Connect Isaiah 65:3 with other scriptures about idolatry and disobedience. Isaiah 65:3 — A Snapshot of Rebellion “These people are smoke in My nostrils, a fire that burns all day long. They continually provoke Me to My face, sacrificing in the gardens and burning incense on altars of brick.” (Isaiah 65:3) Key Features of the Sin Called Out - “Smoke in My nostrils” — persistent irritation to God, not an occasional lapse - “Continually provoke Me” — deliberate, habitual defiance - “Sacrificing in the gardens” — worship in pagan groves rather than God-appointed places - “Altars of brick” — man-made innovations replacing God’s revealed pattern Echoes in the Law and the Prophets - Exodus 20:3-5 — “You shall have no other gods before Me… You shall not bow down to them or serve them.” - Deuteronomy 32:16-17 — “They provoked His jealousy with foreign gods… They sacrificed to demons, not to God.” - 2 Kings 17:12-15 — “They served idols, although the LORD had said, ‘You shall not do this.’… They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves.” - Jeremiah 7:18-19 — “They pour out drink offerings to other gods to provoke Me to anger… Is it not themselves they spite, to their own shame?” - Ezekiel 8:17 — “Is it a trivial thing… that they must also fill the land with violence and continually provoke Me to anger?” - Hosea 4:12-13 — “A spirit of prostitution leads them astray… They sacrifice on the mountaintops and burn offerings on the hills.” - Psalm 106:36-40 — “They worshiped their idols… Therefore the anger of the LORD was kindled against His people.” Idolatry and Disobedience Linked to Rebellion - 1 Samuel 15:23 — “For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance is like the evil of idolatry.” - Idolatry is not merely wrong worship; it is bound up with a heart that resists God’s authority. - Disobedience flows naturally from misplaced allegiance; what the heart adores, the life obeys. New Testament Continuity - 1 Corinthians 10:6-7 — “These things took place as examples for us… Do not be idolaters, as some of them were.” - 1 Corinthians 10:14 — “Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.” - 1 John 5:21 — “Little children, keep yourselves from idols.” - Revelation 21:8 — “The idolaters… will have their place in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur.” Divine Response: Consistent and Just - Anger kindled (Psalm 106:40) - Judgment pronounced (2 Kings 17:18-23) - Yet gracious invitations remain (Isaiah 65:1-2) Faithful Worship: A Present-Day Call - God still demands exclusive devotion; the first commandment has never been revoked. - Modern “altars of brick” can be anything man-made that replaces reliance on God. - True worship aligns with revealed truth, not personal preference. Living Out the Warning and the Invitation - Treasuring God’s Word shields the heart from idolatry (Psalm 119:11). - Regular self-examination, measured by Scripture, keeps worship pure (2 Corinthians 13:5). - Obedience is the practical proof of genuine love for the Lord (John 14:15). |
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