MAY 15: DODGE DISASTER

Steve Smartt is pastor of Moultrie Baptist Church in St. Augustine.

Simply defined, idolatry is “the worship of something created as opposed to the worship of the Creator Himself” (Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary). A general reading of the historical and prophetic books of the Old Testament reveals the popular struggle of the ancients with the temptation of idol worship. Consequently, the sin of idolatry permeates the history of humanity. Unfortunately, this sin has not been localized to the past. Nor has it been limited to pagan nations. The sin of idolatry was embraced by the blessed nations of Israel and Judah, and has carried its threat into our modern lives as well, even into the church.

In his book, Your Father Loves You, James Packer describes the dilemma of this intrusion by addressing our contemporary struggle. He writes, “What other gods could we have besides the Lord? Plenty. For Israel there were the Canaanite Baals, those jolly nature gods whose worship was a rampage of gluttony, drunkenness, and ritual prostitution. For us there are still the great gods: Sex, Shekels, and Stomach (an unholy trinity constituting one god: self), and the other enslaving trio: Pleasure, Possessions, and Position, whose worship is described as ‘The lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life’ (1 John 2:16). Football, the Firm, and Family are also gods for some. Indeed the list of other gods is endless, for anything that anyone allows to run his life becomes his god and the claimants for this prerogative are legion.”

While we may not make or bow down to a statue, the existence of idolatry has continued as “any replacement of God in the mind of the worshipper” (NIBD). As we begin to consider this expanded definition of idolatry, we are able to further surmise that any behavior that rebels against God’s sovereignty is answered with severe consequences (44:2-7). As the apostle Paul cautions: “For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God” (Ephesians 5:5).

This summation is supported in today’s lesson by the reaction brought on by Judah’s rebellion. Jeremiah had warned the people against going to Egypt to escape God’s judgment (42:13-22). The people ignored his warning and took him with them, most likely by force. However, their rebellion against God, a form of idolatry in itself, did not allow them to escape their plight. Instead, they embraced the disaster of God’s judgment and heightened his wrath.

As a result of their idolatrous rejection of God’s sovereignty, they brought disgrace to the testimony of God’s glory and brought upon themselves the unnecessary ridicule among the nations (44:8). Lest we believe this to be an Old Testament consequence, consider how our testimonies are damaged when we claim to honor Christ in worship, but bring offerings that are stained with the world. When we give priority to anything other than God’s glory and, in turn, fail to live in obedience, we have broken our witness and brought damage to God’s reputation among the lost (Romans 2:23-24).

For this reason, Paul warned the church to “put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry” (Col. 3:5 ). Our response should be repentance, rather than the stubborn refusal exhibited by the people of Judah (44:9-10). This however is the result of idolatry: an increasing disregard for God’s Word and further delusion against truth (44:18,28).

Let us recognize the dangers of idolatry as they encroach on our own expressions of worship. May we set our affections on the priority of Christ at the expense of all else we love.