IMAGE WORSHIP AND SIGNIFICANCE
The Jews were not allowed to worship the image of other gods in their own land based on the laws of Moses but their own gods or deity. The laws of Moses says that you must not worship other gods in the likeness of any image both in heaven and on earth (Deuteronomy chapter 4. Therefore worshiping the image of a Jewish god is not a sin according to the Mosaic laws.
Consequently, the ark of God containing the images of the two angels ( the two Cherubim) stands as the image of the GOD (gods) of Israel. This miracle box containing the ten commandment had been performing great signs and wonders carrying the images of the two angels since every “GOD” or “Lord’ mentioned in the bible is an angel. This miracle box divided the River Jordan, crumbled the wall of Jericho, invaded the lands of the philistine when it was captured and it was Israel prime source of victory in war times according to the book of 1st Samuel.
More evidently, the image of the Blessed Mary called the “Black Madonna” had performed great signs and wonders in Poland and in other parts of the world and won victories for that nation in several battle field like the Ark of the convent bearing the two images of the two angels in the days of old. The signs and wonders of the image of the Blessed Marry are acknowledged all over the world (see search engines for more details).
In another development, the caved imaged of Jesus as statue is bleeding blood on the areas he got his inquiries such as his palms, feet and side during crucifixion from time to time and his image has been mysteriously appearing on several objects around the world. The crucifix of Jesus Christ has been performing miracles in several parts of the world and resists demonic attacks. In India, the statue of Apostle Thomas do breed out blood from time to time at the place he was killed because of the gospel.
Therefore, people use the image of spirits or angels and worship as gods including ancestors as a channel to the Almighty Creator according to their belief and faith. Other nations also worship the images of spirits and human beings as gods and they got their results based on their faith according to the customs and tradition of the land.
Therefore, when the Jews abandoned their God (gods) and worship the image of other gods for help and for other purposes, it becomes idolatry worship and is regarded as sin based on the laws of Moses. However, foreigners are free to worship those images of other gods in Israel in the fear of the Lord as detailed in part 1 of this article but must not join them unless is one of the spirits of the gods of Israel because the God of Israel is a Jealous God.
Evidently, in Judges chapter 17 and 18, an image belonging to one of the Jews from the tribe of Ephraim by name Micah was worshiped and had a Levitical Priest that was promoted from being a Priest and a father to Micah to become a priest to a whole tribe of Dan because the image gave them victory in the battle field and gave them directions through the Priest as a link to Jehovah God because it was not a foreign image but was caved by Micah himself in the likeness of one of the gods or ancestors; therefore it was considered sacred and worshiped as a Jewish god.
Therefore Prophet Daniel in Babylon was right to worship the golden image with all the Jews because it was one of the gods of Babylon that gave the king victory in all wars including the defeated of the entire Judah. Therefore he dedicated all the holy vessel he captured in the temple of Jerusalem to the temple of his gods in Babylon according to Daniel chapter 1. But Daniel and the Jews in Babylon will never try that if they lived in Israel unless is consider to be one of the Jews images or idols as Micah did and like the two angels of the Ark and like the image of the blessed Marry and the crucifix of Jesus Christ,
The Jews were not accused of worshiping their own idols or images hut of the foreign images in Israel. The bible always specifically mentioned the owners of those images they worshiped like in the case of King Solomon idols which included the names of those idols and their country of origin and as mentioned in the book of 2nd kings chapter 17 and other kings that worshiped those idols. Significantly, the bronze serpents lifted up by Moses in the wilderness is considered as a Jewish idol or image which healed them from the wounds of the snake bites. It was Moses that gave them the laws of not worshiping other gods but this one was Jewish so it was not an abomination unless it was a foreign bronze serpent.
Their serving of foreign gods on exile was the fulfillment of the prophecy of Moses in Deuteronomy chapter 4 which Daniel have used to advice the entire Jews in Babylon so that they do not perish by the anger of the King. God allowed them to serve foreign gods in foreign lands based on the fact that the customs and traditions of those people in those counties will not be the same with the customs and tradition of the people of Israel.
TO BE CONTINUED ON PART 4
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