Topical Bible: Idolatry: They Who Practise: Forsake God

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Topical Encyclopedia

Idolatry, the worship of idols or the excessive reverence for something other than God, is a recurring theme throughout the Bible, often associated with the forsaking of the one true God. The practice of idolatry is consistently condemned in Scripture, as it represents a turning away from the covenant relationship with God and a violation of the first commandment: "You shall have no other gods before Me" (Exodus 20:3).

Old Testament Instances

In the Old Testament, the Israelites frequently fell into idolatry, despite repeated warnings and judgments from God. The book of Judges records a cycle of apostasy where the Israelites "did evil in the sight of the LORD and served the Baals" (Judges 2:11). This pattern of forsaking God for idols led to their oppression by surrounding nations until they repented and cried out to God for deliverance.

The prophet Jeremiah lamented the idolatry of Judah, declaring, "My people have exchanged their Glory for useless idols" (Jeremiah 2:11). This exchange signifies a profound spiritual adultery, as the people abandoned their covenant with God to pursue lifeless images. Jeremiah further warns, "They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living water, and dug their own cisterns—broken cisterns that cannot hold water" (Jeremiah 2:13), illustrating the futility and self-destructive nature of idolatry.

Prophetic Condemnations

The prophets consistently condemned idolatry as a betrayal of God. Isaiah mocked the absurdity of idol-making, pointing out the foolishness of worshiping objects crafted by human hands: "They have no knowledge, those who carry around their wooden idols and keep on praying to a god that cannot save" (Isaiah 45:20). The prophet Ezekiel also rebuked the Israelites for their idolatrous practices, stating, "They have defiled My sanctuary on the same day and profaned My Sabbaths" (Ezekiel 23:38), highlighting the desecration of what is holy through idolatry.

New Testament Warnings

In the New Testament, idolatry is expanded beyond the worship of physical idols to include any form of covetousness or placing anything above God. The Apostle Paul warns the Corinthians, "Do not be idolaters, as some of them were" (1 Corinthians 10:7), referencing the Israelites' idolatry in the wilderness. He further admonishes the Colossians to "put to death...greed, which is idolatry" (Colossians 3:5), indicating that idolatry can manifest in the heart's desires and priorities.

The book of Revelation also addresses idolatry, portraying it as a characteristic of those who oppose God. In the vision of the end times, idolaters are among those who face judgment: "But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur" (Revelation 21:8).

Spiritual Adultery

Idolatry is often equated with spiritual adultery, as it involves a breach of the exclusive relationship between God and His people. The book of Hosea uses the metaphor of marital unfaithfulness to describe Israel's idolatry, with God lamenting, "For she is not My wife, and I am not her husband" (Hosea 2:2). This imagery underscores the deep betrayal inherent in idolatry, as it represents a turning away from the love and faithfulness of God.

Call to Repentance

Throughout Scripture, the call to forsake idolatry and return to God is clear. The prophet Joel urges, "Return to the LORD your God, for He is gracious and compassionate" (Joel 2:13). This call to repentance is echoed in the New Testament, where believers are encouraged to "flee from idolatry" (1 Corinthians 10:14) and to worship God in spirit and truth.

Idolatry, in all its forms, represents a forsaking of God and a turning to that which cannot save or satisfy. The biblical narrative consistently calls God's people to reject idols and to remain faithful to the covenant relationship with the Lord, who alone is worthy of worship and devotion.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

2 Kings 22:17
Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense to other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore my wrath shall be kindled against this place, and shall not be quenched.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Jeremiah 16:11
Then shall you say to them, Because your fathers have forsaken me, said the LORD, and have walked after other gods, and have served them, and have worshipped them, and have forsaken me, and have not kept my law;
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Paul and Barnabas in Lystra.
... the command of priests, who could securely practise there the ... us, while we call upon
you to renounce your idolatry. ... They that made them were like unto them; so ...
/.../dick/lectures on the acts of the apostles/lecture xv paul and barnabas.htm

Thou Shalt not Steal.
... in temporal goods which men may practise toward one ... found, or very few indeed." Yea,
they are very ... the Apostle calls no other sin idolatry except covetousness ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/luther/a treatise on good works/thou shalt not steal.htm

Rom. Ii. 17, 18
... we hang our instruments," but still they might not ... will you say, Forsake idolatry,
acknowledge God, and draw ... thing for a Gentile to practise idolatry, and a ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily vi rom ii 17.htm

Faustus Asserts that Even if the Old Testament could be Shown to ...
... If any among this people fell into idolatry or demon ... They had rites; but these rites
were prophetic, or ... He would see many who do not practise the required duties ...
/.../faustus asserts that even if.htm

The Treatise
... not keep this Commandment, and practise real idolatry ... the other only makes worse
idolatry and the ... fears for his people, lest they forsake God's commandment for ...
//christianbookshelf.org/luther/a treatise on good works/the treatise.htm

CHAP. II. 4-25 (2-23).
... only to excite to it, and to practise it. ... of Jehovah with heathenism, according to
which they called the ... Baal; the other was still grosser"was pure idolatry. ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/chap ii 25-apr 2-23.htm

Knox -- the First Temptation of Christ
... destroying His ordinances, and building up idolatry, which did ... these things mark,
what hath been the practise of the ... the pleasure in him." As tho they would say ...
/.../various/the worlds great sermons volume i/knox the first temptation.htm

The Form of Sound Words
... and if it be, my brother commits a sin who does not practise it ... Why, pure idolatry. ...
not signify, and that does not signify, while all the while they are trying ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 2 1856/the form of sound words.htm

Concerning Worship.
... For this kind of idolatry, whereby man loveth, idolizeth, and embraceth his ... before
he departed from them, as that which they were to practise during his ...
/.../proposition xi concerning worship.htm

Period I: the Imperial State Church of the Undivided Empire, or ...
... judges and report the matter to them; that they may correct them as I commanded
them when they were present. The divinity of the great God preserve thee many ...
/.../ayer/a source book for ancient church history/period i the imperial state.htm