What actions are required to "make full atonement" according to Isaiah 27:9? Scripture Focus: Isaiah 27:9 “Therefore Jacob’s guilt will be atoned for, and the full fruit of the removal of his sin will be this: when he makes all the altar stones like crushed bits of chalk—no Asherah poles or incense altars will remain standing.” At Its Core: What “Full Atonement” Means • Atonement = guilt covered, fellowship with God restored. • “Full fruit” = a visible, measurable outcome proving sin has been removed. Actions Required in Isaiah 27:9 • Pulverize every pagan altar—reduce the stones to powder. • Eliminate every Asherah pole—symbols of Canaanite fertility worship. • Tear down every incense altar dedicated to false gods. • Leave nothing standing that competes with the LORD. Why Removing Idolatry Matters • Exodus 23:24—“You shall not bow down to their gods…you shall utterly overthrow them and break their sacred pillars in pieces.” • Deuteronomy 12:3—Destroying idols protects covenant purity and guards future generations. • 2 Kings 23:4-15—King Josiah’s reforms illustrate the thoroughness God desires. • 1 John 5:21—“Little children, keep yourselves from idols.” New Covenant Echoes • 2 Corinthians 6:16-17—“What agreement can exist between the temple of God and idols?” • Galatians 4:8-9—Turning back to “weak and worthless principles” nullifies freedom in Christ. • Hebrews 9:14—Christ’s blood “will cleanse our consciences from dead works so that we may serve the living God.” Personal Application Today • Identify modern “altars” (possessions, passions, relationships, ideologies) that rival God’s rule. • Smash them decisively—not a gradual phase-out, but a chalk-dust break. • Replace them with exclusive devotion—practices that honor the LORD alone (Romans 12:1-2). • Stay vigilant; no Asherah pole or incense altar is “small” if it stands between the believer and full fellowship with God. |
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