“A Piece of Brass”
Hezekiah removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for in those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it. he called it, “A PIECE OF BRASS”.
(2 Kings 18:4)
I am confident that the religious, superstitious Israelites were horrified when King Hezekiah destroyed their sacred symbol (which they worshipped – the serpent of brass Moses had made) calling it “a (worthless) piece of brass.”
Hezekiah declared it to be of no value in the worship of God, but rather a hindrance to the worship.
I can understand a person´s interest in that brazen serpent. It would be extremely interesting to see it. It would be interesting to see the rod of Moses, the tables of the law, the tabernacle, the ark of the covenant, and the cross on which our Lord died!
But interesting is all that these things can be certainly not inspirational, nor edifying, nor of any spiritual value, nor of any consequence where our relationship with God is concerned.
These are but types, pictures, and things which the Lord used to point our faith, hope, and trust to CHRIST JESUS!
In the knowledge, love, and worship of God, “CHRIST IS ALL!”
Hezekiah shocked Israel when he called Moses serpent “A PIECE OF BRASS.” We may shock religion today by calling the cross on which Christ died “A PIECE OF WOOD,” or the tomb in which He laid, “A HOLE IN THE GROUND,” or the winding sheet in which He was wrapped, “A PIECE OF CLOTH;” but, having served their purpose, that´s all that they are.
And to make them of any spiritual significance is to be in danger of idolatry!
Idolatry is a subtle tool of Satan and must be avoided.
“God is a spirit, and they that worship Him MUST worship Him in spirit and truth.”
True believers have no superstitions regarding days, hallowed places on earth, religious relics, symbols, signs, nor ancestors.
Christ is our sabbath, our altar, our prophet, priest, and king.
To Him and only to Him we come, bow, believe and worship.
By Henry Mahan