Connect Ezekiel 20:29 with Exodus 20:3-5 on idolatry and worship. Text in View “Then I said to them, ‘What is this high place to which you go?’ And its name is called Bamah to this day.” “You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in the heavens above, or on the earth beneath, or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God…” Understanding the High Places • “Bamah” literally means “high place.” • In Canaanite practice, these elevated sites hosted altars, pillars, groves, and images dedicated to Baal, Asherah, and other deities (cf. 2 Kings 17:10-12). • Israel adopted these locations after settling in the land, blending the Lord’s name with pagan ritual—an act God consistently condemns (Deuteronomy 12:2-4). The Heart of God in Exodus 20 • First Commandment: exclusive allegiance—“no other gods.” • Second Commandment: no physical or mental substitutes—“no idol… do not bow.” • Motivation: God’s jealousy is holy love—He desires covenant purity, not pagan mixture. How the Two Passages Connect 1. Same Issue, Different Era – Exodus 20 lays down the eternal principle. – Ezekiel 20 exposes how Israel violated it centuries later through the “Bamah” system. 2. A Progression of Compromise – Idolatry rarely begins with outright apostasy; it often starts with “supplementing” worship. – High places seemed convenient, scenic, culturally acceptable—yet they contradicted Sinai’s clear command. 3. Covenant Accountability – Ezekiel, speaking during exile, reminds the people that the curse they are experiencing is tied to breaking the Sinai covenant (cf. Ezekiel 20:23-24). – God’s standard never shifted; the people did. Themes Emphasized Across Scripture • One Throne: Isaiah 42:8—“I am the Lord; that is My name! I will not give My glory to another or My praise to idols.” • One Altar: Deuteronomy 12:13-14—worship in God’s chosen place, not personal high spots. • One Worshiper’s Response: Matthew 4:10—Jesus quotes Exodus 20:5 to repel Satan, modeling exclusive worship. • Ongoing Warning: 1 John 5:21—“Little children, keep yourselves from idols.” Lessons for Today • Idolatry is both physical and heart-level; any rival loyalty, obsession, or source of security challenges God’s rightful place. • Cultural normalization (ancient “high places,” modern trends) never justifies disobedience to revealed truth. • God’s jealousy is protective; He rescues His people from the futility of substitutes and restores pure devotion (Ezekiel 36:25-27). Key Takeaways • Exodus 20 gives the foundational call; Ezekiel 20 shows the tragic fallout when the call is ignored. • High places, whether carved in stone or carved in the heart, contradict the covenant. • The consistent biblical remedy is repentance, single-hearted worship, and trust in the Lord alone. |
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