The Old Testament Prophets had much to say to Israel and Judah about sin, judgment, mercy, and repentance. Their message served as a pivotal point in Israel’s history. Because Israel did not heed the call of the Prophets (and God), they faced punishment, including their exile. Fast forward to the 21st century, and these messages are no less potent, nor are they any less true. Paul tells Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:16: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” This prominent message carries significance in the call of the Prophets to turn from their idols, destroy them, and return to God. Idols take many forms and have led the people of God astray for millennia. The Church of today should heed the call of the prophets to turn away from their idols, no matter what form they take, and return to worshipping and serving God alone.
Modern Day Idolatry
Idolatry in the Old Covenant
Old Testament idolatry was primarily represented as a physical reality. Marsh defines it as “The worship of images made to represent Yahweh or any other deity.” This definition, while sufficient to begin a discussion of idolatry, will be reassessed by the end of this article. Idolatry was expressly prohibited long before the Prophets were called to Israel en masse.
See Exodus 20:4–6, Exodus 20:23; Exodus 34:17, Leviticus 19:4; Leviticus 26:1; Deuteronomy 4:15–19, Deuteronomy 4:25; and Deuteronomy 5:8–10:
- Exodus 20:4–6: “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.”
- Exodus 20:23: “Ye shall not make with me gods of silver, neither shall ye make unto you gods of gold.”
- Exodus 34:17: “Thou shalt make thee no molten gods.”
- Leviticus 19:4: “Turn ye not unto idols, nor make to yourselves molten gods: I am the LORD your God.”
- Leviticus 26:1: “Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am the LORD your God.”
- Deuteronomy 4:15-19: “Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves; for ye saw no manner of similitude on the day that the LORD spake unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire: Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female, The likeness of any beast that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged fowl that flieth in the air, The likeness of any thing that creepeth on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the waters beneath the earth: And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven.”
- Deuteronomy 4:25: “When thou shalt beget children, and children’s children, and ye shall have remained long in the land, and shall corrupt yourselves, and make a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, and shall do evil in the sight of the LORD thy God, to provoke him to anger:”
- Deuteronomy 5:8-10: “Thou shalt not make thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters beneath the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me, And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.”
As history progressed, Israel struggled and fell into deep idolatry. Beale argues in We Become What We Worship: A Biblical Theology of Idolatry, that idolatry went further back than even these prohibitions – back to the fall of Adam. Certainly, Adam did not possess physical idols with which to replace God, as Israel had. The issue, then, is not merely one of outward expression, but inner beliefs.
Furthermore, idolatry is not just a physical act. Beale, in analyzing Isaiah 6, recounts that idol worship was merely the outward expression of the inner state of being, one that became more and more ruined as idol worship progressed. Habakkuk’s woe oracle reveals this, evoking a sense of trust that is placed in a man-made image rather than the creator.
See Habakkuk 2:18–20: “What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols? Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it is laid over with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in the midst of it. But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.”
To put this in covenantal terms, it’s as if those who had fallen into idolatry had made a new covenant with their idols, forsaking their covenant with Yahweh. In some sense, it’s as if the faith/belief of those who made the idols was placed in the things made by themselves (or by their fellow man).
The prophet’s call is to turn away from idols and return to God. Isaiah 2:6–22 represents such a plea: “Therefore thou hast forsaken thy people the house of Jacob, because they be replenished from the east, and are soothsayers like the Philistines, and they please themselves in the children of strangers. Their land also is full of silver and gold, neither is there any end of their treasures; their land is also full of horses, neither is there any end of their chariots: Their land also is full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made: And the mean man boweth down, and the great man humbleth himself: therefore forgive them not. Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty. The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day. For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low: And upon all the cedars of Lebanon, that are high and lifted up, and upon all the oaks of Bashan, And upon all the high mountains, and upon all the hills that are lifted up, And upon every high tower, and upon every fenced wall, And upon all the ships of Tarshish, and upon all pleasant pictures. And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day. And the idols he shall utterly abolish. And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth. In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats; To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth. Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of ?”
Isaiah, though, goes further to describe, in colorful language, what turning from idols (repentance) looks like. To put it simply, abandonment of idolatry is an act of humility, an abandonment of pride and self-confidence, and placing such confidence in the glory and splendor of Yahweh. Idolatry, like any sin, must be given up to truly be able to have covenant relationship with Yahweh.
Idolatry in the New Covenant
Moving forward, beyond the Cross of Christ, and into the New Covenant, the sins of humanity remain eerily similar to the sins that are evidenced in Scripture, especially the failings of Israel and Judah at the time of the prophets. Just as idolatry is a sin issue, so too is it a heart issue. The New Testament is also not devoid of condemnations against idols and calls to repentance. Paul is clear on this and that those who continue to practice idolatry will not inherit the kingdom of God. See 1 Corinthians 10:7: “Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.”
The worship of idols has persisted through the ages. The attractiveness of this sin should not be overlooked. Often, idolatry is a source of pride, especially of idols made by one’s own hands. These idols are often seen today, where Christians place their opinions, feelings, and preferences over God and His Word.
DeRouchie also cites that idol worship is easy, for the idol does not demand complete obedience (e.g., Love the Lord your God…, and love your neighbor as yourself); rather, outward adherence is acceptable (e.g., ritualistic sacrifice). Many Christians today seem rather comfortable in attending Church once a week to satisfy the obligations of their Christian title/worldview.
The call of God is clear: that being in Covenant with God demands total obedience and submission to the only sovereign, God.
The idols of today do not necessarily look like the idols of ancient times. Certainly, a statue of Buddha, or something of the like, would suffice, but those seem far less common in the Western World. Thoughts and ideologies are far more common idols, and often do not have physical imagery or sculptures associated with them. To clarify Marsh’s definition, it seems that anything that takes the place of Yahweh (or falsely represents Him) in worship, whether physical, spiritual, emotional, or intellectual, is an idol.
Perhaps this is what Paul was getting at when he described the “children of wrath” who live according to the passions of their own flesh. See Ephesians 2:3: “Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.”
Conclusion
The Apostle John also warns Christians to keep themselves from idols. See 1 John 5:21: “Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.” The ultimate punishment for idolatry is severe, resulting in eternal condemnation. See Revelation 21:8: “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”
The call to flee from idolatry and turn towards Yahweh echoes across the entire canon of Scripture. Yahweh reigns supreme over all things, including idols. See Zephaniah 1:4–6 and Amos 4:12–13:
- Zephaniah 1:4–6: “I will also stretch out mine hand upon Judah, and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place, and the name of the Chemarims with the priests; And them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops; and them that worship and that swear by the LORD, and that swear by Malcham; And them that are turned back from the LORD; and those that have not sought the LORD, nor enquired for him.”
- Amos 4:12–13: “Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel. For, lo, he that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind, and declareth unto man what is his thought, that maketh the morning darkness, and treadeth upon the high places of the earth, The LORD, The God of hosts, is his name.”
He will certainly judge those who follow idols rather than Himself. However, He is also full of grace and mercy. See 2 Peter 3:9: “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
Each follower of Christ ought to live as He commands, in word and in deed, being completely devoted to Him and nothing else. For He will certainly put an end to “all the gods of the earth.” See Zephaniah 2:11: “The LORD will be terrible unto them: for he will famish all the gods of the earth; and men shall worship him, every one from his place, even all the isles of the heathen.”
The Church needs this message today, and preachers need to continue to preach this difficult message concerning idolatry, which causes many to be led astray. The Prophets do not receive much attention from many modern pulpits, but perhaps that is part of the problem. In neglecting their messages, especially on idolatry, the Church has found itself falling prey to the same things as Israel did long ago.
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