Topical Bible: Idolatry: Woe Denounced Against

◄ Idolatry: Woe Denounced Against ►

Jump to: Torrey's • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

Idolatry, the worship of idols or the elevation of anything above the one true God, is a recurring theme throughout the Bible, consistently condemned by the prophets and leaders of Israel. The denunciation of idolatry is not merely a rejection of false gods but a profound warning against the spiritual and moral decay that accompanies such practices. The Bible is replete with instances where God, through His prophets, pronounces woe upon those who engage in idolatry, emphasizing the severe consequences of turning away from Him.

Old Testament Warnings

The Old Testament is particularly vocal about the dangers and consequences of idolatry. In the Ten Commandments, God explicitly commands, "You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself an idol" (Exodus 20:3-4). This foundational commandment underscores the exclusivity of worship that God demands from His people.

The prophet Isaiah vividly describes the futility and absurdity of idol worship, declaring, "Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in the abundance of chariots and in their multitude of horsemen. They do not look to the Holy One of Israel; they do not seek the LORD" (Isaiah 31:1). Here, the reliance on foreign powers and their idols is equated with a lack of trust in God, leading to inevitable judgment.

Jeremiah also speaks against idolatry, warning of the impending disaster for those who forsake God: "This is what the LORD says: 'What fault did your fathers find in Me that they strayed so far from Me? They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves'" (Jeremiah 2:5). The prophet highlights the spiritual degradation that results from idol worship, equating it with becoming worthless.

New Testament Affirmations

The New Testament continues the theme of denouncing idolatry, though often in a broader context that includes any form of covetousness or misplaced priorities. The Apostle Paul warns the Corinthians, "Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry" (1 Corinthians 10:14). Paul’s exhortation is a call to avoid not only the physical idols but also the idolatrous practices and desires that can ensnare believers.

In his letter to the Galatians, Paul lists idolatry among the "acts of the flesh" that are contrary to the Spirit, stating, "I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God" (Galatians 5:21). This warning serves as a stark reminder of the eternal consequences of idolatry.

Prophetic Denunciations

The prophetic books are filled with declarations of woe against idolatry. Habakkuk proclaims, "Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Awake!’ or to silent stone, ‘Arise!’ Can it teach? Look, it is covered with gold and silver, but there is no breath in it" (Habakkuk 2:19). The prophet mocks the lifelessness of idols, contrasting them with the living God who speaks and acts.

Ezekiel, too, is charged with delivering God’s message against idolatry: "Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says: Will you defile yourselves the way your fathers did and lust after their abominations?'" (Ezekiel 20:30). The prophet calls out the people for repeating the sins of their ancestors, emphasizing the generational impact of idolatry.

Conclusion

Throughout Scripture, the denunciation of idolatry is clear and unequivocal. The Bible consistently warns of the spiritual, moral, and societal decay that follows when individuals and nations turn away from God to worship idols. The prophetic cries of woe serve as a timeless reminder of the importance of exclusive devotion to the one true God, who alone is worthy of worship and praise.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Habakkuk 2:19
Woe to him that said to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it is laid over with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in the middle of it.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Sin in the Heart the Source of Error in the Head
... The origin of idolatry, and of infidelity, is not in the original constitution with
which the Creator endowed the ... A heavy woe is denounced against any and ...
/.../shedd/sermons to the natural man/sin in the heart the.htm

Regeneration by Faith. Of Repentance.
... means that they had abandoned idolatry, and other ... raged against God himself, that
is, against the doctrine ... were the Pharisees, on whom our Lord denounced woe. ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 3 regeneration by faith.htm

The Call of Isaiah
... kingdom, and which had recently been denounced in unmistakable ... his mission and leave
Judah undisturbed to their idolatry? ... "Woe is me!" he cried; "for I am ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 25 the call of.htm

From Megiddo to Carchemish, 608-605.
... grant victory numbers relapsed into an idolatry as rank ... Nor beweep him, "Woe Lord!"
Or "Woe Highness!" With ... none save Christ more sternly denounced his people ...
//christianbookshelf.org/smith/jeremiah/1 from megiddo to carchemish.htm

The Greater Prophets.
... abhorrence, and the severest judgments were denounced against him. ... "Woe is me, my
mother," he cries out in ... to check the swelling tide of idolatry and profligacy ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxii the greater prophets.htm

The Bohemian Brethern and the Waldenses.
... the secular power of the clergy, and denounced the Pope ... Early may fly the Babylonian
woe.'. ... The Catechism is directed against the idolatry and superstition of ...
/.../ 72 the bohemian brethern.htm

Three Homilies. On Our Lord.
... with chains, he loosed the bonds of idolatry by his ... Who while He was upon earth had
denounced ten woes ... heaven, did not denounce even one woe against Saul, His ...
/.../ephraim/hymns and homilies of ephraim the syrian/three homilies on our lord.htm

Twenty Fourth Sunday after Trinity Prayer and Spiritual Knowledge.
... prone to become agitated and utter its cry of woe. ... Satan; it is filled with open
idolatry, lies and ... the presence of King Jeroboam openly denounced the idolatry ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol iii/twenty fourth sunday after trinity.htm

The First Stages. Ch. 9:51 to 13:21
... unbelief had once possessed the Jews, and had been manifested in the form of idolatry;
it had ... 8. Pharisaism Exposed and Denounced. ... 42 But woe unto you Pharisees ...
/.../erdman/the gospel of luke an exposition/a the first stages ch.htm

The Government of India.
... The Marquess of Hastings had denounced the conquering career of ... of Allah, called
to put down idolatry, and entitled ... one became the victor, and then woe to the ...
/.../chapter xxxi the government of.htm