Shalom brethren!
I pray that you have had an enjoyable and blessed week!
This message continues our study series on the Commandments and the Law, this week the 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, YHWH your Mighty One, am a jealous Mighty One, 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“. (Exodus 20:4-6 NKJV)
There are two forms of idolatry, physical and spiritual. Physical idolatry is easy to identify and avoid. Visit any Catholic or Orthodox church and you will be overwhelmed by the idols they worship in the form of statues, icon, crucifixes and holy relics. Even the Jews have been carried away into idolatry with their veneration of the Star of Chemosh, the six pointed star.
Spiritual idolatry is harder to detect. In the letter to the Colossians Paul clearly identifies what it is, which enables us to avoid falling into that sin.
Many people have expressed concern that YHWH, the epitome and source of all Love, could express jealousy. When we study the root words in Hebrew and Greek, qana and zeloo respectively, we find that an acceptable translation would be “zealous”. It is more comforting to think that YHWH is zealous for His people and in return we are to be zealous for Him.
There is an apparent contradiction in the fact that YHWH visits the iniquity of the fathers on to the children while in other scriptures it clearly states that the child should not suffer punishment for the sins of the father. This apparent contradiction is addressed and resolved in this teaching.
Finally, this Commandment ends in hope. YHWH shows mercy to thousands. The covenantal / conditional nature of the relationship between YHWH and His people is inferred. He shows us mercy IF we love Him and keep His Commandments.
Please watch the whole message here, because learning how to avoid spiritual idolatry is a critical requirement for all of us who desire to be numbered among the faithful at the return of Y’HoWShUA.
If you would like to comment on this message or have any questions please do contact me.