Topical Bible: The Moon: Worshipping of To be Punished With Death

◄ The Moon: Worshipping of To be Punished With Death ►

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In the biblical context, the worship of celestial bodies, including the moon, is strictly prohibited and considered a grave sin against the commandments of God. The moon, created by God to govern the night (Genesis 1:16), is a testament to His creative power and sovereignty. However, the Israelites were explicitly warned against the idolatrous practices of surrounding nations, which often included the worship of the moon.

The prohibition against worshipping the moon is rooted in the First Commandment, which states, "You shall have no other gods before Me" (Exodus 20:3). This commandment underscores the exclusive worship and reverence due to the Lord alone. The worship of the moon, or any other created entity, is seen as a direct violation of this commandment and an act of spiritual adultery.

Deuteronomy 4:19 warns the Israelites, "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 highlights the temptation to idolize the celestial bodies and serves as a caution against such practices.

The severity of the punishment for moon worship is explicitly stated in Deuteronomy 17:2-5 : "If a man or woman among you in one of the towns that the LORD your God will give you is found doing evil in the sight of the LORD your God and transgressing His covenant by going to worship other gods, bowing down to them or to the sun or moon or any of the host of heaven—which I have forbidden—and if it is reported to you and you hear about it, you must investigate it thoroughly. If it is true and confirmed that this detestable thing has been done in Israel, you must bring out to your gates that man or woman who has done this evil thing, and you must stone that person to death."

This passage underscores the seriousness with which God views idolatry, particularly the worship of celestial bodies. The prescribed punishment of death by stoning reflects the need to maintain the purity of worship and the community's covenant relationship with God. It serves as a deterrent against the infiltration of pagan practices and the erosion of faith in the one true God.

Throughout the Old Testament, the Israelites struggled with idolatry, often falling into the worship of foreign gods, including those associated with the moon. The prophets frequently rebuked the people for such practices, calling them to repentance and a return to the worship of Yahweh alone. For instance, the prophet Jeremiah condemns the worship of the "queen of heaven," a deity associated with the moon, as a cause of God's wrath (Jeremiah 7:18).

In summary, the worship of the moon is strictly forbidden in the Bible and is punishable by death according to the Mosaic Law. This prohibition is rooted in the command to worship God alone and serves as a safeguard against idolatry, ensuring the faithfulness of God's people to their covenant with Him.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Deuteronomy 17:3-6
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;
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

First Commandment
... We haven't got through worshipping the golden calf yet ... I beheld the sun when it shined,
or the moon walking in ... this also were an iniquity to be punished by the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/weighed and wanting/first commandment.htm

The Fifth vision "On Earth"
... nature of the sin which is to be punished: It is ... day and night while they are engaged
in worshipping the Beast ... is the scene in which "the sun and moon shall be ...
/.../bullinger/commentary on revelation/the fifth vision on earth.htm

The Mystery
... but months, according to that of the moon, which presides ... For the dragon-worshipping
beast, which it was to ... constitution, by the sword, or by a secular death. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mede/a key to the apocalypse/the mystery 2.htm

Revelation of John.
... venerable sceptre, with thousands of angels worshipping it, as ... shall open the second
seal, the moon shall be ... And John says: Why are the sinners thus punished? ...
//christianbookshelf.org/unknown/revelation of john/revelation of john.htm

Faustus Repels the Charge of Sun-Worship
... by the Jews, and exists in the sun and moon? ... than to employ a heated imagination
in worshipping things which ... to Him, that you should be thus punished by the ...
/.../faustus repels the charge of.htm

Naasseni Ascribe their System, through Mariamne, to James the ...
... the enslaved image may be punished of the ... But should the Moon pass into concupiscence
for ... Worshipping, however, Cyllenius with especial distinction, they style ...
/.../the refutation of all heresies/chapter ii naasseni ascribe their system.htm

Questions About the Nature and Perpetuity of the Seventh-Day ...
... it is broken, and the Sabbath-breaker is punished with a ... otherwise; but that though
time as to worshipping God, must ... of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/questions about the nature and.htm

Letter cii. (AD 409. )
... beings while they are venerating and worshipping them, and ... the seas, the heaven,
the sun, the moon, the stars ... be in every particular equal to the sins punished. ...
/.../augustine/the confessions and letters of st/letter cii a d 409.htm

The Two Yokes
... Some nations have a revolution almost with every moon, but for ... I know not if you
called that worshipping God when ... asks of him, he hath his sins punished in his ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 18 1872/the two yokes.htm

Period ii. The Post-Apostolic Age: AD 100-AD 140
... evident by an act, that is, by worshipping our gods ... and drinks is improved; so
Christians when punished increase more ... the stars, with the sun and moon, formed a ...
/.../a source book for ancient church history/period ii the post-apostolic age .htm