How can Ezekiel 6:13 guide us in identifying modern forms of idolatry? Setting the Scene Ezekiel preached to exiled Israelites who had carried their idols with them—literal statues, sacred groves, and high hills that competed with the worship of the LORD. God’s word through the prophet pulled back the curtain, exposing where their misplaced devotion would lead. The Key Verse “And you will know that I am the LORD when their slain lie among their idols around their altars, on every high hill and on all the mountaintops, under every green tree and every leafy oak—the places where they offered pleasing aromas to all their idols.” (Ezekiel 6:13) What Was Wrong Then • Carved images that looked harmless yet claimed loyalty that belonged to God. • Altars on “every high hill” and “under every green tree,” turning creation into a stage for rebellion. • Pleasing aromas offered to wood and stone, proving how far affections had strayed. • Corpses ultimately surrounding those idols—a vivid picture that lifeless gods cannot protect their worshipers. Timeless Principles • Worship is exclusive: “You shall have no other gods before Me.” (Exodus 20:3) • Idolatry is spiritual adultery; it provokes righteous jealousy. • Whatever receives our trust, love, or obedience above God becomes an idol, even if it is not carved. • God exposes counterfeit gods so that “you will know that I am the LORD.” Modern Parallels Idolatry today often hides beneath respectable labels. Examples: • Money and possessions—bank accounts, investment apps, consumer thrills. • Entertainment—streaming, gaming, and celebrity culture that absorb heart time. • Romance and family—relationships elevated to ultimate security. • Career and success—status symbols, résumés, and titles worshiped at the office altar. • Technology—phones and platforms tempting constant, unquestioned devotion. • Self—image, autonomy, and personal “brand” turned into centers of worship. • Ideology—political or social causes treated as saviors, demanding total allegiance. Signs of Hidden Idolatry • Persistent anxiety when the thing is threatened. • Willingness to sin to gain or keep it. • Sacrifice of time, resources, and relationships to serve it. • Emotional highs and lows tied more to it than to the Lord. • Reluctance to surrender it when Scripture confronts it. Realigning Our Worship • Recognize and confess the idol by name—agree with God about its falsehood. • Replace the counterfeit with deliberate adoration of Christ through Scripture, fellowship, and praise. • Redirect resources—time, money, talent—toward kingdom purposes. • Regularly rehearse truth: “No one can serve two masters… You cannot serve both God and money.” (Matthew 6:24) • Flee, don’t flirt: “Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.” (1 Corinthians 10:14) Supporting Scriptures • Colossians 3:5 — “Put to death… greed, which is idolatry.” • 1 John 5:21 — “Little children, keep yourselves from idols.” • Jeremiah 17:5 — “Cursed is the man who trusts in man…” • Psalm 115:4–8 — Idols are silver and gold, lifeless and powerless. • Revelation 2:4–5 — Remember, repent, and do the works you did at first. Living the Lesson The hills and groves may look different, yet the call remains the same: tear down every rival, cultivate single-hearted devotion, and let every arena of life resound with the confession, “You are the LORD.” |
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