Veneration or Idolatry?

“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.” Exodus 20:4 NASB Idol – In August, 2017, Chaim Clorfene published an article with an enticing title: “How to Save the USA in Ten Easy Lessons.”[1] He…

Redefining Idolatry

“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.” Exodus 20:4 NASB Likeness – What is an idol? You could ask Indiana Jones, I suppose. But you’ll probably learn more if you ask Abraham Heschel….

Beneath Egypt

“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.” Exodus 20:4 NASB Earth – The Hebrew word mitahat combines the preposition min with the adverb tahat.   This combination produces the pictograph “Water/Massive/Chaos + Seal/Sign/Covenant + Fence/Separate/Surround…

Likeness

“You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness”  Exodus 20:4 Likeness – The point is not statues or symbols.  The point is service.  God says that we are not to make any representation of His essential character that assumes His position in our lives.  He comes first.  And He will not share…