Isaiah 57:3-13 – The Deadly Disease of Idolatry
An idol isn’t merely a false god that is worshipped through a carved piece of wood or stone or metal. An idol is anything or any idea that you commit your life to in opposition to the living and true God. Idolatry brings ongoing judgment. It brings worse and worse sin. And that sin brings about more and more idolatry.
God begins here by summoning the idolatrous people, summoning the false sheep to His judgment throne. He’s talking about the behavior of their parents and their forefathers that they have followed. What they have done is not only continueing in their parents’ sin, but when they were confronted initially by God, they made faces at Him. This is contempt of God’s court. In verses 5-9, we see the charges of idolatry with all its filth. They went on in their idolatry till they were exhausted. But they still didn’t say, ‘There is no hope in the things we have trusted. Let us return to Jehovah.’ They were not saddened by their sin or its consequences. They feared someone else. They feared their idols. God had spoken to them, and they refused to listen. Is there any hope for such sinners? In verse 12-13a, we see there is no hope for such sinners if they persist in their sin, if they persist in their idols, ancient or modern. Many act like Christians in many ways, and they think that God will be pleased with them because they are good people. God says to them: ‘You aren’t righteous and you have no good works in yourself. You do what you think is right. You do not have the motive of love for me. You have love for yourself, and you do not have the goal of my glory.’ God says, ‘When you cry out, when trouble comes, when my judgment comes to you, let your collection of idols deliver you.’
Is there any hope for such sinners? There is only one hope. But it’s a sure hope. And we see that in the end of verse 13. What is the holy mountain? It’s the place where Christ dwells and rules. It’s the Church. All who trust, then, in Jehovah, all who trust in His covenant blessings, all who trust in the covenant Head, the Lord Jesus Christ, Whom the Father has sent. shall possess the land, shall inherit the holy mountain, shall have God’s blessing, an abundant and everlasting life forevermore. From the deadly and disgusting disease of idolatry they shall be healed. Life they shall have in the living and true God and Jesus Christ, Whom He has sent.
Questions
- What is idolatry?
- Why did these people think they were ok?
Prayer Points
- Pray that you would get rid of any idols in your life.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters.