Topical Bible: Idolatry: They Who Practise: Look to Idols for Deliverance

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Idolatry, the worship of idols or images as divine, is a recurring theme throughout the Bible, often depicted as a grievous sin against the one true God. Those who practice idolatry frequently turn to these man-made objects for deliverance, seeking protection, provision, and guidance from entities that are powerless and devoid of life.

The Bible consistently warns against the futility of idolatry. In the book of Isaiah, the prophet vividly describes the absurdity of idol worship: "They lift it to their shoulders and carry it; they set it in its place, and there it stands. It does not move from its place. If one cries out to it, it cannot answer; it cannot save him from his troubles" (Isaiah 46:7). This passage highlights the impotence of idols, which, despite being crafted with human hands, are unable to respond to the cries of their worshippers.

The Israelites, God's chosen people, often fell into the trap of idolatry, looking to idols for deliverance instead of relying on the Lord. In the book of Judges, we see a cycle of apostasy where the Israelites repeatedly turn to the gods of the surrounding nations. Judges 10:13-14 records God's response to their idolatry: "But you have forsaken Me and served other gods, so I will no longer deliver you. Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen. Let them deliver you in your time of distress." Here, God challenges the Israelites to seek help from the very idols they have chosen over Him, emphasizing the futility of their misplaced trust.

The prophet Jeremiah also addresses the issue of idolatry, pointing out the senselessness of trusting in lifeless objects: "Like a scarecrow in a cucumber patch, their idols cannot speak. They must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them, for they can do no harm—and neither can they do any good" (Jeremiah 10:5). This imagery underscores the inability of idols to provide any form of deliverance or protection.

In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul reiterates the dangers of idolatry, warning the Corinthians against participating in pagan practices. He writes, "What do I imply then? That food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God. And I do not want you to be participants with demons" (1 Corinthians 10:19-20). Paul emphasizes that idolatry is not merely a harmless cultural practice but a spiritual deception that aligns individuals with demonic forces rather than the true God.

Throughout Scripture, the consistent message is clear: idols are powerless to deliver. They are the work of human hands, devoid of life and incapable of providing the salvation and deliverance that only the living God can offer. The Bible calls believers to turn away from idols and place their trust solely in the Lord, who alone is able to save and deliver His people.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Isaiah 44:17
And the residue thereof he makes a god, even his graven image: he falls down to it, and worships it, and prays to it, and said, Deliver me; for you are my god.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Isaiah 45:20
Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, you that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray to a god that cannot save.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Paul and Barnabas in Lystra.
... command of priests, who could securely practise there the ... for our deliverance from
that gross idolatry, which once ... the religion of Christ, than they began to ...
/.../dick/lectures on the acts of the apostles/lecture xv paul and barnabas.htm

Answer to the Objection of the Heathen, that it was not Right to ...
... evil one, and prefer wisdom to idolatry, and take ... having obeyed, instead of the
destruction they looked for ... Practise husbandry, we say, if you are a husbandman ...
/.../clement/exhortation to the heathen/chapter x answer to the objection.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

A Holy Life the Beauty of Christianity: Or, an Exhortation to ...
... they do hear and look on, and practise lesser things ... they made them idols.' The sin
of idolatry threw their ... of the earth are asunder, and while they are found ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/a holy life the beauty.htm

Concerning the Communion, or Participation of the Body and Blood ...
... blood of Christ, dehorts them from idolatry, and partaking ... with real conscience towards
God, did practise this ceremony ... not doubt to affirm but they might be ...
/.../proposition xiii concerning the communion.htm

An Exposition on the First Ten Chapters of Genesis, and Part of ...
... is to commit most gross and horrible idolatry: For albeit we ... itself, but would, without
men to look after and ... Adam to plough them and sow them, they could none ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/an exposition on the first.htm

part ii
... Therefore when, for instance, in church you look upon the images of God's saints,
believe that they see you, and, above all, that they see your heart. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/calvin/my life in christ/part ii.htm

Period iv. The Age of the Consolidation of the Church: 200 to 324 ...
... power and incorruptible right hand, I may look with an ... have been contaminated by
the abominable certificate of idolatry. ... do not neglect, as far as they are able ...
/.../ayer/a source book for ancient church history/period iv the age of.htm

The Holy City; Or, the New Jerusalem:
... most such a spirit of whoredom and idolatry concerning the ... therein; only you must
not from me look for much ... that gave them the pattern even when they were in ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the holy city or the.htm

part i
... faith, and a determined assurance in our deliverance from affliction ... happened to
me more than once to look fixedly out ... at the people passing by, and they, as if ...
//christianbookshelf.org/calvin/my life in christ/part i.htm