May 14, 2020
FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
THE SECOND COMMANDMENT
“Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in the heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them.” Exo. 20: 4-6, KJV.
“The second commandment forbids the worship of the true God by images or similitude (likeness). Many heathen nations claimed that their images were mere figures or symbols by which the Deity was worshiped. But God has declared such worship to be SIN. The attempt to represent the Eternal One by MATERIAL objects would LOWER man’s conception of God. The mind, turned away from the Infinite perfection of Jehovah, would be attracted to the CREATURE rather than to the CREATOR. And as his conceptions of God were LOWERED, so would men become DEGRADED.”
“I the Lord thy God am a jealous God.’ verse 5. ‘The close and sacred relation of God to His people is represented under the figure of MARRIAGE. Idolatry being SPIRITUAL ADULTERY, the displeasure of God against it is fitly called JEALOUSY.”
“Visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the 3rd and 4th generation of them that HATE Me.’ verse 5. ‘It is inevitable that children should SUFFER from the consequences of parental wrong-doing, but they are NOT PUNISHED for their parents’ guilt, EXCEPT as they participate in their [parents’] sin.”
“It is usually the case, however, that children walk in the steps of their parents. [‘Like father like son;’ ‘like mother like daughter;’ ‘chip from the old block’]. Wrong tendencies, perverted appetites, and debased morals, as well as physical disease and degeneracy, are transmitted as a legacy from father to son, to the 3rd and 4th generation. This fearful truth should have a solemn power to RESTRAIN men from following a course of sin.”
“Showing mercy unto thousands of them that LOVE Me and KEEP My commandments.’ verse 6. ‘In prohibiting the worship of false gods, the 2nd commandment by implication enjoins the worship of the true God. And to those who are FAITHFUL to His service, MERCY is promised, not merely to the 3rd and 4th generation as is the wrath threatened against those who hate Him, but to THOUSANDS of generations!” E.G. White, Patriarchs & Prophets, 305,306.
“Faith is the substance of things hoped for; the evidence of things NOT seen.” Heb.11.1. It is not the faith of Jesus to try to portray or symbolize the invisible God with anything that is man-made or imagined by finite, sinful mortals! Faith is simply based on and in “It is Written,” “Thus saith the Lord,” “Unto the law and the testimony.” NMF