What does number two out of the ten commandments mean?

Answer 1

"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, because I Jehovah your God am a God exacting exclusive devotion"

It means that we should only worship God and not show any devotion or reverence to any idols, pictures, statues, crosses, icons, paraphernalia or other material things in our worship. Neither should we pray to saints, angels or other intermediaries, but only straight to God. (This is one thing he has not delegated to anyone else, and praying to anyone but God is not only disrespectful to this privilege, but also idolatry.)

Answer:

Very good answer.

Now . . . what is idolatry, and why is it so important - even today - to beware of it.

Idolatry is worshipping, obeying, fearing, loving, following, believing in anything as a way of salvation that is not through obedience to God.

What does that mean?

It means that God's Commandments are supposed to be obeyed. That and only that is the key to Salvation.

So those who worship a man, are committing polytheism. Those who worship their own heritage - or their own race - are committing polytheism. Those who follow false religious, political or social leaders are committing polytheism. Those who know God's commandments - yet take their own desires, ideas and whims to be their guide and 'salvation' - are committing polytheism. In fact, they are worshipping themselves.