How does 2 Kings 10:29 connect to the First Commandment in Exodus 20:3? Setting the Scene in 2 Kings 10:29 • “But Jehu did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit—the worship of the golden calves in Bethel and Dan.” (2 Kings 10:29) • Jehu had zealously purged Baal worship (2 Kings 10:18-28), yet he clung to Jeroboam’s two golden-calf shrines. • These calves were set up centuries earlier to keep the northern tribes from traveling to Jerusalem (1 Kings 12:28-30) and had become entrenched in Israel’s identity. God’s Unchanging Requirement: Exodus 20:3 • “You shall have no other gods before Me.” (Exodus 20:3) • The First Commandment establishes exclusive allegiance to the LORD, prohibiting every rival object of worship. • This command remains foundational throughout Scripture (Deuteronomy 6:14-15; Isaiah 42:8; Matthew 4:10; 1 Corinthians 10:14). How the Two Passages Intersect • Idolatry Defined – The golden calves were not mere symbols; they were treated as deities, violating the first and greatest demand of God’s law. • Partial Obedience Exposed – Jehu eradicated Baal yet retained the calves, illustrating that selective obedience still breaks Exodus 20:3 (James 2:10). • National Consequences – This tolerated idolatry paved the way for Israel’s eventual exile (2 Kings 17:7-18). God’s standard in Exodus never changed, and judgment fell when it was ignored. • Heart Issue, Not Only Ritual – External reforms cannot substitute for undivided devotion. Jehu’s story underscores that allegiance must reach the heart (Proverbs 4:23; Matthew 22:37). Timeless Lessons • God requires complete loyalty; any “golden calf” we excuse still places another “god” before Him. • Zeal in one area of faith does not offset disobedience in another; wholehearted surrender is the goal (Romans 12:1-2). • Remembering Exodus 20:3 safeguards against cultural or personal idols that seek a share of the honor due solely to the LORD. |
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