And they left all the commands of the LORD their God, and made them molten images, even two calves, and made a grove, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served Baal. A calf is a sacrifice but when it is worshipped, it becomes
an idol. Casting idols from molten brass, copper or silver is a very ancient
practice, and the idols found near the temples in the East today may have been
formed more than five hundred years ago. II Kings 17:16, 17 And they left all the commands
of the LORD their God, and made them molten images, even two calves, and
made a grove, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served Baal. And they
caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, and used
divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the
LORD, to provoke him to anger. Idols are frequently erected in the midst of a grove. In
the Bible a grove is usually a small plot of ground higher than the surrounding
land, on which there are trees that grow quickly and provide shade. These trees
that grow quickly are known in the Bible as "green bay trees". The eastern people believe that the green bay tree indicates God’s presence and is symbolic of God’s
prosperity and righteousness. Once every six months, during the full moon days,
the women go to these groves to cook food and to call upon God, believing the
presence is there in manifestation because the groves are green. The true God
instructed His people that they were not to worship Him in the groves, but were
to cut down the groves and high places, meaning "Don't worship idols, but
rid yourself of them by destruction."
Bishop K.C. Pillai, D.D. |