idol worship – Be Still…

Ezekiel 44:1-31 – Prince and Priests

Read Ezekiel 44:1-31

This was an interesting part of the vision because it we see how God’s holy presence is set apart in the temple as well as who can approach him there. While some might see this distinction as limiting or menacing, it is really quite reassuring and encouraging. God wants to be with his people, and he is setting out the expectations for how it all works.

There is a bit of rebuke here against priests who fell away and reward for those from the line of Zadok who stayed faithful during those years of idol worship that led to God’s fury and discipline. These priests are in the line of Levi, not necessarily those we see in churches today. Continue reading “Ezekiel 44:1-31 – Prince and Priests”

Daniel 3:1-18 – Stand Firm

Read Daniel 3:1-18

King Nebuchadnezzar’s massive golden statue was as tall as the distance between bases on a baseball diamond and as wide as an alligator. It’s helpful to put the size into perspective, realizing what an “eyesore” this would have been. Especially for Daniel’s friends, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego!

Word of their refusal to worship the king’s golden idol reached the kings ears. Nebuchadnezzar became furious and sentenced these men to burn up in the furnace, just as he had warned would be the case for anyone who refused to worship the idol. Continue reading “Daniel 3:1-18 – Stand Firm”

2 Chronicles 27:1-9 – Stay the Course

Read 2 Chronicles 27:1-9

Congratulations to King Jotham! He remained faithful for his entire sixteen-year reign. That’s a feat his own father and several generations of kings before him could not accomplish. The Chronicler points out, “King Jotham became powerful because he was careful to live in obedience to the Lord his God.”

Despite having a faithful king, the people Jotham ruled were still disobedient to the LORD. How do you think that made Jotham feel? The Chronicler doesn’t go into any detail about what measures Jotham may have tried to bring the people around on a spiritual level. Perhaps he hoped that his own faithfulness would be a good model for his subjects to follow.

2 Chronicles 25:1-28 – Don’t Anger God

Read 2 Chronicles 25:1-28

I find myself shaking my head once again at the actions of these kings. Seriously! I have to remember that while I don’t find bowing down to a sculpture to make any sense at all, I have certainly bowed to plenty of my own idols over the years. Other people may find “my” idols laughable. Why is leaving our idols behind so difficult?

Idolatry is serious business and angers God. Nothing more needs to be said, really. If something makes God mad, and you know it because time and time again you’ve seen God’s response, why keep doing it? I’m guilty as a sinner, too, so these kinds of affirmations are always helpful for me. I want to try harder to stand firmly on the truth.

Zephaniah 1:1-6 – God’s Wrath

Read Zephaniah 1:1-6

Zephaniah was a contemporary of Jeremiah and would have spoken God’s words during the reign of King Josiah. You’ll recall when King Josiah learned of the scrolls containing God’s law, great reforms began to help the people of Judah to return to God. Zephaniah would help shake the people of Judah out of their complacency so they could understand their hope comes from God.

Zephaniah doesn’t sugar coat the radical message from God but gets right to the point. God’s wrath will sweep away everything and crush Jerusalem and Judah. Even his own creation will suffer. God’s anger has been fueled by all the idol worship that fills the land.