Gods That Fail: The Folly of Idolatry Isaiah 44:9-20

Gods That Fail:Gods That Fail:The Folly of IdolatryThe Folly of Idolatry

Isaiah 44:9-20Isaiah 44:9-20

Setting the Context:Setting the Context:Who is Isaiah?Who is Isaiah?

A Major ProphetA Major Prophet

His ministry in Israel lasted for more His ministry in Israel lasted for more than 40 years and extended through than 40 years and extended through the reign of at least four different the reign of at least four different kings!kings!

The first part of Isaiah (1-39) primarily The first part of Isaiah (1-39) primarily deals with Israel’s wickedness and the deals with Israel’s wickedness and the impending Judgment of God through impending Judgment of God through surrounding pagan nations.surrounding pagan nations.

Setting the Context:Setting the Context:Who is Isaiah?Who is Isaiah?

The second part of Isaiah (40-66) The second part of Isaiah (40-66) talks primarily about the future talks primarily about the future and how God would redeem and and how God would redeem and restore Israel through the coming restore Israel through the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ.Messiah, Jesus Christ.

His name means “Yahweh is His name means “Yahweh is salvation.”salvation.”

Setting the Context:Setting the Context:Putting Our Passage in Its Putting Our Passage in Its

PlacePlace The passage comes at the end of The passage comes at the end of

a section where God speaks to a section where God speaks to Israel about their special Israel about their special relationship to Him.relationship to Him.

He also speaks about His He also speaks about His relationship to all of creation as relationship to all of creation as its sole Creator.its sole Creator.

Setting the Context:Setting the Context:Putting Our Passage in Its Putting Our Passage in Its

PlacePlace His stated purpose is to encourage His stated purpose is to encourage

Israel not to fear, but to put their Israel not to fear, but to put their trust and hope in God’s unrivalled trust and hope in God’s unrivalled faithfulness and majesty.faithfulness and majesty.

It is at this point that the passage It is at this point that the passage turns to the Israelites’ ongoing turns to the Israelites’ ongoing struggle with the sin of idolatry.struggle with the sin of idolatry.

Ancient Idolatry:Ancient Idolatry:God’s That God’s That FailFail (9-20) (9-20)

The The FollyFolly of Idolatry of Idolatry

The The Earthly SourceEarthly Source of Idols (11-16) of Idols (11-16)

Verses 11-12: Idol makers are mere Verses 11-12: Idol makers are mere human beings.human beings.

““Craftsmen are nothing but men.”Craftsmen are nothing but men.”

““He takes a tool and works with it in the He takes a tool and works with it in the coals; he shapes an idol with hammers, coals; he shapes an idol with hammers, he forges it with the might of his arm.”he forges it with the might of his arm.”



Verse 12: Idol makers become weary Verse 12: Idol makers become weary and weak and must eat and drink in and weak and must eat and drink in order to remain strong.order to remain strong.

““The blacksmith gets hungry and The blacksmith gets hungry and loses his strength; he drinks no water loses his strength; he drinks no water and grows faint.”and grows faint.”



Verse 13: Idols are made by the power Verse 13: Idols are made by the power and in the image of mere human beings.and in the image of mere human beings.

““The carpenter measures with a line and The carpenter measures with a line and makes an outline with a marker; he makes an outline with a marker; he roughs it out with chisels and marks it roughs it out with chisels and marks it with compasses.”with compasses.”

““He shapes it in the form of a man, of He shapes it in the form of a man, of man in all his glory.”man in all his glory.”



Verse 14: Idols are made from things that Verse 14: Idols are made from things that mere humans did not and cannot create.mere humans did not and cannot create.

““He cut down cedars, or perhaps took a He cut down cedars, or perhaps took a cypress or oak. He let it grow among the cypress or oak. He let it grow among the trees of the forest, or planted a pine, and trees of the forest, or planted a pine, and the rain made it grow.”the rain made it grow.”


The The Earthly SourceEarthly Source of Idols (11- of Idols (11-16)16)

Verses 15-16: The materials used Verses 15-16: The materials used for making idols are perishable.for making idols are perishable.

““It is man’s fuel for burning. Half It is man’s fuel for burning. Half of the wood he burns in the fire.”of the wood he burns in the fire.”


The The Idle PurposeIdle Purpose of Idols (10, 17, of Idols (10, 17, 19-20)19-20)

Verse 10: Idols cannot help those who Verse 10: Idols cannot help those who trust in them.trust in them.

““Who shapes a god and casts an idol, Who shapes a god and casts an idol, which can profit him nothing?”which can profit him nothing?”


The The Idle PurposeIdle Purpose of Idols (10, 17, 19-20) of Idols (10, 17, 19-20)

Verses 17, 19-20: Idols only deceive and are Verses 17, 19-20: Idols only deceive and are powerless to save.powerless to save.

““From [one half he makes food and keeps From [one half he makes food and keeps warm], the rest he makes a god, his idol; he warm], the rest he makes a god, his idol; he bows down to it and worships. He prays to bows down to it and worships. He prays to it and says, ‘Save me; you are my god.’ it and says, ‘Save me; you are my god.’ Shall I bow down to a block of wood?’ He Shall I bow down to a block of wood?’ He feeds on ashes; he cannot save himself or feeds on ashes; he cannot save himself or say, ‘Is not this thing in my right hand a say, ‘Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?’”lie?’”


The The Degrading PowerDegrading Power of Idols (9, 11, 18) of Idols (9, 11, 18)

Verse 9: Idol makers are blind and ignorant.Verse 9: Idol makers are blind and ignorant.

““All who make idols are nothing, and the All who make idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. Those things they treasure are worthless. Those who would speak up for them are blind; they who would speak up for them are blind; they are ignorant to their own shame.”are ignorant to their own shame.”


The The Degrading PowerDegrading Power of Idols (9, 11, of Idols (9, 11, 18)18)

Verse 11: Idolaters will be destroyed.Verse 11: Idolaters will be destroyed.

““He and his kind will be put to shame. He and his kind will be put to shame. Let them all come together and take their Let them all come together and take their stand; they will be brought down to terror stand; they will be brought down to terror and infamy.”and infamy.”


The The Degrading PowerDegrading Power of Idols (9, 11, of Idols (9, 11, 18)18)

Verse 18: Idolaters lack understanding Verse 18: Idolaters lack understanding and insight.and insight.

““They know nothing, they understand They know nothing, they understand nothing; their eyes are plastered over so nothing; their eyes are plastered over so they cannot see, and their minds closed they cannot see, and their minds closed so they cannot understand.”so they cannot understand.”

Psalm Psalm 115:4-8115:4-8

““Idols are . . . made Idols are . . . made by the hands of men. by the hands of men. They have mouths but They have mouths but cannot speak, eyes cannot speak, eyes but they cannot see; but they cannot see; they have ears, but they have ears, but cannot hear, noses cannot hear, noses but they cannot smell; but they cannot smell; they have hands, but they have hands, but cannot feel, feet but cannot feel, feet but they cannot walk; nor they cannot walk; nor can they utter a can they utter a sound with their sound with their throats. throats. Those who Those who make them will be like make them will be like them, and so will all them, and so will all who trust in themwho trust in them.”.”

What is the What is the attractionattraction??Some Insight from Romans 1Some Insight from Romans 1

Idolatry offers human beings the Idolatry offers human beings the opportunity to thank and glorify no opportunity to thank and glorify no one but themselves (Romans 1:21)one but themselves (Romans 1:21)

Idolatry offers human beings the Idolatry offers human beings the opportunity to declare no one but opportunity to declare no one but themselves to be wise (Romans themselves to be wise (Romans 1:22)1:22)


Idolatry offers human beings the Idolatry offers human beings the opportunity to reflect the image of no opportunity to reflect the image of no one but themselves (Romans 1:23)one but themselves (Romans 1:23)

Idolatry offers human beings the Idolatry offers human beings the opportunity to live immoral lives opportunity to live immoral lives accountable and in submission to no accountable and in submission to no one but themselves (Romans 1:24-32)one but themselves (Romans 1:24-32)


Idolatry strokes our personal Idolatry strokes our personal pride.pride.

Idolatry gives us a false sense of Idolatry gives us a false sense of moral freedom.moral freedom.

Idolatry gives us a false sense of Idolatry gives us a false sense of being in control.being in control.

Some Perspective for Us Some Perspective for Us from J. S. Bach and G. F. from J. S. Bach and G. F.

HandelHandel

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Soli_deo_gloria.jpg

Modern Idolatry:Modern Idolatry:The The GodsGods of Our Age of Our Age

What are some of the gods of What are some of the gods of our age?our age?

What do we put our hope and What do we put our hope and trust in to find comfort, peace, trust in to find comfort, peace, and deliverance?and deliverance?

What do we love more than God?What do we love more than God?


““Do not turn away after useless Do not turn away after useless idols. They can do you no good, idols. They can do you no good, nor can they rescue you, nor can they rescue you, because they are useless.”because they are useless.”

— —1 Samuel 1 Samuel 12:2112:21


One Recent Example: The 1991 One Recent Example: The 1991 Gulf WarGulf War

Psalm 20:7-8Psalm 20:7-8

““Some trust in chariots and Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. the name of the Lord our God. They are brought to their knees They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and and fall, but we rise up and stand firm.”stand firm.”

Conclusion and Conclusion and ApplicationApplication

Idolatry is alive and well in the modern era.Idolatry is alive and well in the modern era.

Modern idols are no less foolish, futile, and Modern idols are no less foolish, futile, and degrading today than they were in ancient degrading today than they were in ancient times.times.

We will become like the things that we We will become like the things that we value, care about, and so ultimately worship.value, care about, and so ultimately worship.

The solution to the dehumanizing effects of The solution to the dehumanizing effects of idolatry is to worship the one true God.idolatry is to worship the one true God.

““Turn Your Eyes upon Turn Your Eyes upon Jesus”Jesus”

by Helen Lemmelby Helen Lemmel

Turn your eyes upon JesusTurn your eyes upon Jesus

Look full in His wonderful faceLook full in His wonderful face

And the things of earth will grow And the things of earth will grow strangely dimstrangely dim

In the light of His glory and graceIn the light of His glory and grace

Documents

Gods That Fail: The Folly of Idolatry Isaiah 44:9-20