worship Like Christians
Worship according to the word. Don’t think of this command as if God wants you to be a scrupulous, no-joy worshipper. Instead, we should try enjoying the things He’s given us to enjoy and enjoy it as much as possible. God wants us to worship with singing, praying, and fellowshipping. He wants you to be fed with spiritual words as well as His body and blood.
Worship with what God gives, not what you want. Sydney and I watch these HGTV shows a lot about married couples who flip houses. What’s intriguing is that these couples go to great lengths to make their clients happy. No doubt most of you go to great lengths to make your bosses happy at work. Why don’t we go to great lengths to be happy in our worship?