Topical Bible: The Stars: Idolaters Worshipped

◄ The Stars: Idolaters Worshipped ►

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In the ancient Near Eastern context, the worship of celestial bodies, including stars, was a prevalent practice among various pagan cultures. This idolatrous worship is explicitly condemned in the Bible, as it represents a departure from the worship of the one true God, Yahweh, who created the heavens and the earth.

The Bible provides several references to the worship of stars as a form of idolatry. In Deuteronomy 4:19 , Moses 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 passage underscores the temptation to worship the created order rather than the Creator, a temptation that the Israelites were to resist.

The practice of star worship is further condemned in 2 Kings 17:16 , where 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 bowed down to all the host of heaven and served Baal." This verse highlights the syncretism that occurred when the Israelites adopted the idolatrous practices of surrounding nations, including the worship of celestial bodies.

In the prophetic literature, the denunciation of star worship is reiterated. Jeremiah 8:2 speaks of the judgment that will come upon those who have engaged in such practices: "They will be exposed to the sun and the moon and all the stars 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." This vivid imagery serves as a stark warning against the futility and consequences of idolatry.

The New Testament also reflects on the folly of worshiping the creation rather than the Creator. In Romans 1:25 , the Apostle Paul writes, "They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is forever worthy of praise! Amen." Although not explicitly mentioning stars, this passage captures the essence of idolatry, which includes the worship of any part of the created order.

Throughout Scripture, the stars are acknowledged as part of God's magnificent creation, intended to declare His glory and handiwork (Psalm 19:1). However, the Bible consistently warns against elevating these celestial bodies to objects of worship. The stars, like all creation, are to point humanity to the Creator, not to become substitutes for Him. The biblical narrative calls for exclusive devotion to God, who alone is worthy of worship and adoration.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Jeremiah 8:2
And they shall spread them before the sun, and the moon, and all the host of heaven, whom they have loved, and whom they have served, and after whom they have walked, and whom they have sought, and whom they have worshipped: they shall not be gathered, nor be buried; they shall be for dung on the face of the earth.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Jeremiah 19:13
And the houses of Jerusalem, and the houses of the kings of Judah, shall be defiled as the place of Tophet, because of all the houses on whose roofs they have burned incense to all the host of heaven, and have poured out drink offerings to other gods.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

All Association with Idols is to be Avoided.
... in the wilderness; [3049] sometimes they worshipped Baalpeor; [3050 ... many things the
Lord declares against idolaters, and the ... the moon, or by the stars; nor by ...
/.../constitutions of the holy apostles/sec ii all association with idols.htm

The Living One
... the thought of idols and idolatry and idolaters has to ... the sun, and the moon, and
the stars, even all ... The whole heathen world worshipped the sun and the host ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bullinger/commentary on revelation/the living one.htm

Of the Sixth Seal.
... some of the host and of the stars, and trampled ... And his angels (that is, demons
worshipped under the ... not ignorant that it was customary for idolaters to build ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mede/a key to the apocalypse/of the sixth seal.htm

The Axe at the Root --A Testimony against Puseyite Idolatry
... among Brahminists, Romanists, Puseyites, and other idolaters; or else ... pure spirit,
he must be worshipped in spirit ... out the heavens and scatters stars with both ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 12 1866/the axe at the roota.htm

Impiety of Attributing a visible Form to God. --The Setting up of ...
... As many stars as the foolish nations saw in the ... religion, said, that they neither
worshipped the image ... All idolaters whether Jewish or Gentile, were actuated in ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 11 impiety of attributing.htm

The Second Commandment
... They worshipped an invisible God by such visible things ... heaven, earth, water,' sun,
moon, stars, male, female ... not give their daughters in marriage to idolaters. ...
/.../watson/the ten commandments/2 2 the second commandment.htm

First Commandment
... that was inhabited by heathen, who also worshipped idols. ... not let us flatter ourselves
that all idolaters are in ... air, the water, the sun, the stars."; the liar ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/weighed and wanting/first commandment.htm

On Idolatry
... some people, and covetous men are called "idolaters." (Philippians 3 ... which is esteemed
as a god be worshipped in an ... the sun, the moon, or the stars; any thing ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 1/disputation 23 on idolatry.htm

Of the Universal Way of the Soul's Deliverance, which Porphyry did ...
... was exposed to the persecutions of idolaters and demon ... superstitions, and by his
obedience worshipped the one true ... things, the elements, the stars, obeyed their ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 32 of the universal way.htm

Whether Sufficient Reason Can be Assigned for the Ceremonies ...
... seraphim were set up, not to be worshipped, for this ... of the Lord thy God": since
idolaters were wont ... heaven, which is adorned with various stars; the curtain ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether sufficient reason can be.htm