Make No Idols For Yourselves

This meditation is based on a passage for March 1, 2011 in the Daily Lectionary Year 1 from the Book of Common Worship for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (1993).

Text: Deuteronomy 4:15-24

Reflection and Question: This passage takes the second commandment, “You shall not make for yourself an idol (Exodus 20:4, Deuteronomy 5:8)” and elaborates upon its meanings. The speaker here is not concerned about the making of images of other gods — there is only one God. Instead, making idols of familiar things like people, animals, sun or moon is forbidden here. This has relevance for us as we devote more energy and attention — make idols of, for example, who is winning on American Idol, or (I confess) the Steelers! How might you stop making idols for yourself?

Prayer: Almighty God, our faithful intention is to make no idols for ourselves, to love You with all our heart and mind and soul and strength. But we know distractions creep in so that without our knowing we make idols of many things. Wake us up. Amen.