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Of what value is an idol? An idol is nothing.
…We know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. (1 Corinthians 8:4)
An idol is lifeless and has no physical senses.
Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.
They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not:
They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not:
They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat. (Ps 115:4-7)
An idol is made out of raw materials and of itself can offer no interaction with men.
Who hath formed a god, or molten a graven image that is profitable for nothing?
Behold, all his fellows shall be ashamed: and the workmen, they are of men: let them all be gathered together, let them stand up; yet they shall fear, and they shall be ashamed together.
The smith with the tongs both worketh in the coals, and fashioneth it with hammers, and worketh it with the strength of his arms: yea, he is hungry, and his strength faileth: he drinketh no water, and is faint.
The carpenter stretcheth out his rule; he marketh it out with a line; he fitteth it with planes, and he marketh it out with the compass, and maketh it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man; that it may remain in the house.
He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the cypress and the oak, which he strengtheneth for himself among the trees of the forest: he planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish it.
Then shall it be for a man to burn: for he will take thereof, and warm himself; yea, he kindleth it, and baketh bread; yea, he maketh a god, and worshippeth it; he maketh it a graven image, and falleth down thereto.
He burneth part thereof in the fire; with part thereof he eateth flesh; he roasteth roast, and is satisfied: yea, he warmeth himself, and saith, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire:
And the residue thereof he maketh a god, even his graven image: he falleth down unto it, and worshippeth it, and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver me; for thou art my god. (Isaiah 44:10-17)
If idols are “lifeless,” “nothing” and “valueless” why does the world flock after them?
Seducing devils cause idols to appear good in order to turn men from the worship of God and enslave them to their own worship.
And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them.
Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils (Psalm 106:36,37)
Though money, a bag of drugs, a bottle of alcohol, a pack of cigarettes or a pornographic image cannot speak, seducing spirits behind each one make their voice heard in the spirit of men.
Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. (1 Corinthians 12:2)
How Do “DUMB” Idols Speak?
1.
Idols CALL to FELLOWSHIP
Idols capture the heart and carry it away.
Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart. (Hosea 4:11)
take away > Hebrew – laqach > seize, lay hold of, carry away, capture
It is the spirit (i.e., wind) behind an idol that carries one away to sacrifice.
The wind hath bound her up in her wings, and they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices. (Hosea 4:19)
The ultimate purpose of idolatry is spiritual fornication with demons.
Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone. (Hosea 4:17)
It is impossible to fellowship with God, while one is sacrificing to an idol and fellowshipping with a devil.
But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.
Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils. (1 Corinthians 10:20,21)
2.
Idols REQUIRE OBEDIENCE
One cannot heed the voice of an idol and heed the voice of God.
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. (Matthew 6:24)
3.
Idols GIVE COUNSEL
The idolatrous get their counsel and direction from their idols.
My people ask counsel at their stocks, and their staff declareth unto them: for the spirit of whoredoms hath caused them to err, and they have gone a whoring from under their God. (Hosea 4:12)
stock > Hebrew – ets > tree, wood, timber
staff > Hebrew – maqqel > stick, rod
In a time of fear and chaos, men cling to their idols and are brought into deeper enslavement.
The burden of Egypt. Behold, the LORD rideth upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it.
And I will set the Egyptians against the Egyptians: and they shall fight every one against his brother, and every one against his neighbour; city against city, and kingdom against kingdom.
And the spirit of Egypt shall fail in the midst thereof; and I will destroy the counsel thereof: and they shall seek to the idols, and to the charmers, and to them that have familiar spirits, and to the wizards.
And the Egyptians will I give over into the hand of a cruel lord; and a fierce king shall rule over them, saith the Lord, the LORD of hosts. (Isaiah 19:1-4)