Circle of Love

June 8, 2010

THE NATURE OF IDOLATRY

1 Sa 12:20-21 “Do not be afraid…You have done all this evil; yet do not turn away from the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart.  Do not turn away after useless idols. They can do you no good, nor can they rescue you, because they are useless.”

Idolatry is a sin that recurs throughout the history of God’s people.  The first recorded instance was in the family of Jacob (Israel); note that just before he arrived in Bethel, Jacob commanded that their foreign gods be put away (Gen 35:1-4).  The first story recorded in the Bible in which Israel as a whole engaged in idolatry was the worship of the golden calf while Moses was on Mount Sinai (Ex 32:1-6). During the time of the judges God’s people frequently turned to idols. Though there is no evidence of idolatry during the time of Saul or David, the latter years of King Solomon set in motion a pattern of idolatry in Israel (I Ki 11:1-8).  In the history of the divided kingdom, all of the kings of the northern kingdom of Israel were idolatrous, as were many of the kings of the southern kingdom of Judah.  Only after the exile did the idolatrous worship of other gods cease among the Jews.

I. ATTRACTIVENESS OF IDOLATRY. Why was idolatry so attractive to the Israelites?  Several factors were involved.

A. The Israelites were surrounded by pagan nations who believed that the worship of several gods was superior to the worship of a single God.  In other words, more was better.  God’s people were influenced by these nations, and they constantly imitated them instead of obeying God’s command    to keep themselves holy and separate from them.

B. The gods of the other nations didn’t require the kind of obedience that the God of Israel demanded.  For example, many pagan religions included sexual immorality with temple prostitutes as part of their religious rituals. God on the other hand, required his people to obey the high moral standards as defined in his law in order to maintain a saving relationship with him.  They had to resist consistently the tendency toward immorality and other sinful practices condoned or blessed by the pagan religions.

C. Because of t he demonic character of idols, idolatry at times produced genuine results for those who worshipped idols.  The demonic powers behind the idols were able, though on a limited basis, to impart temporary material and physical benefits.  Fertility gods promised t he birth of children; weather gods (sun, moon, rain, etc,) promised the appropriate conditions for abundant crops; and warrior gods promised protection from enemies and victory in battle.  Such promised benefits were attractive to the Israelites, and for this reason many were willing to serve these idols.

II. ESSENTIAL CHARACTER OF IDOLATRY. We cannot understand idolatry’s attractiveness unless we understand its true nature.

A. The bible makes it plain that an idol in and of itself is nothing ( Jer. 2:11; 16:20) An idol is a mere piece of wood or stone, carved by human hands, that has no power of its own. Samuel calls idols useless things (Isa 12:21). And Paul states specifically: “we know that an idol is nothing at all in the world” ( I Co 8:4: 10:19-20).

B. However, behind all idols are demons, spiritual beings controlled by the devil.  Both Moses (Deut. 32:17 and the psalmist (Ps 106:36-37 equate false gods with demons.  Paul says in his letter to the Corinthians about eating meat sacrificed to idols: “the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God” (I Cor. 10:20).  In other words, the power behind idolatry is the power and activity of demons, and demons do indeed have great power in this world.  Christians know, of course, that the power of Jesus Christ is greater than that of demons.  Nevertheless, Satan as “the god of this age” (2 Cor. 4:4) exercise tremendous power in this present age (I Jn 5:19, Lk 13:16, Gal 1:L4, Eph 6:12, Heb. 2:14).  He has the power to produce counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders (2Th 2:9; Rev 13:2-8, 13; 16:13-14; 19:20) and to bestow physical and material benefits on people.  Undoubtedly, this power sometimes contributes to the prosperity of the wicked (Ps 10:2-6; 37:16, 35; 49:6; 73:3-12).

C. The relationship between idolatry and demons is seen more clearly when we realize how pagan religious practices are linked to spiritism, sorcery, divination, enchantment, witchcraft, and the like.

D. The NT calls greed a form of idolatry (Col. 3:5).  The connection is obvious; because demons are able to give material benefits, people who are not satisfied with what they have but are always greedy for more will not hesitate to give their allegiance to the principles and desires of those spiritual beings who can get them what they want.  Though such people may not worship gods made out of wood and stone, they do in reality worship the demons that stand behind greed and evil desires; thus, they are idolaters. Jesus says “we cannot serve both God and money” (Mt 6:24) and is essentially the same as Paul’s warning that believers may “not drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons” (I Cor. 10:21).

III. GOD’S RESPONSE TO IDOLATRY.  God will not tolerate any form of idolatry.

IV. A.  He frequently warned against it in the OT such as in the first 2 of the 10 commandments.  These instructions were repeated by God ( Ex 23:13,24; 34:14-17; Deut 4:23-24; 6:14; Joshua 23:7; Jug 5:10; 2 Ki 17:35,37-38. God instructed us to destroy all the idols in our life. (We should examine if there are  things in our life that come before God)

B.  The NT also warns all believers against Idolatry.  Idolatry manifests itself in various forms today.  It appears in false world religions, as well as in sorcery, Satanism and other forms of the occult.  It is found   wherever men and women give themselves over to greed and materialism rather than trusting in God alone.  Finally, it occurs within the church when people believe that at one and the same time they can serve g=God and experience his salvation and blessings, and still participate in the immoral and wicked practices of the world.   Consequently, the NT admonishes us not to be covetous, greedy or immoral (Col 3:5; Mt 6:19-24; Ro 7:7; Heb 13:5-6) but rather to flee from all forms of idolatry. God backs up his warnings with the statement that those who engage in any form of idolatry will not inherit his kingdom (I Cor. 6:9-10; Gal 5:20-21; Rev. 22:15).

Prayer

Next Meeting will be July 13. Suggestions for a fellowship type meeting.