Actually, in some of the instances I listed, it says God commanded the acts of veneration and respect, and in other instances it doesn't say that He explicitly commanded it, but the implication is that He approved and permitted it.
They were not venerating objects. They were worshiping GOD. He was present in the Ark of the Covenant.
My point is the same, and even stronger if God DID command it. He commanded the veneration of holy objects.
No. Not objects. Object lessons. Not venerated. Worship of God Himself because of the object lessons.
This demonstrates that there is a difference between veneration and idolatry.
There may be a difference at times. This does not demonstrate it.
Veneration is not "the idolization of" persons, places or objects.
Sometimes it is.
If you put flowers on a casket or at a gravesite, you are venerating the dead. There is nothing wrong with that.
No one pretends they are God. It is done out of respect or love (or baser motives). So not applicable.
The flowers were not commanded by God, but nevertheless placing them as a funerary custom is an almost universal Christian practice, pleasing to Him because it shows our reverence toward His gift of life.
We have no idea if flowers on a grave are pleasing to God. This is conjecture. Nor is there equivalence between placing flowers on a grave and substituting fondling bones and thorns for worshiping God himself.
EVERY object, including those commanded by God, can be idolized. The Bronze Serpent is a prime example.
He removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke into pieces the bronze snake Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it. (It was called Nehushtan.) 2 Kings 18:4
Still happens today.
I am sorry to say this, but your arguments, no matter how lengthy, all fail to "connect" because you do not make this very basic, all-important distinction.
The most important point, is that all legitimate veneration is directed ultimately to GOD, who alone is Holy. Anything called Holy (Holy Bible, Holy Cross, Holy Gospel, Holy Land) is called so ---- and is venerated --- only because of its association with GOD. Their holiness is secondary and derivative. HIS holiness is primary, unique, sui generis. I think we both see that.