Topical Bible: Altar used in Idolatrous Worship

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Topical Encyclopedia

In the biblical narrative, altars are significant structures used for worship and sacrifice. While many altars were constructed for the worship of Yahweh, the God of Israel, others were erected for idolatrous practices, which were strictly condemned in the Scriptures. These altars for idolatrous worship are often associated with the spiritual decline and apostasy of the Israelites and surrounding nations.

Old Testament Context

The Old Testament provides numerous accounts of altars used in idolatrous worship. One of the earliest mentions is found in the account of the patriarchs, where God commands the Israelites to destroy the altars of the Canaanites. In Deuteronomy 7:5, the Israelites are instructed: "This is what you are to do to them: Tear down their altars, smash their sacred stones, cut down their Asherah poles, and burn their idols in the fire."

The Book of Judges records the Israelites' repeated failure to obey this command, leading to cycles of idolatry and oppression. Judges 2:11-13 states, "And the Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD and served the Baals. They forsook the LORD, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of Egypt. They followed and worshiped various gods of the peoples around them."

King Solomon, despite his wisdom, fell into idolatry later in his reign. 1 Kings 11:7-8 recounts, "At that time on a hill east of Jerusalem, Solomon built a high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, and for Molech, the abomination of the Ammonites. He did the same for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and sacrificed to their gods."

The northern kingdom of Israel, under King Jeroboam, institutionalized idolatrous worship by setting up golden calves at Bethel and Dan (1 Kings 12:28-30). This act was a direct violation of the first two commandments and led Israel into sin.

Prophetic Condemnation

The prophets of Israel consistently condemned the use of altars for idolatrous worship. Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, among others, spoke against the spiritual adultery of the people. Isaiah 57:5-7 describes the idolatrous practices: "You who burn with lust among the oaks and under every green tree, who sacrifice your children in the ravines and under the clefts of the rocks. The idols among the smooth stones of the ravines are your portion; indeed, they are your lot. Yes, to them you have poured out drink offerings and offered grain offerings."

Jeremiah 19:4-5 highlights the severity of idolatrous practices: "For they have forsaken Me and made this a place of foreign gods; they have burned incense in it to gods that neither they nor their fathers nor the kings of Judah ever knew, and they have filled this place with the blood of the innocent. They have built the high places of Baal to burn their children in the fire as offerings to Baal—something I never commanded or mentioned, nor did it enter My mind."

Reforms and Destruction

Throughout Israel's history, there were periods of reform where righteous kings sought to eradicate idolatry and restore true worship. King Hezekiah is noted for his reforms, as recorded in 2 Kings 18:4: "He removed the high places, shattered the sacred stones, and cut down the Asherah poles. He also broke into pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it."

Similarly, King Josiah's reforms were extensive, as described in 2 Kings 23:12-15: "He pulled down the altars that the kings of Judah had erected on the roof near the upper room of Ahaz, and the altars that Manasseh had built in the two courts of the house of the LORD. He removed them from there, smashed them to pieces, and threw the rubble into the Kidron Valley."

New Testament Perspective

In the New Testament, the emphasis shifts from physical altars to the spiritual worship of God through Jesus Christ. However, the early church faced challenges from idolatry, particularly in Gentile regions. The Apostle Paul, in his letters, warns against idolatry and its associated practices. In 1 Corinthians 10:14, he exhorts believers, "Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry."

The Book of Revelation also addresses the issue of idolatry, symbolizing it as part of the spiritual battle between good and evil. Revelation 9:20 notes, "The rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the works of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk."

In summary, altars used in idolatrous worship are consistently portrayed in the Bible as a deviation from the true worship of God, leading to spiritual and moral decline. The biblical narrative underscores the importance of faithfulness to God and the rejection of all forms of idolatry.

Nave's Topical Index

Judges 6:25
And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said to him, Take your father's young bullock, even the second bullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that your father has, and cut down the grove that is by it:
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1 Kings 12:32
And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like to the feast that is in Judah, and he offered on the altar. So did he in Bethel, sacrificing to the calves that he had made: and he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places which he had made.
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1 Kings 16:32
And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria.
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1 Kings 18:26
And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped on the altar which was made.
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2 Kings 16:10
And king Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, and saw an altar that was at Damascus: and king Ahaz sent to Urijah the priest the fashion of the altar, and the pattern of it, according to all the workmanship thereof.
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2 Kings 23:12,15
And the altars that were on the top of the upper chamber of Ahaz, which the kings of Judah had made, and the altars which Manasseh had made in the two courts of the house of the LORD, did the king beat down, and broke them down from there, and cast the dust of them into the brook Kidron.
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Isaiah 27:9
By this therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged; and this is all the fruit to take away his sin; when he makes all the stones of the altar as chalkstones that are beaten in sunder, the groves and images shall not stand up.
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Isaiah 65:3
A people that provokes me to anger continually to my face; that sacrifices in gardens, and burns incense on altars of brick;
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Hosea 8:11
Because Ephraim has made many altars to sin, altars shall be to him to sin.
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Acts 17:23
For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore you ignorantly worship, him declare I to you.
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Library

Chapter xiii
... his choice by going "eastward." Mikk??dem used as in ... and is to have in that altar
a means ... nothing in common with the Canaanites and their idolatrous worship. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xiii.htm

Whether Sufficient Reason Can be Assigned for the Ceremonies ...
... steps." This was in detestation of idolatrous worship: for the ... so that without any
danger the altar could be ... avoid the worship of idolaters who used to offer ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether sufficient reason can be.htm

The Danger of Deviating from Divine Institutions.
... Levites whom God had appointed to wait at the altar. ... thee behind me Satan;" namely,
that idolatrous honor, which ... The word there used is "Pasxa," the Passover. ...
/.../lee/sermons on various important subjects/sermon xxviii the danger of.htm

Jeroboam
... He sent His messenger to interrupt the idolatrous proceedings and ... on in safety, the
king would have used this fact ... In the rent altar, in the palsied arm, and ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 7 jeroboam.htm

The Sermon on the Mount.
... It was the fire of idolatrous worship in the offering of ... It is often used in the
New Testament, and always ... thou art offering thy gift at the altar [that which ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xlii the sermon on the 4.htm

Chapter xxviii
... so that the oil might be used for purposes ... poured a drink offering and oil upon the
altar. ... Later, when the Canaanite shrines for idolatrous worship had these ...
/.../leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxviii.htm

The Twelve Minor Prophets.
... Judea"probably Jerusalem, with its temple, altar, priesthood, and ... all these joined
with the idolatrous worship established by ... this ode was to be used in the ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxiii the twelve minor.htm

CHAPTER III.
... a reference, at least exclusive, to idolatrous worship, cannot be ... That the Ephod
was used for discovering ... their independent government, the altar and priesthood ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/chapter iii.htm

The Second Commandment
... They who are for altar-worship, and will bow to the ... to have established the kingdom
by idolatrous worship, but it ... his right hand most; he is more used to mercy ...
/.../watson/the ten commandments/2 2 the second commandment.htm

Deuteronomy
... all the words of this law," is elsewhere used of a ... upon the memorial stones of the
altar to be ... was being stained and confused by the idolatrous practices which ...
/.../mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/deuteronomy.htm