Idol, statue what?

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I’ve been looking in the internet for a Commentary but have not found anything serious, if you help thank you.
 
2 Kings 18:4 He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan.

John 3:14-15 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

Moses made the brass serpent to heal people of their snake bites they received from sinning. It was just a gift from God that had God’s power to heal, but the people wrongly started to worship it as a God called Nehushtan.

So in John 3:14-15 Jesus was also giving us a sign that we should not make an idol out of him and worship him, or pictures or statues of him, as God either. We’re just supposed to believe he is the Messiah who brings the New Covenant as a gift from God sent to heal us.
 
My NAB says “Idol, an image, not of a pagan god, but of the Lord. The Mosaic law forbade the making of an image even of the true God”.

This is very interesting. I would also like to hear some comments
as this could very well prove what Catholics have been saying all along that images are ok as long as you don’t worship them.
 
ricko said:
My NAB says “Idol, an image, not of a pagan god, but of the Lord. The Mosaic law forbade the making of an image even of the true God”.

This is very interesting. I would also like to hear some comments
as this could very well prove what Catholics have been saying all along that images are ok as long as you don’t worship them.
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The House of Israel split with Judah was a false kingdom of idols. Micah made his son a priest which was also wrong since priests could only be Levites and he was of Ephraim.

Ezekiel 6:4 And your altars shall be desolate, and your images shall be broken: and I will cast down your slain men before your idols.
 
FaithofAbraham said:
The House of Israel split with Judah was a false kingdom of idols. Micah made his son a priest which was also wrong since priests could only be Levites and he was of Ephraim.

Ezekiel 6:4 And your altars shall be desolate, and your images shall be broken: and I will cast down your slain men before your idols.
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Note that the split between Judah and Israel came several generations after Micah.
 
My question was Micah a justify man, was he one of the Judges in the book of Judges?
If Micah was not justified, the whole (idol, statue) business in this passage does not stand.
 
I think the key point is there was no king in Israel- this is repeated several times-no one person to look to no commonality of purpose or in religion , they all did what they thought to be right…No temple yet- the Ark was floating around until David secured Jerusalem.It’s a metaphor for us- without a distinct voice of authority and sameness of worship things can go in all different directions and can cause major problems- with the best of intentions.‘Road to hell is paved with good intentions’ 🙂
 
If you want really odd- read Judges 19. yuck! a "text of terror’😦
 
Chellow said:
I don’t know what to make out of the book of Judges Chapter 17: 3-5, It’s a little odd to me can some one comment.
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The D-R Bible, Haydock Commentary:

Ver. 3. God. Hebrew pesel umaseca. The word thing, would perhaps be as well substituted, as (Haydock) all are not convinced that the woman was guilty of idolatry. (Cajetan) — The same figure might be both graven and molten. The image was first carved, and then covered with plates of gold, &c., in the more ancient times. (Calmet) — There might be two figures made by Michas. (Salien) — The Theraphim denote “images which foretel what is to happen.” (Rabbins; Tirinus) — But this is not always the case. (Haydock)

Ver. 5. That…idols is added by the Vulgate. St. Jerome supposes that the ephod denotes all the sacerdotal vestments, and the theraphim whatever else was requisite for priestly functions, ep. ad Marcel. Grotius is of opinion that these theraphim, or cherubim, are styled elohim, gods, (ver. 5) and that the altar, candlesticks, &c., are designated above by whatever was to be graven or molten. Michas had a mind to represent the tabernacle, with its ornaments, in miniature. By the theraphim he might imitate the urim, &c., at the expense of 200 sicles, while 900 might be set apart for the other ornaments. (Calmet) — Many think that he wished to have domestic gods, like the Lares or Penates. — Hand. That is, appointed and consecrated him to the priestly office. (Challoner) — He put in his hand the offerings which he had to make, as was customary, Exodus xxviii. 41. (Calmet) — Priest, contrary to all order. (Menochius) (Numbers iii. 10., and Hebrews v. 4.) (Calmet) — The anointing of his hands with oil, prescribed, (Leviticus viii.) could give him no authority. (Worthington)
 
If images aren’t okay, why did God command that images be used to decorate the Ark of the Covenant? Why did God make us in His image and likeness?

If images aren’t okay, how can you justify having a Bible that is written down? Writing is an image of sounds, and the pages of the Bible are images of the Word of God. (Heck, how can you speak verses? Your pronunciation is a sonic image.)

How can you look in a mirror? How can God have created water to make reflections?

Images, like anything else in God’s creation, can be used in accordance with God’s will or against it.
 
ricko said:
My NAB says “Idol, an image, not of a pagan god, but of the Lord. The Mosaic law forbade the making of an image even of the true God”.

This is very interesting. I would also like to hear some comments
as this could very well prove what Catholics have been saying all along that images are ok as long as you don’t worship them.
Click to expand...
Actually that’s proven in the 10 commandments. Everyone always seems to forget about the 2nd part of the commandment

“…that they should bow down to them or worship them.”
 
Hi Chellow,

Look at verse 6:
In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what he thought best
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.

There was also no central temple. So people worshipped as they thought best. This story is presented as fact. There is nothing in the text to show that it is approved.

Verbum
 
flyersfan1088 said:
Actually that’s proven in the 10 commandments. Everyone always seems to forget about the 2nd part of the commandment

“…that they should bow down to them or worship them.”
Click to expand...
When catholics bow down in front of a statue they are bowing, showing the profound respect held for the saint or the Lord represented by that statue, not bowing TO the statue itself, that would be weird…any catholic that is worshiping a statue or anything other than God is in violation of church teaching as well as the commandments, you know…:tsktsk:
 
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