None shall be looked to for deliverance nor ought they be trusted. Thus God begins His instruction with a warning against worship of, or service to any conflicting authority. The Second commandment, like the First, warns against the consequence of all idolatry, which is the setting up of any image to worship and serve. There are a number of important dynamics which must be observed in this verse. Firstly , God identifies the sinful progression of all those that fall prey to idolatry.
Idolatry begets the setting up of a graven image.
This image can come in the form of philosophies, material things, health, knowledge, social status, economic stability, and a host of other things that mankind sets up as their confidence and hope. One simple way to check to see if we are guilty of setting up any graven image is to examine where our confidence lies, and where our authority structure is based. If our standard is God s Word, the Law of Holy Scripture, and God alone is the final authority on all life and faith, then we are on a sure foundation. However, it must be stated that many speak fair words and yet live quite differently. Another way to examine our position is to examine our interpretation of the world.