Overcoming the Mistakes of Idolatry (Josh. 17:1-18)
Quote:Idolatry is worshiping anything that ought to be used, or using anything that ought to be worshiped.
Augustine.
Many people are living only for earthly pleasures that cannot satisfy their deepest longings. Millions of people vainly pursue money, fame, power, prestige, or pleasures in futility. Jesus said, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied." (Matt. 5:6) Let us look at the problems of living for things that perish instead of the things that endure for eternal life.
Why Should We Worship God Instead of Idols?
a. Receive long term benefits instead of short term pleasures
b. Experience the fruits of morality instead of trying to gain satisfaction through sensuality
c. Enjoy the benefits of a high ethical standard instead of cow-towing to the low ethical levels of our society.
d. Have the discernment to know when to flee from evil and cling to what is good instead of approving questionable practices.
e. Freedom to live by the Spirit instead of by the whims of circumstantial pressures.
f. Have the fruits of the Spirit course through all of your relationships instead of the works of the flesh with its hate, envy, and self-destructive practices.
g. Experience the renewal of your mind, attitude and energy level instead of being dragged down by the mind that is set on the flesh which is death.
The Mistake of Idolatry – (Judges 17:1-6)
Micah stole 1,100 piece of silver from his mother and he heard her condemning him. He panicked and felt he was forced to return the money out of fear of being cursed. Micah gave in to his fears of the powers of evil forces. When the son returned the silver his mother said,
"Blessed be my son by the Lord. I wholly dedicate the silver to the Lord for my son to make a graven image." (Judg. 17:3) Micah’s mother responded with a blessing because she was both a thief and an idol worshipper in her heart. She paid the idol maker 200 silver pieces for the idols and gave them to Micah, but kept 900 piece of silver. She went back on her promise to the Lord. In those days, 10 pieces of silver was equal to an entire year’s salary.
1. Many people, throughout history, have vainly placed their trust in idols. The Greeks used to sacrifice an ox to the god of the flies. The Egyptians worshipped insects. The Phoenicians chained the images of their idols to their altars so their gods would not fly away. Idol worshippers in Rome made charms out of the intestines of sheep. Even Plato, the father of philosophy, thought the stars needed pastures to get their food for nourishment. God said, "You shall have no other gods before Me!" (Exodus 20:3)
Illustration:Though we do not face a pantheon of false gods like the Israelites did, we face pressures from a pantheon of false values--materialism, love of leisure, sensuality, worship of self, security, and many others. The second commandment deals with idols. This may be something that most of us can’t relate to--unless we include life goals that revolve around something other than God Himself. What is the object of our affections, our efforts, and our attention? Where does the majority of our time go? On what do we spend the greatest amount of our resources?
Today in the Word, June 14, 1989.
A. Micah’s mother failed to teach her son Godly values. She provided a poor example for the entire family. Without Godly parental examples children are likely to seek after some idol to find satisfaction.
B. Micah’s mother spared the rod and spoiled her son. Without Godly discipline children are not able to overcome their own sinful human nature tendencies.
C. Micah established a shrine in his house with little gods called teraphims (turtles). He worshipped the creation rather than the Creator from whom life is given. People love idols that they can control.
D. Micah ordained one of his sons as a priest to lead the idolatrous worship in the community. If the greatest joy is to see one’s children walking in truth it must be agonizing to see one’s offspring follow evil and be enslaved to its powers.
E. Micah knowingly disobeyed the Lord because he thought he knew more than God. The Lord gave Moses the Ten commandments, one of which said, "You shall not make for yourself an idol or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth. Beneath or in the water under the earth. You shall not worship them or serve them." (Exodus 20:4,5)
F. Micah tried to worship the Lord in his own way, with his strength and with his own wisdom. Jesus said, "Those who worship God must worship Him in spirit and in truth." (John 4:24)
G. Micah worshipped idols that suited his own contextual circumstances. Micah’s use of situational ethics got him in all kinds of trouble. He thought of the influence, power and authority he would get for himself. Jesus said, "Thine is the kingdom and the power, the glory forever and ever." (Matthew 6:1-10)
H. Micah was unable to serve the Lord and lived his life in meaningless activities. Only when people learn who God is can they rightly worship, serve and commune with Him.
I. Micah was aware of the fact that he had made a self-made religion for himself, but he refused to humble himself before the mighty hand of God. Micah said, "You have taken away my gods which I made." (Jud. 18:24) Idolatry has a way of distorting our perspectives and clouding our sense of what is true.
J. Micah created idols for himself that were suitable for his own interests, philosophies and traditions. He used wrong criteria to judge what was best for himself and his people. Only by using Biblical criteria are we able to make intelligent evaluations of what is best.
K. Micah had to turn back when faced with opposition because he saw that God would no longer fight for him. When we turn to any idols we are hindering God from fighting on our behalf. (Judg. 18:25,26)
L. Micah even saw his own people as enemies. When we fall in love with idols we are unable to love God’s people. Ask the Lord to help you put away all idols. (Judg. 18:24) Confess your sins and He is faithful and just to forgive you and cleanse you from ALL unrighteousness. (I John 1:9)
Conclusion:Today’s idols are more in the self than on the shelf.
Goudzwaard’s three basic Biblical rules:
1. Every person is serving god(s) in his life.
2. Every person is transformed into an image of his god.
3. Mankind creates and forms a structure of society in its own image.
That for which I would give anything and accept nothing in exchange is the most important thing in my life. Whatever that is is my god (cf. Isa. 44:6-20).
J. McMath.
