Revelation of the Word:
Revelation of the Word 23/09/2022 Admin
THEME: IDOL WORSHIP
Daniel 3:1-5 NIV
“King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, sixty cubits high and six cubits wide, and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. He then summoned the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials to come to the dedication of the image he had set up. So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials assembled for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they stood before it. Then the herald loudly proclaimed, “Nations and peoples of every language, this is what you are commanded to do: As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.”
INSIGHT
–King Nebuchadnezzar created a statue of gold for himself and ordered all the inhabitants of Babylon to worship him. Shadrack, Meshack and Abed-Nego could not worship the statue and believed that their God should save them, and still if He would not save them due to His Sovereignty, they would still defile the kings orders. Some leaders who hold seats in government, have such tendencies of seeking praise from their citizens. Other individual who are famous also act in such a manner and require the followers to worship them. In other instances, some participants of programs like “American idol”, idolize their talent and famous people can be viewed as gods. Like Daniel’s friends who were charged for not worshiping idols responded and said, “our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up” (Daniel 3:17-18). Let us be awake in the spirit to realize the schemes of the enemy to lure us into worshipping idols and making others worship our images out of pride, in one way or another.
SUMMARY
By definition, an idol is an image, form or representation, usually of a man or other animal, consecrated as an object of worship or a pagan deity. Idols are usually statues or images, carved out of wood or stone, or formed of metals, particularly silver or gold. The gods of the nations are idols (Psalms 96:5). Also an idol can be defined as a person loved and honored to adoration. The prince was the idol of the people. It is also anything on which we set our affections; that to which we indulge an excessive and sinful attachment. An idol can be anything which usurps the place of God in the hearts of his rational creatures. Worship can be defined as to adore; pay divine honors to; reverence with supreme respect and veneration. Idolatry can be first viewed as the act of creating and forming images in the human beings, animals and other designed structures that are purposed for worship as a god(s). The Lord cautioned the Israelites against the worship of images first in Exodus 20:3-4, and later Leviticus 26:1 saying, “Do not make idols or set up an image or a sacred stone for yourselves, and do not place a carved stone in your land to bow down before it. I am the Lord your God.” Secondly, we have seen idol worship through the eyes of sexual immorality. The pagans used to eat, drink and perform sexual immorality like fornication, orgies, masturbation, incest, lesbianism, homosexuality etc. These forms of idolatry consumes one’s soul, time and resources, and often times they replace the position of God in our lives. Thirdly, idolatry can be inform of the love of money which is the root of all evil. God says that we can serve both God and money, we have to either hate one and love the other. Fourthly, power and fame when misused can be viewed as objects and subjects of idolatry. Like King Nebuchadnezzar who sculptured a golden image of himself and ordered the inhabitants of Babylon to worship him, individuals in positions of power or fame may feel more important that others and sort to be worshipped due to pride. We note that behind every idol there is a demon who is worshipped from an altar which serves it, and we should be careful to worship God alone.
PRAYER
Dear God, we thank You for Your amazing grace that works indiscriminately in our lives. Your grace is sufficient for us and Your power is made perfect in weakness. We thank You for Your goodness and blessings over us. Thank You for Your great love and care. Thank You for Your sacrifice so that we might have freedom and life in You. May You forgive us for every sin of idolatry committed by us, our forefathers, families, societies, leaders and nation, and cleanse us with Your precious blood. May You break every chain and altar in our bloodlines that causes us infirmity, diseases, pain, delay, poverty, lack, anxiety and other undesirable situations. May You deliver us from all evil and renew our hearts. May You help us to set our eyes and hearts on You afresh. May You renew our spirits, fill us with Your peace and joy. We love You and need You dear Jesus today and every day. We give You praise and thanks, for You alone are worthy. May You bless and keep us. May You make Your face to shine upon us and be gracious to us. May You lift up Your countenance upon us and give us peace. We pray this believing and trusting in Jesus mighty name. Amen.
Further reading: Revelation 13:12-18, Colossians 3:5
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