"No Pictures . . . Please!"

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Exodus 20:4-6 (KJV)

4. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
5. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
6. And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

I can remember at least two places where pictures were forbidden. In Aberdeen Harbor, Hong Kong, the people became angry when pictures were taken, feeling a portion of their soul was taken when photographed. In the Smithsonian Institute there were signs that said, "No Pictures Please," and guards were posted. I don't know why they said "please."

God is saying, "No pictures please . . ." for a different reason. The first commandment addresses "whom we are to worship" and the second "how we are to worship." The first four commandments speak of our walk with God, the last six of our relationship with man.

1. There is a prohibition revealed - "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image." "This commandment prohibits the construction and use of an image
   or picture which is used in worship or assists you in worship." The Catholics have put the first two commandments into one and divided the tenth. Wanting a picture of God is understandable (as you want a picture of a loved one), but it is unreasonable to do so because you have no idea what God looks like! William Barclay, the historian, points out that early civilizations, when attacked, grabbed their statues and ran! They had begun to worship the image!
   
   Why are we not to establish an image of God?
   1. Because of who God is . . . No one has seen God! Ezekiel "saw visions of God" - fire, throne, rainbow, but God is spirit -- no statue captures Him. Augustine said "Images remove the fear of God before our eyes."
   2. Because of how gullible we are . . .! "It's okay," you say. "The end is worship and the means is the image - it just helps." Do you know what happens? We end up settling for the means - it becomes everything. Those things intended as a help, become the object of our worship -- the building, bulletin, etc. . . (Example: Israel and the brass serpent -- Numbers 21:6-9; II Kings 18:4).
2. There is a problem revealed . . . "visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children."
   That which we do in moderation, our children feel in excess! 60, 70 years ago we began to worship programs, results, and goals! Our children have inherited from us a system that promotes emphasis on everything but real worship, praise, and devotion.
3. There is a promise revealed . . . "Showing mercy unto them that love Me!"
   This verse forms a Hebraism (a Hebrew colloquial saying) that means, "I will show my mercy to thousands of generations of those who love me and keep my commandments." In Scripture there are promises to "the household of faith."

   Application: Your family learns from you the worship of the one true God when you worship him at home and in private as much as you do at church and in public.