Idol Worship

Judges: Judges 17:6,1-13

Idolatry-----Idol Worship

“‘You must not make for yourselves idols, so you must not set up for yourselves a carved image or a pillar, and you must not place a sculpted stone in your land to bow down before it, for I am the LORD your God. Lev 26:1

What is Idolatry?

making anything more important than God, and our lives are full of that temptation. Money, looks, success, bad habit, unhealthy relationship, certain lifestyle, reputation, security-those are today's idols. Idols can be divided into three major areas: first, pleasure. Second, prestige. Third, power& authority. If we allow these idols to dominate us, they will cause serious problems to us. As you look at these false gods that promise everything you want but nothing you need, does idolatry seem so far removed from your experience? The essence of idolatry-asking the gods we make to help us get all we want. The essence of Christianity is asking the God who made us to help us give all we can in service to him . the goal of idolatry is self-glory; the aim of Christianity is God's glory.

The main reason of idolatry:

In those days Israel had no king. "Everyone did as they saw fit" Judges 17:6,1-13

And therein is an insight into the moral degeneracy. They had lost the fact that God was to be their king. They lost the conscience of that fact. And every man, rather than being ruled by God, was doing that which was right in his own eyes. It was a period of anarchy. Everybody just did what he wanted to do, what was right in his own eyes. It is sort of what they are trying to bring to pass in this essentialism. Everybody just relate to experience as you feel that you should relate to it. There really isn't any right or wrong way. If it feels good, do it, you know. If it feels right, do it. And this is the kind of chaotic condition that was going on in Israel. This kind of anarchy where everyone was just doing what was right in their own eyes, not really following the government of God or the law of God. Example from the parable of the talents: Luke 19:14 ‘We don’t want this man to reign over us.’ Illustration: We'll take care of ourselves. We don't want any advice, especially spiritual advice. We'll handle this all by ourselves, so leave us alone." They don't want the king; therefore they will not be a part of His kingdom.

Whenever a person has to set up an image or an idol, it is a testimony that that person has lost something vital in his relationship with God and he needs some kind of a little reminder to remind him of God's presence. And thus, it is always a mark of spiritual deterioration; any image, any idol of anything is a mark of spiritual deterioration. So it is important to note that Micah wasn't really turning his back on Jehovah, for he even speaks of Jehovah, but he has lost something vital in his relationship with Jehovah which causes him to make these little images and set up a worship center as a place for his prayers.

What idols do?

Instead of contributing to our spiritual development, they rob us of our time, energy and devotion that ought to be directed toward God. They entangle and slow down spiritual speed. At first our idols seem exciting and promise to take us places, but in the end we will find that we have become their slaves. We need to recognize their worthlessness now, before they rob us of our freedom.

Warning against idolatry:

Idol worship was the major expression of religion in Corinth. There were several pagan temples in the city, and they were very popular. The statues of wood or stone were not evil in themselves , but people gave them credit for what only God can do, such as provide good weather, crops, and children. Idolatry is still a serious problem today, but it takes a different form. We don't trust in statues of wood and stone, but in paper money and plastic cards. Trusting anything for what God alone provides is idolatry. Our modern idols are those symbols of power, pleasure, or prestige that we so highly regard. When we understand contemporary parallels to idolatry, Paul's words to" flee from idolatry" become much more meaningful. 1 Corinthian 10:14

Consequences of idol worship:

First, it leads to the departure of God's presence. Now let them put their harlotry and the carcasses of their kings far away from Me, and I will dwell in their midst forever. Son of man, describe the house to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities; and let them measure the pattern. And if they are ashamed of all that they have done, make known to them the design of the house and its arrangement, its exits and its entrances, its entire design and all its ordinances, all its forms and all its laws. Write it down in their sight, so that they may keep its whole design and all its ordinances, and do them. Ezek 43:9-11 God's departure from the city had been a signal for the destruction of the city and the temple. Now for God to return, his conditions have to be met: Idolatry had to be removed.