Understanding Idolatry: Recognizing and Rooting Out False Worship

Summary

### Summary

Today, we delved into the topic of idolatry, building on our previous discussion about the Trinity and the importance of understanding who God is to avoid idolatry. We explored how idolatry often goes unnoticed in our lives because it disguises itself in various forms. A. W. Tozer's quote from "The Knowledge of the Holy" reminds us that idolatry begins with entertaining unworthy thoughts about God. We examined several aspects of idolatry, starting with its definition as sin. God’s zero tolerance for idolatry is evident in the Old Testament, where more than 50 laws address it, and it was one of the few sins punishable by death.

We discussed God's jealousy, which is just and fitting because no created thing can take His place. God’s jealousy stems from His holiness and sovereignty, and He demands to be the entirety of our lives, not just a part of a hierarchy. Idolatry is inferior because it involves choosing lesser things over God, who is the fountain of living water. Jeremiah 2:11-13 illustrates this by comparing God to a fountain of living water and idols to cracked cisterns that cannot hold water.

Idolatry is also akin to adultery, as it represents unfaithfulness to God. Just as a spouse would be rightfully jealous and hurt by infidelity, God is deeply connected to us and feels sorrow and anguish when we turn to idols. Idolatry often accompanies other sins and can be generational, as seen in 2 Kings 17, where the people feared the Lord but also served their idols.

Idolatry is pervasive and can take many forms, including good things like family and work, which can become idols if they take God's place in our lives. We often worship without realizing it, sacrificing and pursuing things that cost us dearly. Finally, idolatry is a root issue that fuels other sins. Kyle Eidelman’s analogy of idolatry as the roots of a tree, with sins as the leaves, helps us understand that we must address the root to deal with the symptoms effectively.

### Key Takeaways

1. Idolatry as Sin: Idolatry is a grave sin that God takes very seriously, as evidenced by the numerous Old Testament laws against it. God’s jealousy is just and fitting because He alone deserves our worship and devotion. Understanding idolatry as sin helps us recognize the severity of allowing anything to take God's place in our lives. [05:20]

2. God’s Jealousy: God’s jealousy is rooted in His holiness and sovereignty. Unlike human jealousy, which is often sinful, God’s jealousy is just because He alone is worthy of our worship. His jealousy also stems from His love for us, as He desires what is best for us, which is Himself. [06:30]

3. Idolatry as Inferior: Choosing idols over God is choosing the inferior over the superior. Jeremiah 2:11-13 illustrates this by comparing God to a fountain of living water and idols to cracked cisterns. This choice is not only irrational but also detrimental to our spiritual well-being. [08:13]

4. Idolatry as Adultery: Idolatry is akin to spiritual adultery, representing unfaithfulness to God. Just as a spouse would be rightfully jealous and hurt by infidelity, God feels sorrow and anguish when we turn to idols. This perspective helps us understand the depth of our betrayal when we choose idols over God. [13:23]

5. Idolatry as a Root Issue: Idolatry is often the root of other sins. Kyle Eidelman’s analogy of idolatry as the roots of a tree, with sins as the leaves, helps us understand that addressing idolatry is crucial to dealing with other sin issues effectively. Recognizing and uprooting idolatry in our lives is essential for spiritual growth. [25:49]

### YouTube Chapters

[0:00] - Welcome
[02:09] - Introduction to Idolatry
[03:09] - Biblical Perspective on Idolatry
[04:08] - Exodus 20: Understanding Idolatry
[05:20] - Idolatry as Sin
[05:56] - God’s Jealousy Explained
[06:30] - God as the Entirety of Our Lives
[08:13] - Idolatry as Inferior
[09:23] - Jeremiah’s Illustration of Idolatry
[11:07] - Choosing Inferior Over Superior
[13:23] - Idolatry as Adultery
[17:10] - Idolatry as a Companion
[20:14] - Generational Idolatry
[21:49] - Idolatry in Modern Times
[25:49] - Idolatry as a Root Issue
[29:54] - Illustration and Conclusion
[31:15] - Closing Prayer

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. Exodus 20:1-6 (ESV)
> "And God spoke all these words, saying, 'I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.'"

2. Jeremiah 2:11-13 (ESV)
> "Has a nation changed its gods, even though they are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which does not profit. Be appalled, O heavens, at this; be shocked, be utterly desolate, declares the Lord, for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water."

3. Deuteronomy 4:24 (ESV)
> "For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God."

#### Observation Questions
1. According to Exodus 20:1-6, what specific commands does God give regarding idolatry? How does He describe Himself in relation to these commands?
2. In Jeremiah 2:11-13, what metaphor does God use to describe the folly of idolatry? What are the two evils that the people have committed?
3. How does Deuteronomy 4:24 describe God's nature, and how does this relate to His stance on idolatry?
4. What does the sermon say about the seriousness of idolatry in the Old Testament, and how many laws address it? [03:09]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does God describe Himself as a "jealous God" in Exodus 20:5 and Deuteronomy 4:24? How is this different from human jealousy? [05:56]
2. How does the metaphor of "cracked cisterns" in Jeremiah 2:13 help us understand the nature of idolatry? What does this say about the value of idols compared to God? [09:23]
3. The sermon compares idolatry to adultery. How does this analogy deepen our understanding of the emotional and relational impact of idolatry on our relationship with God? [13:23]
4. How does the concept of idolatry being a "root issue" help us understand the connection between idolatry and other sins? What does this imply about the importance of addressing idolatry in our lives? [25:49]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own life: Are there any "cracked cisterns" you have been relying on instead of the "fountain of living water"? What steps can you take to shift your reliance back to God? [09:23]
2. How can you recognize and address the subtle forms of idolatry that may be present in your daily life, such as work, family, or hobbies? What practical changes can you make to ensure these do not take God's place? [21:49]
3. The sermon mentions that idolatry can be generational. Are there any patterns of idolatry you recognize in your family history? How can you break these patterns and set a new example for future generations? [20:14]
4. Consider the analogy of idolatry as spiritual adultery. How does this perspective change the way you view your relationship with God? What actions can you take to remain faithful to Him? [13:23]
5. The sermon emphasizes that idolatry is a root issue that fuels other sins. Identify one sin in your life and explore its potential roots in idolatry. How can you address the root cause rather than just the symptoms? [25:49]
6. Reflect on the idea that God wants to be the entirety of your life, not just part of a hierarchy. What areas of your life have you not fully surrendered to God? How can you begin to make God the center of these areas? [06:30]
7. The sermon concludes with a call to take idolatry seriously and to cut it out of our lives. What specific idols do you need to "shred" from your life, and what steps will you take this week to do so? [30:39]

Devotional

Day 1: The Gravity of Idolatry

Idolatry is a grave sin that God takes very seriously, as evidenced by the numerous Old Testament laws against it. God’s jealousy is just and fitting because He alone deserves our worship and devotion. Understanding idolatry as sin helps us recognize the severity of allowing anything to take God's place in our lives. God’s zero tolerance for idolatry is evident in the Old Testament, where more than 50 laws address it, and it was one of the few sins punishable by death. This underscores the importance of recognizing and avoiding idolatry in our lives.

Idolatry often goes unnoticed because it disguises itself in various forms, making it crucial for us to be vigilant. A. W. Tozer's quote from "The Knowledge of the Holy" reminds us that idolatry begins with entertaining unworthy thoughts about God. By understanding the gravity of idolatry, we can better guard our hearts and minds against it. [05:20]

Deuteronomy 4:23-24 (ESV): "Take care, lest you forget the covenant of the Lord your God, which he made with you, and make a carved image, the form of anything that the Lord your God has forbidden you. For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God."

Reflection: What are some things in your life that might be taking the place of God? How can you actively work to remove these idols and refocus your worship on Him alone?

Day 2: The Just Jealousy of God

God’s jealousy is rooted in His holiness and sovereignty. Unlike human jealousy, which is often sinful, God’s jealousy is just because He alone is worthy of our worship. His jealousy also stems from His love for us, as He desires what is best for us, which is Himself. God’s jealousy is not a petty emotion but a righteous demand for our exclusive devotion.

This divine jealousy is a reflection of God’s deep love and commitment to us. He knows that nothing else can satisfy our souls like He can, and He desires to protect us from the harm that comes from idolatry. Understanding God’s jealousy helps us appreciate His holiness and the depth of His love for us. [06:30]

Exodus 34:14 (ESV): "For you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God."

Reflection: In what ways have you experienced God’s jealousy in your life? How does understanding His jealousy change your perspective on your relationship with Him?

Day 3: The Inferiority of Idolatry

Choosing idols over God is choosing the inferior over the superior. Jeremiah 2:11-13 illustrates this by comparing God to a fountain of living water and idols to cracked cisterns. This choice is not only irrational but also detrimental to our spiritual well-being. Idolatry involves settling for less when we have access to the fullness of life in God.

Idols, no matter how appealing they may seem, can never satisfy our deepest longings. They are like broken cisterns that cannot hold water, leaving us empty and unfulfilled. Recognizing the inferiority of idolatry helps us to seek the superior, which is a relationship with the living God. [08:13]

Jeremiah 2:13 (ESV): "For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water."

Reflection: What are some "cracked cisterns" in your life that you have been relying on? How can you turn back to the "fountain of living waters" and find true satisfaction in God?

Day 4: Idolatry as Spiritual Adultery

Idolatry is akin to spiritual adultery, representing unfaithfulness to God. Just as a spouse would be rightfully jealous and hurt by infidelity, God feels sorrow and anguish when we turn to idols. This perspective helps us understand the depth of our betrayal when we choose idols over God.

God’s relationship with us is deeply personal and intimate. When we turn to idols, we are essentially breaking our covenant with Him, causing Him great sorrow. Understanding idolatry as spiritual adultery helps us to see the seriousness of our actions and the impact they have on our relationship with God. [13:23]

Hosea 2:13 (ESV): "And I will punish her for the feast days of the Baals when she burned offerings to them and adorned herself with her ring and jewelry, and went after her lovers and forgot me, declares the Lord."

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt distant from God. What idols were you pursuing during that time, and how can you renew your commitment to faithfulness in your relationship with Him?

Day 5: Idolatry as a Root Issue

Idolatry is often the root of other sins. Kyle Eidelman’s analogy of idolatry as the roots of a tree, with sins as the leaves, helps us understand that addressing idolatry is crucial to dealing with other sin issues effectively. Recognizing and uprooting idolatry in our lives is essential for spiritual growth.

When we focus on the symptoms of sin without addressing the root cause, we fail to experience true transformation. By identifying and removing the idols in our lives, we can address the underlying issues that lead to other sins. This process requires self-examination and a willingness to surrender our idols to God. [25:49]

Ezekiel 14:3 (ESV): "Son of man, these men have taken their idols into their hearts, and set the stumbling block of their iniquity before their faces. Should I indeed let myself be consulted by them?"

Reflection: What are some recurring sins in your life that might be rooted in idolatry? How can you begin to address these root issues and seek true transformation in Christ?

Quotes

1. "So, if we know that it is an important subject that matters greatly to him, what exactly does he have to say on idolatry? And that is where we turn to our first passage this morning. Exodus chapter 20. A familiar passage. The Old Testament, starting in verse 1. Then God spoke all these words, I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the dead, out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery. Do not have other gods besides me. Do not make an idol for yourself, whether in the shape of anything in the heavens above, or on the earth below, or in the waters under the earth. Do not bow and worship to them, and do not serve them. For I the Lord, or I the Lord your God, am a jealous God, bringing the consequences of the father's iniquity on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me. But showing faithful love to a thousand generations of those who love me, and keep my commands." [04:08] (62 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "God isn't interested, in being part of a hierarchy, in our lives. You know, whenever we read there in Exodus 20, it says, have no other gods before me. God isn't simply saying, that I have to be number one, in your life. To give you two illustrations, we'll use the Olympics as one, right? We just got through with the Olympics, within the last month. And in the Olympics, you got the podium, right? First place, second place, third place. God isn't just simply saying, well, I have to be in the number one spot, on the podium of your life. No, God's saying that I'm the podium. Period. There is no other spots. It's just me." [06:30] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "So not only is God jealous, because he is God, and alone deserves our devotion and love, but he is also jealous, because he loves us too much to share us. God wants what's best for us, and what's best for us is him. So he's jealous, because he sees us choose the lesser, when we decide to choose, anything and everything, other than him. And that's a choice, that we make a lot more times, than we realize." [08:13] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "So God is saying, that Israel would rather have cistern water, or rely on these cisterns, instead of relying and looking to Him, who is the fount of living water. Now it's a ridiculous concept, right? To choose a tepid source of water, compared to a flowing fountain of, and specifically referring to God, living water. It's really no choice, right? It's a ridiculous concept, to choose one over the other. I completely agree. And so would Jeremiah. Yet that's in fact what Israel did. Time and time again, they would choose the nasty water, over living water." [11:07] (51 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Jealousy in the context of a marriage with such infidelity, a righteous and just thing. That is the jealousy. Jealousy that God has for us. And again, let's be thankful for that jealousy. And let's remember what it is that we are doing every time that we choose someone or something over God. When we, the church, the bride of Christ, choose someone else." [16:28] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "They feared the Lord, but they also made for their ranks priests for the high places. And the high places are not good things. Verse 33. They feared the Lord, but they also worshipped their own gods. Verse 41. They feared the Lord, but also served their idols. They feared the Lord, but. They feared the Lord, but. If we're being honest with ourselves, how many of us fear the Lord, but? Again, I fear the Lord and that I'm here on Sunday. I'm a close companion with him on Sunday. But then the rest of us, after the week, it's somebody or something else." [18:14] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "Idolatry is everywhere. See, even though we don't see idols in the way that we think about idolatry in terms of the Bible, right? Because when we think about idolatry and we're reading scripture, it's what? It's this worship place. It's this temple. It's this altar. It's this idol. It's this, you know, some physical representation to which people are literally genuflecting, bowing, doing at times despicable acts in front of. That's what we think about when we think about idolatry, or at least what comes to mind when we think about idolatry a lot, right? So even though we don't see so much of that today, and again, I say so much because any of that stuff you can't rule out. But even though for the most part we don't see that type of things, there is still as much idolatry today, if not even more." [21:49] (52 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "A God is something that we sacrifice for and pursue. And when we look at our lives and we see, okay, what is it that we sacrifice? What is the extent that we are sacrificing? And what are we pursuing? How are we pursuing it? That can be an indicator that we might have an idol in our lives. See, because here's the thing, I use the word sacrifice, another word you can use is cost. What does something cost you to pursue it? What does something cost you to be involved in it?" [24:27] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "We can think of idolatry as the base and roots of a great tree. And the leaves that are on that tree are our sin issues. What do you see when you look at a tree? You see the leaves. You see the branches. But you don't see the roots. You don't see what is fueling those leaves. It is amazing how idolatry can disguise itself so well behind other issues. See, many times we see the symptoms of idolatry and think they are the source of our sin or our idolatry. But they are not." [25:49] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "When you eat it, your eyes will be opened and you will be like God. That's what we do. We try to play God when we most definitely are not. To quote Kyle, he has a one, God's at war. It's really me versus God. It's the flesh versus the spirit. All other gods in one way or another, take God off the throne and put me in his place. And that is the essence of idolatry. The throne of our hearts, the throne of our lives, which is suited for one to sit and one only, time and time gets replaced with something or someone else." [28:38] (51 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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Transcript

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