Topical Bible: Idolatry: Consists in Worshipping the Host of Heaven

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Idolatry, in the biblical context, refers to the worship of anything other than the one true God. A specific form of idolatry condemned in Scripture is the worship of the "host of heaven," which includes celestial bodies such as the sun, moon, and stars. This practice was prevalent among ancient Near Eastern cultures and posed a significant temptation to the Israelites, who were repeatedly warned against it.

The worship of the host of heaven is explicitly prohibited in the Law of Moses. In Deuteronomy 4:19 , the Israelites are cautioned: "And when you look to the heavens and see the sun and moon and stars—all the host of heaven—do not be enticed to bow down and worship what the LORD your God has apportioned to all the nations under heaven." This verse underscores the danger of being led astray by the beauty and grandeur of the celestial bodies, which were created by God for the benefit of all nations, not for worship.

Despite these warnings, the history of Israel reveals instances where the people fell into the sin of worshipping the host of heaven. In 2 Kings 17:16 , it is recorded that the Israelites "forsook all the commandments of the LORD their God and made for themselves two cast idols of calves and an Asherah pole. They worshiped all the host of heaven and served Baal." This passage highlights the syncretism that occurred when the Israelites adopted the idolatrous practices of surrounding nations, leading to their eventual downfall.

The prophet Jeremiah also speaks against this form of idolatry. In Jeremiah 8:2 , he prophesies that the bones of the people who worshipped the host of heaven would be exposed to the sun, moon, and stars they had adored, as a sign of their shame and the futility of their idolatry: "They will be exposed to the sun and the moon and all the host of heaven, which they have loved and served and followed and consulted and worshiped. They will not be gathered or buried, but will be like dung lying on the ground."

The practice of worshipping the host of heaven is further condemned in the reforms of King Josiah, who sought to restore true worship in Judah. In 2 Kings 23:5 , it is noted that Josiah "did away with the idolatrous priests appointed by the kings of Judah to burn incense on the high places of the cities of Judah and in the areas surrounding Jerusalem—those who burned incense to Baal, to the sun and moon and constellations, and to all the host of heaven." Josiah's actions demonstrate a return to the covenantal faithfulness required by God, rejecting the idolatrous practices that had infiltrated the nation.

The New Testament continues to affirm the rejection of idolatry, including the worship of celestial bodies. In Romans 1:25 , the Apostle Paul describes the folly of exchanging "the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator, who is forever worthy of praise! Amen." This passage serves as a timeless reminder of the importance of worshipping the Creator rather than His creation.

Throughout Scripture, the worship of the host of heaven is consistently portrayed as a deviation from true worship and a violation of the first commandment, which calls for exclusive devotion to the LORD. The biblical narrative underscores the importance of recognizing God as the sole object of worship, rejecting all forms of idolatry, including the veneration of the celestial bodies He created.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Deuteronomy 4:19
And lest you lift up your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, should be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the LORD your God has divided to all nations under the whole heaven.
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Deuteronomy 17:3
And has gone and served other gods, and worshipped them, either the sun, or moon, or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded;
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Ten Reasons Demonstrating the Commandment of the Sabbath to be ...
... the keeping of all the other consists; which makes ... seventh day Sabbath, in knowing
and worshipping God in ... of Rome therefore commits gross idolatry"First, in ...
/.../bayly/the practice of piety/ten reasons demonstrating the commandment.htm

Faustus Repels the Charge of Sun-Worship
... sacrifices; as we see in the word idolatry, which means ... to the king, he was found
worshipping and praying ... vestal virginity is great, yet it consists wholly in ...
/.../faustus repels the charge of.htm

The First vision "On Earth"
... 4, this is further explained as not worshipping the Beast ... When we say that the
population consists of so ... with reference to idols and idolatry (see Deuteronomy 5 ...
/.../bullinger/commentary on revelation/the first vision on earth.htm

The Mystery
... as the Israelites in the wilderness of worshipping Jehovah; with ... The name of blasphemy
is the mark of idolatry. ... feet), the chief strength of the body consists. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mede/a key to the apocalypse/the mystery 2.htm

The Sixth vision "On Earth"
... which we have marked "V," and which consists of the ... that those who are engaged in
worshipping the Beast ... kings of the earth have practised idolatry, [346] and ...
/.../bullinger/commentary on revelation/the sixth vision on earth.htm

Colossians iii. 17
... inasmuch as in spirit they are worshipping God always. ... But then, this fault consists
not in an over ... which, without reason, might have been idolatry, being now ...
/.../arnold/the christian life/lecture xxxix colossians iii 17.htm

Latitudinarian Churchmanship.
... demonstration; in other matters proof consists in the ... so much condemned in Scripture
as worshipping a creature ... be paid 'without danger of idolatry, and without ...
/.../chapter iv latitudinarian churchmanship.htm

The Saints' Privilege and Profit;
... to find any such thing as a throne of grace, either in earth or heaven; for that ...
the type, by which we gather what is now to be minded in our worshipping of God ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the saints privilege and profit.htm

A Discourse Upon the Pharisee and the Publican
... HOW FAR IT OBLIGES CHRISTIANS, AND WHEREIN IT CONSISTS. ... that turned aside in his
worshipping from the ... 1 Corinthians 6:18), flee from idolatry" (1 Corinthians 10 ...
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An Exposition on the First Ten Chapters of Genesis, and Part of ...
... is to commit most gross and horrible idolatry: For albeit ... all kind of necessaries,
having beautified the heaven and the ... soul, as a part; or as he consists of a ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/an exposition on the first.htm