Psalm 115…idols..

 Psalm 115…idols…

Several years ago, my husband and I travelled with a tour group…we visited site after site of history…walking paths where thousands had gone before…temples, gardens, homes,  diggings, historical sites….places venerated by millions…

Idols at every turn…offerings of food, lighted candles, incense, etc…

It was interesting, but soooo oppressive to my spirit…I felt like there was a darkness that lingered over the hand carved golden statues…the smells of the various places were not pleasant to my breathing…

It was an eye opening experience…

I tend to think that idols are found “somewhere” else…but, no, they surround us in any nation…they may not be enshrined in magnificent temples or tour destinations, but they exist nevertheless…

Something that we venerate over the  Creator God…

“Idol

: an object of extreme devotion

: a representation or symbol of an object of worship

broadly : a false god

: a likeness of something

obsolete : PRETENDER

: a false conception :

: a form or appearance visible but without substance”

Merriam Webster…

Psalms 115:1-8 (ESV) 1 Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness! 

2 Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?” 

3 Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases. 

4 Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands. 

5 They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see. 

6 They have ears, but do not hear; noses, but do not smell. 

7 They have hands, but do not feel; feet, but do not walk; and they do not make a sound in their throat. 

8 Those who make them become like them; so do all who trust in them.

 Do not turn to idols or make for yourselves any gods of cast metal: I am the Lord your God.

Lev.19.4

 For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,but the Lord made the heavens. 

Splendor and majesty are before him;strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.

Ps.96.5-6

 And the idols shall utterly pass away. 

In that day mankind will cast away their idols of silver and their idols of gold,which they made for themselves to worship,to the moles and to the bats,

Isa.2.18, 20

 “What profit is an idolwhen its maker has shaped it,a metal image, a teacher of lies?

For its maker trusts in his own creationwhen he makes speechless idols! 

Woe to him who says to a wooden thing, Awake;to a silent stone, Arise!Can this teach?Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver,and there is no breath at all in it. 

But the Lord is in his holy temple;let all the earth keep silence before him.”

Hab.2.18-20

 For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,

1Thess.1.9

1 John 5:21 (ESV) Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

We are admonished throughout the Word concerning idols…

Told to examine ourselves…what do I put above the everlasting God, who isn’t carved by human hands, who hears, who speaks through His Word, His Spirit…

Thank YOU…