But ye shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down their groves:
Exodus 34:13 belongs to the covenant made when the two tables of stone were renewed and the name of the Lord was proclaimed as merciful and gracious, keeping mercy yet by no means clearing the guilty, with promises to do marvels and to drive out the Amorite, Canaanite, Hittite, Perizzite, Hivite and Jebusite. That renewed covenant was given during Moses' second forty days and nights alone in the mount, miraculously sustained with no man permitted to go up with him or approach the mount, where after he prepared two tables of stone God wrote on them the words of the covenant, the ten commandments. During that long communion Moses' face reflected the glory of the divine presence and shone with dazzling light when he descended, so that Aaron and the people in conscious guilt shrank away afraid and unable to endure the heavenly light that obedient souls would receive with joy, until Moses assured them of God's reconciliation and restored favor and, compassionating their fear, put a veil on his face thereafter when returning from communion with God.
The altars, images and groves are idolatrous objects and places devoted to false gods, with carved images and sacred groves in which idol altars were erected and which were used for idol worship and feasts, including alluring shrines and temples. The verse commands Israel to demolish that false worship by destroying the altars, breaking the images and cutting down the groves, removing rather than tolerating existing evils. Together with that destruction, Israel was to make no covenant or confederacy with the inhabitants of the land and was not to intermarry with the heathen, lest it become a snare in their midst. The reason is exclusive worship, for they shall worship no other god, because the Lord whose name is Jealous is a jealous God.
That separation guarded Israel from idolatry and from worshiping any god but the Lord, guarding them from mingling and being drawn into idolatry through covenants, because alluring shrines and temples could deceive them and displace God in their minds. The covenant becomes a snare because Satan works through those who know not God and do not acknowledge Him as Creator and Ruler. The instruction given through Moses to Israel is for God's people today, who must study and obey this chapter, deal with evil as God directed, serve the Lord God of Israel with all heart, soul and mind, resist ties with the world that draw them away from God, not mix up with them or accept places and associations that do not glorify God, but be Christians everywhere and come out and be separate in order to maintain connection with God.
For today this means Christians must not be unequally yoked with unbelievers in marriage or in any alliance brought into intimate association requiring harmony in spirit and action, including connection with Freemasons or other secret societies. For today this also means making no covenant with the world, forming no confederacy with those who after hearing the message refuse to search the Scriptures, and making no concessions to transgressors. The verse is part of what God requires of His people and rebukes carelessness and indifference about which day is kept, because God has specified the very day, the seventh-day Sabbath, leaving no excuse for keeping the first day of the week.
Exodus 34:13 belongs to the covenant made when the two tables of stone were renewed and the name of the Lord was proclaimed as merciful and gracious, keeping mercy yet by no means clearing the guilty, with promises to do marvels and to drive out the Amorite, Canaanite, Hittite, Perizzite, Hivite and Jebusite. That renewed covenant was given during Moses' second forty days and nights alone in the mount, miraculously sustained with no man permitted to go up with him or approach the mount, where after he prepared two tables of stone God wrote on them the words of the covenant, the ten commandments. During that long communion Moses' face reflected the glory of the divine presence and shone with dazzling light when he descended, so that Aaron and the people in conscious guilt shrank away afraid and unable to endure the heavenly light that obedient souls would receive with joy, until Moses assured them of God's reconciliation and restored favor and, compassionating their fear, put a veil on his face thereafter when returning from communion with God.
The altars, images and groves are idolatrous objects and places devoted to false gods, with carved images and sacred groves in which idol altars were erected and which were used for idol worship and feasts, including alluring shrines and temples. The verse commands Israel to demolish that false worship by destroying the altars, breaking the images and cutting down the groves, removing rather than tolerating existing evils. Together with that destruction, Israel was to make no covenant or confederacy with the inhabitants of the land and was not to intermarry with the heathen, lest it become a snare in their midst. The reason is exclusive worship, for they shall worship no other god, because the Lord whose name is Jealous is a jealous God.
That separation guarded Israel from idolatry and from worshiping any god but the Lord, guarding them from mingling and being drawn into idolatry through covenants, because alluring shrines and temples could deceive them and displace God in their minds. The covenant becomes a snare because Satan works through those who know not God and do not acknowledge Him as Creator and Ruler. The instruction given through Moses to Israel is for God's people today, who must study and obey this chapter, deal with evil as God directed, serve the Lord God of Israel with all heart, soul and mind, resist ties with the world that draw them away from God, not mix up with them or accept places and associations that do not glorify God, but be Christians everywhere and come out and be separate in order to maintain connection with God.
For today this means Christians must not be unequally yoked with unbelievers in marriage or in any alliance brought into intimate association requiring harmony in spirit and action, including connection with Freemasons or other secret societies. For today this also means making no covenant with the world, forming no confederacy with those who after hearing the message refuse to search the Scriptures, and making no concessions to transgressors. The verse is part of what God requires of His people and rebukes carelessness and indifference about which day is kept, because God has specified the very day, the seventh-day Sabbath, leaving no excuse for keeping the first day of the week.