Then comes a section that deals with a set of contrasts between this God and other gods which people were worshipping. Also a series of questions are asked in order to stimulate our thinking in regard to the God we worship - and being able to see Him in some of His majesty. We get down to verse 18, and the question is asked:
Have you thought about that lately? To whom then will you liken God? What is He like, to you? Then comes another series of expressions in regard to men who make idols. They go out, they cut down a tree, they carve an image out, and then they bow down to that thing. It cannot even speak. It does not think. It does not have any kind of life within it. Then, down in verse 25, He repeats the same question:
I think that it is obvious, from the second commandment, that God expressly forbids the making of any representation of Him. God is unique. There is nothing to compare Him with. There is no point of contact - no physical reference - to whom He can be compared, and that ought to show you and me the folly of making an idol (that is, of image-making).
But should we try to understand, try to learn, what God is like? God does not want us to be concerned about what He looks like. He tells us, in a general way, that we are made in His image; and that is enough. We might say that, generally, He looks like a man. And any time we might delve into something regarding what He looks like, we, being human, are going to begin to focus in on the wrong area. That is why He has hidden His form and shape. He does not want us to focus in on those things at all. He wants us to focus in on other aspects of what He is.
Does He want us to know what He is like? Well, the answer to that is absolutely, Yes. The entire Bible is a revelation of His mind, of His character, of His attributes, of His offices, of His power, of His will, of His promises, of His plan, and of His relationship with us. And it is these items that the third commandment is concerned about.
