[Anglican Devotional 18 December 2023] Topic: Flee Idolatry
TOPIC: Flee Idolatry
READ: Isaiah44:9-23 (NKJV)
- Those who make an image, all of them [are] useless, And their precious things shall not profit; They [are] their own witnesses; They neither see nor know, that they may be ashamed.
- Who would form a god or mold an image [That] profits him nothing?
- Surely all his companions would be ashamed; And the workmen, they [are] mere men. Let them all be gathered together, Let them stand up; Yet they shall fear, They shall be ashamed together.
- The blacksmith with the tongs works one in the coals, Fashions it with hammers, And works it with the strength of his arms. Even so, he is hungry, and his strength fails; He drinks no water and is faint.
- The craftsman stretches out [his] rule, He marks one out with chalk; He fashions it with a plane, He marks it out with the compass, And makes it like the figure of a man, According to the beauty of a man, that it may remain in the house.
- He cuts down cedars for himself, And takes the cypress and the oak; He secures [it] for himself among the trees of the forest. He plants a pine, and the rain nourishes [it.]
- Then it shall be for a man to burn, For he will take some of it and warm himself; Yes, he kindles [it] and bakes bread; Indeed he makes a god and worships [it;] He makes it a carved image, and falls down to it.
- He burns half of it in the fire; With this half he eats meat; He roasts a roast, and is satisfied. He even warms [himself] and says, “Ah! I am warm, I have seen the fire.”
- And the rest of it he makes into a god, His carved image. He falls down before it and worships [it,] Prays to it and says, “Deliver me, for you [are] my god!”
- They do not know nor understand; For He has shut their eyes, so that they cannot see, [And] their hearts, so that they cannot understand.
- And no one considers in his heart, Nor [is there] knowledge nor understanding to say, “I have burned half of it in the fire, Yes, I have also baked bread on its coals; I have roasted meat and eaten [it;] And shall I make the rest of it an abomination? Shall I fall down before a block of wood?”
- He feeds on ashes; A deceived heart has turned him aside; And he cannot deliver his soul, Nor say, “[Is there] not a lie in my right hand?”
- ” Remember these, O Jacob, And Israel, for you [are] My servant; I have formed you, you [are] My servant; O Israel, you will not be forgotten by Me!
- I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions, And like a cloud, your sins. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.”
- Sing, O heavens, for the LORD has done [it!] Shout, you lower parts of the earth; Break forth into singing, you mountains, O forest, and every tree in it! For the LORD has redeemed Jacob, And glorified Himself in Israel.
The MESSAGE:
The futility of idols is properly highlighted for us today. It seems strange that a man can cut a tree by himself, burn part of it to warm himself, cook with some, roast meat to eat with some, and yet fashion some into an idol and bow down to worship it, claiming it to be some god! As strange and senseless as it is for any spiritually reasonable person, it is not just so for others who are not spiritually discerning. But that is just the way of sin. It is deceptive and enslaving; it does not allow its victim to think straight. Sin blinds the sinner!
We need not think that idols are limited to wood or stone. A senseless addiction to the pursuit of money is equally so. Money can become an idol, and indeed it has become so for many Christians, regrettably. Anything that competes with God in our lives is an idol. It could be money, fame, husband, wife, or position. All idols have the same characteristics:
They deceive and take our attention away from God. What has become an idol in your life? Is God still retaining first position in your heart? Do you continuously miss fellowshipping with Him because you claim something or someone else is important and taking your time? Then that person or thing is an idol. Discard him, her or it. “Remember these, O Jacob, and Israel, for you are My servant; I have formed you, you are My servant” (v.21).
PRAYER: May my life be consecrated, Lord, to You.
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