April 19th 2009
The sorrows of those will increase who run after other gods. I will not pour out their libations of blood or take up their names on my lips. (Psalm 16:4)
The psalmist takes 2 very important decisions here in this verse. He affirms his faithfulness to God by not doing what he saw others doing. He would not be sacrificing to other gods nor would he be taking their names on his lips.
The facts were there for everyone to see. The Israelites, whom God had redeemed out of Egyptian bondage involved themselves in idol worship and offered sacrifices to other gods who were not gods at all. They rejected the fountain of life and ran after broken cisterns and cisterns without water.
Bel bows down, Nebo stoops low; their idols are borne by beasts of burden. The images that are carried about are burdensome, a burden for the weary. They stoop and bow down together; unable to rescue the burden, they themselves go off into captivity. "Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all you who remain of the house of Israel, you whom I have upheld since you were conceived, and have carried since your birth.
Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. (Isaiah 46:1-4)
The differences between the living God and idols are very distinct in the verses above. The God of the Universe had carried Israel from the time the nation was born while the idols of false gods had to be carried. The idols never could sustain the Israelites whereas God Almighty affirms that he would sustain them till their old age. He affirmed that he had made them and he would carry, sustain and rescue them.
Some pour out gold from their bags and weigh out silver on the scales; they hire a goldsmith to make it into a god, and they bow down and worship it. They lift it to their shoulders and carry it; they set it up in its place, and there it stands. From that spot it cannot move. Though one cries out to it, it does not answer; it cannot save him from his troubles.
"Remember this, fix it in mind, take it to heart, you rebels.
Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. (Isaiah 46:6-9)
The truth regarding idols, their creation and their state of helplessness is clearly depicted here. They cannot answer or save. God again reminds the Israelites that there is no God besides him.
In the title verse, the psalmist points out that "The sorrows of those will increase who run after other gods." This is true because many believers also fall into satan's traps by still worshipping idols. The suffer in body and mind because of rebelling against the word of God by following traditions and unbiblical practices.
There are more than 100 verses that speak of how God detests idols and idolatry.
Other useful verses
"Do not make cast idols. (Exodus 34:17)
They must no longer offer any of their sacrifices to the goat idols to whom they prostitute themselves. This is to be a lasting ordinance for them and for the generations to come.' (Leviticus 17:7)
"'Do not turn to idols or make gods of cast metal for yourselves. I am the LORD your God. (Leviticus 19:4)
"'Do not make idols or set up an image or a sacred stone for yourselves, and do not place a carved stone in your land to bow down before it. I am the LORD your God. (Leviticus 26:1)
I will destroy your high places, cut down your incense altars and pile your dead bodies on the lifeless forms of your idols, and I will abhor you. (Leviticus 26:30)
They made him jealous with their foreign gods and angered him with their detestable idols. (Deuteronomy 32:16)
They made me jealous by what is no god and angered me with their worthless idols. I will make them envious by those who are not a people; I will make them angry by a nation that has no understanding. (Deuteronomy 32:21)
Do not turn away after useless idols. They can do you no good, nor can they rescue you, because they are useless. (1 Samuel 12:21)
The sorrows of those will increase who run after other gods. I will not pour out their libations of blood or take up their names on my lips. (Psalm 16:4)
The psalmist takes 2 very important decisions here in this verse. He affirms his faithfulness to God by not doing what he saw others doing. He would not be sacrificing to other gods nor would he be taking their names on his lips.
The facts were there for everyone to see. The Israelites, whom God had redeemed out of Egyptian bondage involved themselves in idol worship and offered sacrifices to other gods who were not gods at all. They rejected the fountain of life and ran after broken cisterns and cisterns without water.
Bel bows down, Nebo stoops low; their idols are borne by beasts of burden. The images that are carried about are burdensome, a burden for the weary. They stoop and bow down together; unable to rescue the burden, they themselves go off into captivity. "Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all you who remain of the house of Israel, you whom I have upheld since you were conceived, and have carried since your birth.
Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. (Isaiah 46:1-4)
The differences between the living God and idols are very distinct in the verses above. The God of the Universe had carried Israel from the time the nation was born while the idols of false gods had to be carried. The idols never could sustain the Israelites whereas God Almighty affirms that he would sustain them till their old age. He affirmed that he had made them and he would carry, sustain and rescue them.
Some pour out gold from their bags and weigh out silver on the scales; they hire a goldsmith to make it into a god, and they bow down and worship it. They lift it to their shoulders and carry it; they set it up in its place, and there it stands. From that spot it cannot move. Though one cries out to it, it does not answer; it cannot save him from his troubles.
"Remember this, fix it in mind, take it to heart, you rebels.
Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. (Isaiah 46:6-9)
The truth regarding idols, their creation and their state of helplessness is clearly depicted here. They cannot answer or save. God again reminds the Israelites that there is no God besides him.
In the title verse, the psalmist points out that "The sorrows of those will increase who run after other gods." This is true because many believers also fall into satan's traps by still worshipping idols. The suffer in body and mind because of rebelling against the word of God by following traditions and unbiblical practices.
There are more than 100 verses that speak of how God detests idols and idolatry.
Other useful verses
"Do not make cast idols. (Exodus 34:17)
They must no longer offer any of their sacrifices to the goat idols to whom they prostitute themselves. This is to be a lasting ordinance for them and for the generations to come.' (Leviticus 17:7)
"'Do not turn to idols or make gods of cast metal for yourselves. I am the LORD your God. (Leviticus 19:4)
"'Do not make idols or set up an image or a sacred stone for yourselves, and do not place a carved stone in your land to bow down before it. I am the LORD your God. (Leviticus 26:1)
I will destroy your high places, cut down your incense altars and pile your dead bodies on the lifeless forms of your idols, and I will abhor you. (Leviticus 26:30)
They made him jealous with their foreign gods and angered him with their detestable idols. (Deuteronomy 32:16)
They made me jealous by what is no god and angered me with their worthless idols. I will make them envious by those who are not a people; I will make them angry by a nation that has no understanding. (Deuteronomy 32:21)
Do not turn away after useless idols. They can do you no good, nor can they rescue you, because they are useless. (1 Samuel 12:21)
