"SALVATION BELONGS TO JEHOVAH"

"You Must Not Bow Down to Them"

At times, saluting a national flag becomes a popular expression of patriotic feelings. But flags often bear representations of things in the heavens, such as stars, as well as things on the earth. God expressed his view of bowing down to such objects when he commanded his people: "You must not make for yourself a carved image or a form like anything that is in the heavens above or that is on the earth underneath or that is in the waters under the earth. You must not bow down to them nor be induced to serve them, (meaning, do not stand or put you hand over your heart) because I Jehovah your God am a God exacting exclusive devotion." -Exodus 20:4, 5.

Does saluting or kneeling before a flag representing the State really go against giving Jehovah God exclusive devotion? The ancient Israelites did have "signs," or standards, around which their three-tribe divisions gathered around while in the wilderness. (Numbers 2:1, 2) Commenting on the Hebrew words denoting such standards, McClintock and Strong's Cyclopedia says: "Neither of them, however, expresses the idea which 'standard' conveys to our minds, viz. A flag." Furthermore, Israel's standards were not viewed as sacred, nor were any ceremonies associated with their use. They simply served the practical purpose of signs, showing the people where to gather.

The representations of cherubs in the tabernacle and in Solomon's temple primarily served as a picture of the heavenly cherubs. (Exodus 25:18; 26:1, 31, 33; 1Kings6:23, 28, 29; Hebrews 9:23, 24) That these artistic likenesses were not to be venerated is evident from the fact that the people in general never saw them and that the angels themselves are not to be worshiped. -Colossians 2:18; Revelation 19:10; 22:8, 9.

Next time: Conclusion of"You Must Not Bow Down to Them"

Watchtower, 2002