Deuteronomy 4:15-19

Warning against Idolatry

¹⁵ "So watch yourselves carefully , since you did not see any form on the day the Lord spoke to you at Horeb from the midst of the fire , ¹⁶ so that you do not act corruptly and make a graven image for yourselves in the form of any figure , the likeness of male or female , ¹⁷ the likeness of any animal that is on the earth , the likeness of any winged bird that flies in the sky , ¹⁸ the likeness of anything that creeps on the ground , the likeness of any fish that is in the water below e the earth . ¹⁹ "And beware not to lift up your eyes to heaven and see the sun and the moon and the stars , all the host of heaven , and be drawn away and worship them and serve them, those which the Lord your God has allotted to all the peoples under the whole heaven .

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Matthew Henry's Commentary on Deuteronomy 4:15-19

Commentary on Deuteronomy 4:1-23

(Read Deuteronomy 4:1-23)

The power and love of God to Israel are here made the ground and reason of a number of cautions and serious warnings; and although there is much reference to their national covenant, yet all may be applied to those who live under the gospel. What are laws made for but to be observed and obeyed? Our obedience as individuals cannot merit salvation; but it is the only evidence that we are partakers of the gift of God, which is eternal life through Jesus Christ, Considering how many temptations we are compassed with, and what corrupt desires we have in our bosoms, we have great need to keep our hearts with all diligence. Those cannot walk aright, who walk carelessly. Moses charges particularly to take heed of the sin of idolatry. He shows how weak the temptation would be to those who thought aright; for these pretended gods, the sun, moon, and stars, were only blessings which the Lord their God had imparted to all nations. It is absurd to worship them; shall we serve those that were made to serve us? Take heed lest ye forget the covenant of the Lord your God. We must take heed lest at any time we forget our religion. Care, caution, and watchfulness, are helps against a bad memory.