1. Read Isa. 44:9, 19-20. What do these verses say about idols and those who trust in them.
2. I said idolatry is self-worship; (self-worship – placing ourselves at the center of our lives and working and serving our own interests at the expense of all others.) Do you agree with this? why or why not?
3.
4. Read Ps. 25:1-3. What do these verses say is our freedom from shame?
2 comments:
Your statement that false idol worship will lead to shame when they eventually fail us and the various examples given for idol worship, made me think about the definition of worship.
According to several worldly dictionaries worship is is defined as the reverent love and devotion accorded a deity, an idol, or a sacred object and ardent devotion; adoration. I am not convinced that that this describes true worship as it means there may be many targets for worship. I might argue that true worship can only directed at and engaged with the true God of the bible, the only true God and therefore the only one worthy of worship. With that in mind, is it not ironic that with all of Satan’s plans for people to worship him he still falls short, for even the false idols we worship we do it in a false and incomplete manner.
While researching the definition of worship I came across these two that together I think really starts to frame up what true worship is. I have not found a definition I am comfortable saying is complete.1) Worship of the living and true God is essentially an engagement with him on the terms that he proposes and in the way that he alone makes possible. and 2) Worship is the submission of all our nature to God. It is the quickening of conscience by His holiness; the nourishment of mind with His truth; the purifying of imagination by His Beauty; the opening of the heart to His love; the surrender of will to His purpose - and all of this gathered up in adoration, the most selfless emotion of which our nature is capable and therefore the chief remedy for that self-centeredness which is our original sin and the source of all actual sin
On another thought you presented today, I really appreciated the comparison of false worship as a stench to God yet the understanding that true worship is a pleasing aroma to God. This reminds me of Saul when he brought home blunder for a “sacrifice” after being told not to. So his “worship” was not pleasing to God. Saul’s obedience would have been the pleasing aroma.
Great feedback.
Yeah, worship is a hard word to define; it involves so much. Devotion, commitment, sacrifice, humility, joy (how can you worship something/someone with no joy?), love... you could almost go on and on.
Keep wrestling. Love it.
Pastor Brian
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