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THE COMMAND TO DESTROY IDOLS
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 18
Deuteronomy 12:1-18

1 Kings 14:7-10

 

“Therefore, behold, I will bring evil

upon the house of Jeroboam…”

THE COMMAND TO DESTROY IDOLS
 
When idol worshippers repent and accept Christ as their Lord and Saviour, it is always the duty of a pastor and other church officers to collect and destroy all their idols. In the days of the Reformation, the Church of Rome had many idols (they still do today); and the reformers had to destroy them. “Iconoclasm” is the term used to refer to that overthrow of the images of false religions.
 
The Israelites were the pioneers of iconoclasm. They were commanded to serve the Lord their God only. This is taught in the first and the second commandment in the Law. Israel lived in the land for a long time and did as they were commanded. Though there were isolated cases of idolatry, it was not prominent until the division of the kingdom. Jeroboam who became king of the northern kingdom was the one who formally introduced idolatry to Israel. He set up golden calves in Bethel and Dan and urged Israel to offer sacrifices to them. He ignored the words of Moses and their implications. The language which the Lord used through Moses to command the destruction of idols was the same language that He used in commanding the punishment of those who transgressed His Law. The consequence of Israel’s idolatry after many generations was exile to Assyria and they never returned to their land again. Idolatry is the rejection of God.
 
Only the God of Israel is to be worshipped. Israel was to go and seek God in the place that He appointed. The Lord then did not identify the place, but when Joshua had divided the land, it was at Shechem that they pitched the tabernacle. It was moved from place to place, but eventually David made Jerusalem the capital city. Solomon built the temple and made a great feast at the dedication. Jerusalem to this day is the centre of worship and all Israel gather in this place for their appointed annual feasts. When Jesus was born, it was in this city that He fulfilled much of His ministry.
 
THOUGHT: God’s punishment follows the sin of idolatry.
PRAYER: Father, may I put away any appearance of idolatry.

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