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The Scriptorium

Idolatry Condemned

Once more, for good measure.

Promise and Rebuke: Isaiah 56, 57 (3)

Pray Psalm 115.1.
Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us,
But to Your name give glory,
Because of Your mercy,
Because of Your truth.

Read Isaiah 57.1-10.

Reflect.
1. In what sense were the “righteous” of Isaiah’s day about to perish and to enter their peace?

2. Why does the Lord hate idolatry so much?

Meditate.
Once more, for good measure, God lashes out at the idolatry of His people. This is the primary reason for their going into captivity – the idolaters and the righteous alike. It might have seemed that the righteous were being destroyed because of the sins of their neighbors (v. 1). In fact, by being sent to Babylon, they were being delivered from the idolatrous practices of the majority (v. 1), and given the opportunity to rest in the Lord and increase in uprightness (v. 2).

The Lord is severe in His judgment against the “sons of the sorceress” (v. 3) – all those who practiced idolatry. They mocked the righteous people of Judah and Jerusalem (v. 4), and mocked the true worship of God by their participation in licentious and idolatrous practices (vv. 4-10). They were the transgressors whose sin brought the entire nation to judgment (v. 4). They should have followed the worship practices prescribed in God’s Law (v. 6); instead, they submitted to the wicked and sensual ways of the surrounding pagan nations (vv. 7-10). They never stopped hoping in false gods, and they never grieved for their sins (v. 10). 

Yet all the while, they regarded themselves as the offspring of Abraham and children of God’s covenant. They were instead the children of transgression and the offspring of lies (v. 4).

Against such comes the judgment of God. 

Prepare.
1. How can we tell when something in our lives is becoming an idol?

2. Should we expect God to judge idolatry among His people in our day? What forms might that take?

3. What is our responsibility as believers in helping one another to avoid the sin of idolatry?

O sinful soul, filled with harlotries, turned foul and faded, turned unclean, and still loved like that! So go back to the beautiful one, in order to return to beauty; go back and speak to him who alone suffices you. Augustine (354-430 AD), Sermon 177.9

Guard me from all idolatry, Lord, and help me to serve You according to…

Pray Psalm 115.

Whatever we trust in besides the Lord has the potential of becoming an idol. Ask the Lord to reveal any idols in your life, and to take them away. Devote yourself to serving Him in your Personal Mission Field today, seeking His Kingdom and glory in all things.

Sing to the Lord.
Psalm 115 (Plainfield: Nothing But the Blood of Jesus
Not to us, O God, not us, but unto Your Name give glory!
For Your love and faithfulness, ever to Your Name be glory!
Why should the nations cry, "Where is their God on high?"
You rule us, Lord, on high: Ever to Your Name be glory!

Idols made by men's own hand – ever to Your Name be glory –
see nor hear nor understand – ever to Your Name be glory!
They neither feel nor walk, nor can they speak or talk;
All those who serve them fall, but unto Your Name be glory!

All who trust in Jesus yield – ever to His Name be glory! – 
find in Him their help and shield – ever to Your Name be glory!
O Israel, trust the Lord!  He helps us evermore!
Fear Him obey His Word: Ever to Your Name be glory!

Blessings from our gracious Lord – ever to Your Name be glory –
will attend us evermore – ever to Your Name be glory!
Bless all who fear You, Lord, all who obey Your Word,
all who Your Name adore: Ever to Your Name be glory!

Grant us, Savior, great increase – ever to Your Name be glory!
Bless us with eternal peace – ever to Your Name be glory!
Heaven and earth are Yours; let every soul adore
and bless You evermore: Ever to Your Name be glory!

T. M. Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006).All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (available by clicking here).

T.M. Moore

T. M. Moore is principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe, a spiritual fellowship in the Celtic Christian tradition. He and his wife, Susie, make their home in the Champlain Valley of Vermont.
Books by T. M. Moore

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