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The Big Ten - No. 2 “No Idols”

Sunday, 10th October, 2010
10-10-10

 

Exodus 20:4-6

4 You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and the fourth generation of those who reject me, 6 but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation; of those who love me and keep my commandments.

 

 Issue 1. Does this mean a ban on any image whether sculpture, painting or photograph?

 

Shall not make graven images

Leviticus 26:1 - "You shall not make for yourselves idols, nor shall you set up for yourselves an image or a sacred pillar, nor shall you place a figured stone in your land to bow down to it; for I am the Lord your God."

Deuteronomy 5:8 - "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."

Deuteronomy 27:15 - "Cursed is the man who makes an idol or a molten image, an abomination to the Lord, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and sets it up in secret.’ And all the people shall answer and say, ‘Amen.’"

 

 

 

 

Shall make graven images

Exodus 25:18 - "And you shall make two cherubim of gold, make them of hammered work at the two ends of the mercy seat."

Exodus 37:7-8 - "And he made two cherubim of gold; he made them of hammered work, at the two ends of the mercy seat; 8one cherub at the one end, and one cherub at the other end; he made the cherubim of one piece with the mercy seat at the two ends." See also, Exodus 26:1,31; 36:8; 1 Kings 6:23-35.

 

The context of the "You shall not make a graven image" passages is dealing with worship of false things. Exodus 20:4 states that no one is to make an image of what is in heaven so that you may not worship them or bow down to them (20:5). This is reiterated in Leviticus 26:1. The Deuteronomy passages, contextually, are dealing with the same thing: an admonition against worshipping a false image. God does not want people bowing down before idols and worshiping false gods.

The instruction by God to make cherubim, which are angels in heaven, is not for the purpose of worship at all. Instead, it is a representation of the heavenly realm where God dwells and the angels are about the throne (1 Samuel 4:4; Hebrews 9:5). The Cherubim were placed on the Ark of the Covenant, in the Holy of Holies in the temple (2 Chron. 3:10). There, they would never become objects of worship because they were not public artifacts to which the general population would become familiar and thereby risk falling into idol worship.

 

 Issue 2. However, an object that is made for one good purpose can become an idol. We have an example in scripture.

 

2 Kings 18:1-4

 1 In the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, Hezekiah son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign. 2 He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother's name was Abijah daughter of Zechariah. 3 He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father David had done. 4 He removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke into pieces the bronze snake Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it. (It was called Nehushtan.)

 

Numbers 21:4-9

 4 They travelled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea,to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; 5 they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the desert? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!"

 6 Then the LORD sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. 7 The people came to Moses and said, "We sinned when we spoke against the LORD and against you. Pray that the LORD will take the snakes away from us." So Moses prayed for the people.

 8 The LORD said to Moses, "Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live." 9 So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, he lived.

 

A means of grace had become an idol.

 

It is not the object that is the problem. As always, it is what is going on in you mind when you look at the object.

 

 

The boundary is when it was made for the purpose of being worshipped or becomes an object of worship.

 

So this morning, the question is  “ Do you trust in God alone?” Is your single most precious possession your relationship with Jesus?” In doing so I stray into next months sermon “No other Gods”.

 

This commandment, “No idols” is not so much about destroying idols as to asking where your confidence and hope lie.

 

 So examine your house. Where is the idol in your house?  .Probably the most expensive item is the house itself, followed by the car outside, then the  TV in the corner or maybe the computer system or game console. Your computer, camera, Offroad bike, can cost upwards of £1000. Your ticket for a premier Football match this weekend will cost you just under £100.  The meal out £50.  So on a measure of how much you spend, what is your idol?

 

So are you defined by these objects? When you bought your house was it to live in or to say ‘I am rich’; ‘ I indulge in luxury’; ‘I have arrived’. When you bought your car was it to fulfil a function or to enhance your image? That is how they are advertised.

 

Do you sit in front of your TV more than you spend time with God?  No that was not just a piece of rhetoric, it is a challenge. Check out your life, if you are spending more time on worldly entertainment in front of the TV than being in the Holy Spirit, God is a jealous God. You are testing his patience. Repent and turn to Jesus for repentance and switch the TV OFF!!! Being culturally aware is not the same as being part of our present culture.  The trouble is the TV is set where everybody in the room can see it and so it dominates the room and endangers our spiritual wellbeing.

 

 But not only objects can be idols. Simon Cowell understands what he is doing. Whether it is Pop Idol, Idol or X Factor, he is creating idols for us to worship. Big Brother crowds, football crowds, show how endemic the celebrity culture has become. Even in the church, we find a slavish obsession with personalities. We end up studying Stormy Martaine, Joe Ortberg, Adrian Plass, ..the list goes on rather than studying God’s word itself. We have replaced the maker with the created. The Lord with his servants. Big churches are seen as successful, and are swamped by people who go to be entertained rather than discipled.  But our God is a jealous God. He tolerates no rival to our affections.   Read as much as you can about Christians and how they loved their lives, use any book or tape or DVD to help get to know the Saviour better but be on your guard that you do not believe everything you are told unless it is in line with the revealed Word of God, the Bible and don’t become wrapped up with the mesenger rather than the message – Jesus alone is the Word.

 

 But not only can objects become idols and people and personalities become idols but also emotions.

 

 Happiness is the most recognised idal. We believe that life is meant to be one long experience of happiness. Therefore everything that happens to us is seen as bad luck, an unkind God, the consequences of no God and random fate and essentially unfair. I , we say, have the right to be happy. Who says so? Who created this God and worshipped it? Jesus came to give abumndant life leading to eternity. He clearly says “ In this world you will have trouble, but I have overcome the world”.

 

 And in our crazy society, sexual gratification is, as it has often been, the all powerful God of the age. We expect to be able to have sex on demand, we have a craving for more and more excitement in sex leading to bizarre sexual behaviour, homosexuality, bestiality, bondage and the rest. And to protest is to offend the high priests of the sexual revolution and they are on your case. In fact the Law of the land is being used to silence protest. Lust has become a god. God is a jealous God.

 I have repeated God os a jealous God but I guess it feels uncomfortable.  Lets read the Command again.

Exodus 20:4-6

4 You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and the fourth generation of those who reject me, 6 but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation  of those who love me and keep my commandments.

 

What does it mean? Jealousy to us is a sin covered by the 10th Command. It is something selfish and unpleasant and God is not like that.

We must be careful here. God is not capable of sin.

God is a jealous God.

God is exclusive of your affections. It is here where we understand that the great Commandment fits.

 5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strengthDeuteronomy 6:5

The point that has to be remembered here is that he is the creator, he is the only Saviour. He has the right to your affections.  The problem is that your idols are in direct competition to God. An idol is what you create and then worship.

 

You say you have put your faith and trust in Jesus. That means we expect nothing but good from him even if we are ill or in financial difficulties or lonely or persecuted.

Any other idol distracts us from relying on him. We seek comfort from them, look to them to fill our hearts and minds rather than Jesus. 

Let me illustrate this from the marriage relationship. The husband or wife are jealous for each other. They expect the other to seek comfort and solace together not elsewhere. For that reason the Old Testamant pairs adultery and idolatry. 

 

 So where today will you spend your time? Does Jesus get a look-in in the business of your life? Like Mary as Martha fussed around making a meal, choose the better part, Spend time with the Saviour. That is why we invite you to meet for communion on alternate Sunday evenings. That is why we invite you to Powerhouse this Thursday. To encourage you to concetrate on him and worship him. As with all of the Big Ten the key element is what you should be satisfied with.

No envy because you are complete in him

No stealing because you are satisfied with what you have.

No adultery because you value faithfulness

No murder because you are taught to love your enemies

Honour your parents because yourespect each person as loved by God.

Remember the Sabbath because you know God’s way is best.

No swearing because you know God and have integrity.

No idols because you are completely satisfied by the love of God which is in Christ Jesus. Are you? Or have you slipped into idolatry. Turn around,

Turn your eyes on Jesus,

look full in his wonderful face,

and the things of earth will grow strangely dim,

in the light of his glory and grace.

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