"Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or 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: thou shalt not bow down thyself
to them, nor serve them."
The second commandment forbids the worship of the true God by images
or similitudes. 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 man become degraded.
"I the Lord thy God am a jealous God." 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
third and fourth generation of them that hate Me." It is inevitable
that children should suffer from the consequences of parental
wrongdoing, but they are not punished for the parents' guilt, except
as they participate in their sins. It is usually the case, however,
that children walk in the steps of their parents. By inheritance and
example the sons become partakers of the father's sin. 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 third and fourth 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." In prohibiting the worship of false gods, the second
commandment by implication enjoins the worship of the true God. And
to those who are faithful in His service, mercy is promised, not
merely to the third and fourth generation as is the wrath threatened
against those who hate Him, but to thousands of generations.