GOD WORSHIP IS EVIL AND SINFUL.
GOD WORSHIP LEADS TO NUMEROUS SINS.
GOD WORSHIP IS ABOMINATION PUNISHABLE BY DEATH.
FOREWARNING
Yahweh continues the description of the punishment Yisrayah fathers of old suffered, and upcoming troubles the children would receive in these last days because of unrepentant heart. Here we learn that the sin of worshipping God called idolatry blindfolds the eyes and minds of those who are into it and make them foolish and stupid to the point they would not recognise to DO GOOD OR RIGHTEOUSNESS any longer. God worship which is the centrality of committing idolatry ropes one into CAPTIVITY. Those who serve the idol called ‘God’ plunge themselves into the spirit of SELFISHNESS, self-centredness, greediness, covetousness, acquisitiveness, and avariciousness. Sooner or later, this spirit leads the victim to think about ‘self’ always, and ‘no other’. As a result, the worshipper’s heart is ensnared, turned into sacred stones that harden the mind to believe that he has arrived and that he is the most righteous, doing better in the sphere of life than others. As idol worship depreciates knowledge of truth, in time, arrogance, pride, and haughtiness set in and ensnare the fellow. The blindness to the worship of idols results in turning hearts away from the Creator – YHWH.
Yisrayah was ensnared by monstrous God worship of nations around them, which YHWH warned that they must never learn to follow their abominable ways or ask them how they practice their religion when they enter the Land. He said to them:
Deuteronomy 7:1-4 “When YHWH your FATHER brings you into the land which you go to possess and has cast out many nations before you… You shall make no covenant with them… nor shall you make marriages with them. You shall not give your daughter to their son, nor take their daughter for your son. For they will turn your sons away from following Me, to serve other gods; so the anger of YHWH will be aroused against you and destroy you suddenly.”
Deuteronomy18:9-14 “For you are a holy people to YHWH your FATHER; YHWH your FATHER has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth… “When you come into the land which YHWH your FATHER is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For all who do these things are an abomination to YHWH, and because of these abominations YHWH your FATHER drives them out from before you. You shall be blameless before YHWH your FATHER. For these nations which you will dispossess listened to soothsayers and diviners; but as for you, YHWH your FATHER has not appointed such for you.”
Why did Yisrayah not listen to the instruction of YHWH as specified above? It’s because they were ensnared all the way from Egypt where they worshipped the IDOLS – GODS – of Egypt. It’s because most of them had earlier been corrupted by those who practice spells, medium, spiritism, witchcraft, soothsayers etc. YHWH foresaw they would practice them when they got into their Land. They did not heed His commands and the punishment of their disobedience is what we read in the Torah and the Prophets today. These practices are abominations YHWH hate. Today, has Yisrayah scattered all over the world learned any lesson that worship of God attracts wrath and anger of YHWH? No! Let’s examine Hosea Chapter 10.
DO YOU STILL WORSHIP IDOL-GODS
Hosea 10:1-15
In Hosea 10, we read the description of the punishment the fathers suffered, captivity in foreign lands. They even thought of how YHWH would demolish pagan altars and sacred stones they set up to ensure their prosperity (verses 1-2). In the foreign lands, they would not have kings – although, their kings hadn’t helped them anyway (verse 3). Indeed, the kings of Yisrayah had been deceitful and corrupt and had not kept their many promises (verse 4). Unfaithfulness and corruption of leaders are what the scattered Yisrayah are reaping in the diaspora. No matter what you preach to an idol worshipper, he will always think of his idol. The people living in Samaria were hoping to carry their calf-idol of Beth Aven (Bethel) into exile – this idol was meant to save them from captivity. Because their hearts and minds have been blinded, they forgot that their IDOL-GOD cannot save itself, let alone save them when the ALMIGHTY Hands of YHWH descends on them (verse 5-6, see Hos. 4:15; 8:5-6). YHWH was determined that Samaria and its king would float away to Assyria, helpless as a twig on water (v. 7). The high places of wickedness – the pagan hilltop shrines (the equivalent of today’s Churches, Mosques, and Synagogues) where Yisrayah committed its main SIN, IDOLATRY – will be destroyed (verse 8). As Yisrayah sees one dictator after another coming upon them, they will say to the hills and mountains: “Fall on us! End our shame and misery!” (Cook 2007).
YHWH hates disobedience! In this Chapter, YHWH’s judgment was about to fall on the Yisrayah, and the instrument of His judgment would be the foreign nations that would gather against them – namely, Assyria and its allies [equivalent of today’s nations that will destroy the disobedient that refuse to heed the watchmen’s warnings]. Then Yisrayah would be punished for their double sin (verse 10):
(1) sins of rebelling against YAH and rebelling against the house of David (1 Kings 12:1-24). (This is ongoing across the Gentile nations).
(2) A yoke would be put on Ephraim’s neck, and Ephraim (Yisrayah) would be forced into captivity in Assyria (this is ongoing in Gentile nations).
The same punishment was meted to Judah who later rebelled against YHWH. They were thrown into captivity (Babylon, and later to nations). Indeed, the whole house of JACOB (Yisrayah and Judah) are scattered abroad, and would soon fall under the yoke of foreign masters again – this is typological – except they repent (verse 11; see Lev. 26:40-41; Deut. 4:29-30; Deut. 30:1-10; Matt. 23:37-39, etc).
TURN TO RIGHTEOUSNESS & AVOID JUDGEMENT
In the midst of all these predictions of PUNISHMENT, YHWH gives a word of advice and hope:
“Sow for yourselves RIGHTEOUSNESS, reap the fruit of unfailing love” (verse 12): “…break up your unplowed ground: break up the hardness of your hearts, and sow the seeds of RIGHTEOUNSESS.”
Today, YHWH is asking Yisrayah one final time to REPENT and to seek HIM, so that He may once again shower RIGHTEOUSNESS on His people – the very thing they need most if they are to “sow” righteousness (verse 12). If we are willing to sow what YHWH asks – righteousness – He Himself will provide the seed. Remember the core values we need to serve YHWH: listen to His voice; hear Him; obey Him; love Him; have faith in Him; walk in all His ways; and fear Him, these are Covenant demands that guarantee our righteousness from the FATHER. They are the whole duty of his people (Eccl. 12:13; Deut. 6:25; Rev. 14:12). YHWH further reiterated our duties:
Deuteronomy 10:12-18 “And now, Yisrayah, what does YHWH your FATHER require of you, but to fear YHWH your FATHER, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve YHWH your FATHER with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of YHWH and His statutes which I command you today for your good? Indeed, heaven and the highest heavens belong to YHWH your FATHER, and also the earth with all that is in it. YHWH delighted only in your fathers, to love them; and He chose their descendants after them, you above all peoples, as it is this day. Therefore, circumcise the foreskin of your heart, and be stiff-necked no longer. For YHWH your FATHER is YHWH of gods and KING of kings, the Great YHWH, Mighty and Awesome, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe. He administers justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the stranger, giving him food and clothing.”
YHWH is His Name Forever
Sadly, the Yisrayah kept on sowing WICKEDNESS [act of breaking YHWH’s Laws] instead of RIGHTEOUSNESS [act of obedience to YHWH’s Word]: they kept depending on their own strengths instead of depending on YHWH (verse 13). Therefore, YHWH’s judgment would fall, and all their fortress – together with their king – would be completely destroyed (verses 14-15).
Notice that YHWH has sworn that what happened to the fathers will happen to their children in these latter days unless they repent. As you read this piece, ask yourself a serious question. Do I worship IDOL-GOD? Do I teach men to do so? If yes is your answer, please repent and forsake idol-God worship and submit to your Creator – YHWH ALMIGHTY of Yisrayah – and baptise into the Name of YAHSHUA so that you can receive His grace to empower you to live obedient life and obtain the righteousness of the FATHER meant for those who will inherit the eternal kingdom.
Shalom
REFERENCE
David C. Cook, 2007. The Applied Old Testament Commentary: Thomas Hale with General Articles Contributed by Stephen Thorson.
Goodwins C. Arikibe, 2024. In the Book of Covenant Yahweh Is Not God. Publication of Assembly Of The Living Yahweh. Published by Author House, U.K.
____________________________
Dr. Goodwins Arikibe
Assembly Of The Living Yahweh
Reader will benefit from:
In the Book of Covenant YAHWEH IS NOT GOD
Dated: Wednesday 27th November 2024
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