What consequences are described for those who "run after another god"? Setting the Scene Psalm 16:4 lays the groundwork: “Sorrows will multiply to those who chase other gods; I will not pour out their drink offerings of blood, nor will I take their names upon my lips.” At its core, the verse answers our question by stating plainly that heartache grows when people abandon the Lord for false deities. Scripture never treats idolatry as a harmless alternative; it is spiritual treason that carries tangible fallout. Immediate Consequences Noted in the Verse •Multiplied sorrows – grief, distress, and pain accelerate. •Rejected worship – the Lord refuses their “drink offerings of blood.” •Erased honor – the psalmist will not even pronounce the names of the rival gods, signaling complete disassociation. Why Sorrows Multiply 1.Broken relationship with the true God (Isaiah 59:2; Hosea 1:9). 2.Inherent emptiness of idols—“They cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty” (1 Samuel 12:21). 3.Exposure to judgment—forsaking God removes His protective covering (Deuteronomy 31:17). Echoes Throughout Scripture •Deuteronomy 32:16-20 – foreign gods provoke God’s jealousy; disasters follow. •Psalm 97:7 – “All worshipers of images are put to shame.” •Jeremiah 2:13 – abandoning “the fountain of living water” results in cracked cisterns that hold none. •Hosea 4:12-14 – idolatry leads to moral collapse and national decline. •Revelation 21:8 – ultimate exclusion from the eternal city for idolaters. What “Running After Another God” Looks Like Today •Placing career, relationships, money, or self above the Lord. •Seeking guidance from occult practices or syncretistic spirituality. •Trusting political power, technology, or personal achievement as ultimate saviors. Practical Takeaways •Idolatry still promises much and delivers misery. •Every “god” we chase beyond the Lord fractures our joy and multiplies sorrow. •The safest place is unwavering allegiance to the one true God who alone satisfies (Psalm 16:11; John 10:10). |
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