The Ten Commandments: II–No Idols

Keep Yourselves From Idols.

The second commandment is closely related to the first. We are not to make an image, or idol to represent God. Any representation of God is less than He is. Any form of idolatry takes our focus off God Himself. To bow in worship before an idol is to follow after false gods.

The dictionary defines an idol as, “an image used as an object of worship; something visible, but without substance.” Idolatry is, “blind admiration of or devotion to something or someone.”

God refers to idols as “detestable” (Deuteronomy 7:25; 27:15). Any representation of God cannot do Him justice. Pagan religions may worship the sun, the moon, or the stars, but they are not God. They are merely things God has created. A man-made idol may be a statue made to represent deity, or it may be anything to which one submits his allegiance.

God describes Himself as jealous for His people–He will not tolerate their worship of lesser things. His jealousy is not the same as human jealousy. God is protective over His creation. He doesn’t want us to worship lesser things that can do nothing for us.

“Who but a fool would make his own god–an idol that cannot help him one bit?” (Isaiah 44:10, NLT). These are the words of Isaiah the prophet. Isaiah goes on to make the point that craftsmen who make idols are mere men. They chop down trees (that God created) and carve out an idol to worship from a piece of wood. Out of the same piece of wood they make a fire to warm themselves and cook their food. The idol can do nothing for them. It is a block of wood that knows nothing, and cannot understand anything. (Isaiah 44:9-19).

Jeremiah makes the same point about the worthlessness of idols. A craftsman chisels out an idol from a tree, adorns it with silver or gold, but like a scarecrow in a melon patch, it cannot speak. It must be carried, because it cannot move on its own. Idols can do no harm, nor can they do any good. (Jeremiah  10:1-5).

Jeremiah contrasts idols with the One who deserves worship. “But God made the earth by his power; he founded the world by his wisdom and stretched out the heavens by his understanding. When he thunders, the waters roar; he makes the clouds rise from the ends of the earth. He sends lightning with the rain and brings out the wind from his storehouses.”       (Jeremiah 10:12-13).

In Romans 1, the apostle Paul teaches us that what may be known about God is seen in creation. The design and order of the universe confirms the reality of a Creator who thoughtfully designed it all. The world is not an accident. But people suppress the knowledge of God by failing to give thanks to Him, and worshiping the creation instead of the One who created it all. The rest of Romans 1 reveals that turning away from the one true God leads to all kinds of depravity. God, in His love and compassion wants to protect us from such things.

The apostle John, in his 1st letter to believers, warns of false teachers, and immorality. He affirms the  faith of believers in Jesus. After covering all the points he wanted them to remember, he closed his letter by simply saying, Keep yourselves from idols  (1 John 5:21).

 Nothing can contain or accurately represent the true nature of God in all His glory and majesty. Any representation turns our attention away from God as He is, to something lesser. God wants us to know Him, in truth, for our own good. The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. (Psalm 145:18).

You shall not make for yourself an idol in the in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them, for I the Lord am a jealous God . . . Exodus 20:4-5 NIV

What are you doing to keep yourself from idols? Please leave a comment below.

Blessings,
Phyllis

© 2026 Phyllis L. Farringer

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