I admit that I have not spent as much time studying the prophets as I should. They can be difficult to understand if you just open one and start to read.
As my ladies’ class has been studying the divided kingdom, I am trying to introduce the prophets at the place they fit in the stories. This makes the study of the prophets a lot easier, and it gives us a better perspective on what is happening.
We have spent a lot of time talking about the idolatrous worship of both Israel and Judah. It is so hard to understand why the people continued to worship the statue of a god instead of God in heaven. He even spoke to them through the prophets, and they still continued their evil worship of idols.
Recently, I was privileged to hear an excellent lesson that gave some insight into how corrupt these people had become. It also gave me some insight into just how we can, as God’s people, also worship idols.
It begins in Ezekiel 8:14-15. The Lord came to Ezekiel and took him to Jerusalem to show him the wickedness that transpired at the temple. At the house of God, there were women weeping for Tammuz, an idol. God then told Ezekiel that he would see worse in time. He did, of course, see worse; and I wonder if he would also see idol worship in us today.
1. An idol is an image of a god, used as an object or an instrument of worship.
An example of this is found in Isaish 44:9-20. They cut down a tree, used it as a fire to warm themselves, used it to cook, and the rest they used to make an idol.
2. Any object of excessive or ardent devotion or admiration.
In Ezekiel 14:1-5, the people took idols into their hearts. This was not casual worship.
3. A false notion or idea that causes error in thinking or reasoning.
In Second Timothy 4:3-4, Paul says that there will be some who “will not endure sound doctrine.” The women in Ezekiel were in at the house of the Lord, but they were not worshiping according to God’s commands.
The point to this lesson is to make us aware that we also serve idols. It may not be in the same way as the people of Israel and Judah, but it is often serving the physical rather than the spiritual.
When the people of Israel left Egypt, it didn’t take them long to worship, not the God that brought them out, but a golden calf. There is nothing wrong with gold or a calf; but when combined as an object of worship, sin rears its ugly head.
What about the movie stars, the television stars, the athletes that we idolize? When we put them before worship and doing the Lord’s work, they become idols. What about events like football games, races, our children’s sporting events? Do we choose God or the idol?
The nature of man has not changed. Jesus has not changed (Hebrews 13:8). Paul told the Corinthians to flee from idolatry (First Corinthians 10:14). From Deuteronomy 6:5 to Luke 10:27, even to today, God has always demanded first place. He is brokenhearted when we set up idols in our hearts (Ezekiel 6:9).
So how do we rid ourselves of all forms of idolatry?
• We examine ourselves (Second Corinthians 13:5; Second Peter 1:5-11).
• We fill our hearts and minds with God’s Word (Psalm 119:11).
• We make sacrifices to God—dedicate ALL of ourselves and all our spiritual service to Him (First Peter 2:5; Romans 12:1).
• Make heaven our number one goal at all times (Titus 2:11-13).
Sandra Oliver