Exodus 20:4 - You shall not make for yourself an idol...

4 "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand {generations} of those who love me and keep my commandments.

4Thou 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. 5Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve 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; 6And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

Statues abounded to ancient Gods, but the God of Israel forbid them to make one to Him. Why? We don't find the answer for thousands of years later when God's true image came to the earth in Jesus Christ. God would not allow any other concept to compete with Jesus, who is the very image of God to creation. It is God's revelation of Himself that we are to live by, not one made by men.

Today's Commentary by:
Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor Grace NYC

Discussion at: facebook.com/DailyBibleVerse

Exodus 20: 1-3 - You shall have no other gods before Me

And God spoke all these words: "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before Me."

And God spake all these words, saying, I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

Why would God make this the first commandment? Is He insecure?

Augustine said, "Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in thee." Could this commandment say more about us than anything else?

We are made to worship, and if we don't worship God, we will worship something else. The first commandment acknowledges this and makes us aware of our created nature.

Today's Commentary by:
Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor Grace NYC

Discussion at: facebook.com/DailyBibleVerse