"They shall die of deadly diseases. They shall not be lamented, nor shall they be buried. They shall be as dung on the surface of the ground. They shall perish by the sword and by famine, and their dead bodies shall be food for the birds of the air and for the beasts of the earth."
God warns Israel not to have children.This verse is why. During the hardship brought on by the onslaught of war, children are the first to suffer and die. The LORD, the God of Hosts, is going to do the most horrific thing imaginable, that is, give us exactly what we want.
Because we have forsaken the LORD to follow other gods, he has given us over to them. He will no longer seek after us and his divine favor and protection will no more follow us. He lets us chase after the false gods of money, lust, fame, and power. He lets us reap the destruction we have wrought.
But blessed is the man who returns to God! Blessed is he who God disciplines so that he does not pay the price of his own transgression! The LORD says, "Return to me and I will return to you" no questions asked. Once you've tasted the destruction false gods bring you will know that He is the LORD and there is none like him. As surely as you have gotten yourself into this mess, the LORD has given you a way out.
Showing posts with label idolatry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label idolatry. Show all posts
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Exodus 20:5
"You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me."
God is not petty and insecure like most jealous people are. His love is not so easily wounded by our playing the harlot under every tree on every hilltop. Even though it is God's jealousy which causes the destruction of sin (through the "visiting of iniquity"), it is this same jealously which keeps us from dying. God's jealousy leads us to salvation.
God simply refuses to let us depend on anything else other than Himself and in so doing refuses to let us die for putting our trust in anything but Christ is a sure death. God's jealousy is a refusal to let those whom he has called bow down to or serve other things because God's holiness is in direct opposition to that which harms us and causes us to not thrive. Just as a gardener destroys weeds or a doctor eradicates disease, so to does this jealous God remove from us our sins that we might live consecrated and holy as He is holy. Then and only then can we live life in righteous fellowship with God.
Praise be to our jealous God who overcomes our sins that we might live! Praise be to our Creator, Savior, and Perfecter who makes us holy and blameless before him!
God is not petty and insecure like most jealous people are. His love is not so easily wounded by our playing the harlot under every tree on every hilltop. Even though it is God's jealousy which causes the destruction of sin (through the "visiting of iniquity"), it is this same jealously which keeps us from dying. God's jealousy leads us to salvation.
God simply refuses to let us depend on anything else other than Himself and in so doing refuses to let us die for putting our trust in anything but Christ is a sure death. God's jealousy is a refusal to let those whom he has called bow down to or serve other things because God's holiness is in direct opposition to that which harms us and causes us to not thrive. Just as a gardener destroys weeds or a doctor eradicates disease, so to does this jealous God remove from us our sins that we might live consecrated and holy as He is holy. Then and only then can we live life in righteous fellowship with God.
Praise be to our jealous God who overcomes our sins that we might live! Praise be to our Creator, Savior, and Perfecter who makes us holy and blameless before him!
Friday, May 27, 2011
Habakkuk 2:18
"What good is an idol carved by man,
or a cast image that deceives you?
How foolish to trust in your own creation--
a god that can't even talk! "
It is pure foolishness to trust in that which cannot last. Money comes and goes. The best engineered buildings and bridges will collapse in time. People are here today and gone tomorrow. Even the flowers of the field see decay. All things will come to an end unless they are being sustained by the Infinite Yes.
All those who trust in things they have made themselves will become just like them: lifeless, silent, and temporary. This is idolatry. It isn't just making little statuettes and bowing down to them, but it is to trust in anything you create and sustain independent of the Eternal Trinity, whether it be money, or relationships, or your physical appearance, or even your reputation, fame and popularity.
You only become that which you reflect. If your eyes desire wealth, you may become wealthy, but you will also become lifeless. If your eyes desire beauty, you may obtain beauty, but you will also be lifeless. If your eyes desire a husband or wife, you may have one, but the marriage will be troubled for where is Love? That is only contained within the immortal God. Therefore I tell you, turn your eyes toward Heaven and gaze upon the Father and He will grant you life, love, and peace for He is all these things.
or a cast image that deceives you?
How foolish to trust in your own creation--
a god that can't even talk! "
It is pure foolishness to trust in that which cannot last. Money comes and goes. The best engineered buildings and bridges will collapse in time. People are here today and gone tomorrow. Even the flowers of the field see decay. All things will come to an end unless they are being sustained by the Infinite Yes.
All those who trust in things they have made themselves will become just like them: lifeless, silent, and temporary. This is idolatry. It isn't just making little statuettes and bowing down to them, but it is to trust in anything you create and sustain independent of the Eternal Trinity, whether it be money, or relationships, or your physical appearance, or even your reputation, fame and popularity.
You only become that which you reflect. If your eyes desire wealth, you may become wealthy, but you will also become lifeless. If your eyes desire beauty, you may obtain beauty, but you will also be lifeless. If your eyes desire a husband or wife, you may have one, but the marriage will be troubled for where is Love? That is only contained within the immortal God. Therefore I tell you, turn your eyes toward Heaven and gaze upon the Father and He will grant you life, love, and peace for He is all these things.
Friday, April 29, 2011
Ezekiel 14:9
"And if the prophet is deceived and speaks a word, I, the LORD, have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand against him and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel."
No surprise here that this is about judgment on idolaters. It is well within God's ability to blind people to the truth and to give them over to their own depravity of thinking. Is that the same thing as lying to them? Not at all.
No surprise here that this is about judgment on idolaters. It is well within God's ability to blind people to the truth and to give them over to their own depravity of thinking. Is that the same thing as lying to them? Not at all.
The context informs the meaning: Some elders came and wanted to ask the LORD some things, but they were idolaters in their own hearts. So God refuses to answer them and tells them they cannot go to his prophets to inquire of God anything until they repent. The Hebrew verb used is a passive "to allow oneself to be deceived" then God deceives him.
But wait! What's this in the context? The previous chapter is condemning false prophets! (13:2-3) It seems that these prophets who allow themselves to be deceived are not prophets at all. They speak things as if they know, but everything they say is false and so "they will bear the guilt" (Ez 14:10)
However the manner of deception is not told, is it the same way he deceived in 1 Kings 22 and 2 Chronicles 18 or 2 Thessalonians 2:11? Considering both passages deal with false prophets and teachers and God's treatment of them, we see He is remarkably consistent. God doesn't change. Amen.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Proverbs 18:22
"He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD."
Curiously enough, the Hebrew here could also be translated "He who stumbles upon a wife" or even "He who happens to find a wife finds a good thing." I get a mental image of a man walking along a road stopping to look down at his feet, and behold! A wife is there for him to enjoy. Whether or not that man was looking for a wife or not, the proverb does not say, however I could almost guarantee you if he is completely focused on trying to find a wife, he isn't paying attention to the road signs.
When you are so wrapped up in accomplishing your own will, you will completely miss God's will for your life and all the wonderful things he has for you. Remember it is God who gives "favor" (in wife/husband form). If God has a husband or a wife in store for you, then trust in him and follow him and he will surely lead you the right way. Focus on doing God's will first and learn to be content. You are complete in Christ just the way you are.
Do you want an easy marriage/idolatry self test? Ask yourself this question: If God told you right this second to give up (Fill in Blank:) marriage and to stay single for His kingdom, would you do it? If you answered no or had to think about it for a second, marriage is your idol.
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