Little Children Guard Yourselves from Idols
Before we look at the verses for this morning, let's consider what the dictionary defines as an idol: (1) an image used an object of worship, a false god; (2) one that is adored, often blindly or excessively; and (3) something visible but without substance.
Let's take a moment to reflect on what the scripture has to say about idolatry. Exodus 20:3, 4: "You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below" (NIV).
Judges 17:5, 6: "Now this man Micah had a shrine, and he made an ephod and some idols and installed one of his sons as his priest. In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit" (NIV).
Verse 5: They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but they cannot see;
The Psalmist in the verses we are considering this morning is going to outline for us 4 things which the idols cannot do.
1. "They have mouths, but cannot speak,
2. "Eyes but they cannot see."
Verse 6:
"they have ears, but cannot hear, noses, but they cannot smell;"
So we continue on our outline to 3 and 4.
3. "they have ears, but cannot hear."
4. "noses, but they cannot smell."
Warren Wiersbe says: "The Psalmist describes the idols and the pointlessness of worshiping them. 'They have mouths, but they do not speak [no promises]; eyes they have but do not see [no protection]; they have ears but they do not hear [no prayer]; noses they have, but they do not smell [no praise]..."
1 Peter 4:3: "For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, arousals, drinking parties and abominable idolatries" (NASB).
1 Corinthians 10:14: "Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry" (NASB).
Lord, since my heart is where my treasure is, I'm setting my heart on things above, not on things on the earth.
|