Idolatry – Feed 4 Sheep

HIGHLIGHT

Ezekiel 14:3 (ESV): 3 “Son of man, these men have taken their idols into their hearts, and set the stumbling block of their iniquity before their faces. Should I indeed let myself be consulted by them?

EXPLAIN

Idolatry was a pervasive problem for the people of Israel. All the way back to Jacob, after leaving his father-in-law with his wives and children and flocks, Jacob at a certain point cleaned all the idols out of his tents and buried them.

After the many overwhelming victories in Canaan, Joshua addressed the people, challenging them to choose to serve God only. When the people committed to do so, Joshua told them to get rid of their idols – any idols – among them.

From that point on, we find the Israelites repeatedly succumbing to worship of the idols of the surrounding peoples.

But now God reveals a greater truth to the prophet Ezekiel. The people’s idols were not merely stones or blocks of wood they set before them. Their idols were in their hearts!

APPLY

There is idol worship around the world today, even in the U.S. People actually bow and pay homage to man-made objects. But the greater, pervasive idolatry is within our hearts.

This idolatry may be unspoken and somewhat unconsciously observed by many, yet people worship money, career, fame, family, amusement, thrill-seeking and more.

How can we know such people are idolaters? They prioritize other pursuits, whatever they may be, above their loyalty to God.

RESPOND

Heavenly Father, I love and have chosen to serve you only. I reaffirm this commitment to you once again. Help me not to allow any other thing, no matter how noble or good it may be, to usurp my loyalty and faithfulness to you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

HIGHLIGHT

2 Chronicles 28:22–23 (ESV): 22 In the time of his distress he became yet more faithless to the Lord—this same King Ahaz. 23 For he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus that had defeated him and said, “Because the gods of the kings of Syria helped them, I will sacrifice to them that they may help me.” But they were the ruin of him and of all Israel.

EXPLAIN

After the reigns of Joash, Amaziah, and Uzziah, three kings who were blessed as they followed God but all ended their reigns badly, Jotham rose to the throne. He was a godly king, but the people as a whole followed corrupt practices.

His son, Ahaz, then reigned. He was a wicked king, making metal images for Baals, offering pagan sacrifices, and also making his sons pass through these offerings (or burning them as offerings).

Ahaz suffered a great defeat by Syria and Israel. He sought a treaty with Assyria, but they caused him trouble instead of helping him. In the midst of all this, Ahaz became more faithless, deciding to worship the gods of Syria, by whom he had been defeated, hoping that these false gods would be appeased and help him.

APPLY

The example of Ahaz should teach us to stop and carefully consider our actions, and our path in life. Ahaz lived and ruled wickedly, but instead of recognizing God’s hand against him, he thought by worshipping the false gods of those who had defeated him, he might somehow succeed.

When the Christian looks with envy at the success of the world, and then seeks to emulate the world’s thinking, strategy, methods and more, is he or she following the example of Ahaz?

RESPOND

Heavenly Father, help me to keep my eyes on you, and never be fooled into thinking that copying the sin of the world is the way to success. Amen.

Tag: Idolatry

Idols of the Heart

Copying the world