worshipers – Praying Pint

42.v. “Wilderness” – 7.d. Sinai – “You shall not make for yourself a carved image”

Exodus 20:4  “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

Leviticus 19:4    Do not turn to idols or make for yourselves any gods of cast metal: I am the LORD your God.

Leviticus 26:1    “You shall not make idols for yourselves or erect an image or pillar, and you shall not set up a figured stone in your land to bow down to it, for I am the LORD your God.

Deuteronomy 4:15  “Therefore watch yourselves very carefully.

Deuteronomy 4:23  Take care, lest you forget the covenant of the LORD your God, which he made with you

Deuteronomy 27:15   “‘Cursed be the man who makes a carved or cast metal image, an abomination to the LORD, a thing made by the hands of a craftsman, and sets it up in secret.’

Psalms 97:7    All worshipers of images are put to shame, who make their boast in worthless idols;

Isaiah 42:8   I am the LORD; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols.

Isaiah 44:9   All who fashion idols are nothing, and the things they delight in do not profit. Their witnesses neither see nor know, that they may be put to shame.

Isaiah 45:16    All of them are put to shame and confounded; the makers of idols go in confusion together.

Jeremiah 10:3  for the customs of the peoples are vanity.

Jeremiah 10:8-9    They are both stupid and foolish; the instruction of idols is but wood!

Romans 1:23   and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

Revelation 9:20    The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk,

God would have no likeness made of Him, no representation that might cloud the conception of His entire separation from matter, His purely spiritual essence. (Ellicott)

As the first commandment forbids the worship of any false god, seen or unseen, it is here forbidden to worship an image of any sort, whether the figure of a false deity or one in any way symbolic of Yahweh. (Barnes)

“After declaring in the first commandment who was the true God, He commanded that He alone should be worshipped; and now He defines what is His lawful worship” (Calvin). “Thou shalt not make to thyself a likeness and any form of that which is in heaven above,” etc. עשׂה is construed with a double accusative, so that the literal rendering would be “make, as a likeness and any form, that which is in heaven,” (Brown)

There is no God but Me. Don’t worship or place in worship anything but Me. Also, don’t make an image of Me or anything else, and indeed don’t worship it. We may find this type of worship foolish and even a bit old fashion. No one in the western world would do anything like this. Maybe some satan worshipers or others hope to find peace of mind through some eastern religion. For the most part, we think this is foolish to fashion an idol and place it in our home or church to worship it. The western world is far above this, but I might say, much further away from knowing God. The western world, for the most part, denies God, things of God, and the Word of God. They say there is no God and then live a life that is void of Him and any worship of Him. The idolaters at least try to have a god to serve – howbeit ever so wrong and God-defying. No, the western world is a place of self-reliant enlightenment. In this, they find what the world has to offer pleasing and though it never seems to satisfy an inner hunger, they keep chasing after it. Their idol is things of this world and what it has to offer. Though they may not make it an animate object of worship, it is an inanimate object of worship.

Note the verses above to those who deny and reject God and His commandments.

33.a. “In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth”

Matthew 13:47 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind. When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Matthew 13:30   Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.”’”

Matthew 13:40     Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age.

Matthew 3:12     His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

Revelation 14:10-11     he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.  And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.”

Luke 13:27-28    But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’  In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out.

Scripture is full of truth concerning heaven and hell. In heaven, there is everlasting holiness, peace, joy, worship, and praise, in the presence of the Creator of all things, our Heavenly Father, God, forever and ever – (Eternity). In Hell, there is everlasting torment, darkness, weeping, and gnashing of teeth. They are not fictional places. Heaven and Hell are as certain and real as the air you breathe, just as the coming day of judgment is surely coming. To deny that Heaven and hell exist is denying and rejecting God and the Word of God. “For God so loved the world that He sent his only Son, so that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” Rejecting the gospel of Jesus Christ is rejecting God and denying His redemption, salvation, and forgiveness.

Apart from Adam and Eve, all of mankind was born into sin and have a sinful nature that opposes God. It is this sinful nature that promotes self over things of God. It can be intentionally selfish, self-centered, self-reliant, self-worthy, greedy, unkind, unholy, angry, hateful, jealous, prideful, boastful, arrogant, lustful, cruel, and ever choosing to reject and deny God, the Word of God, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. All of mankind is lost and apart from God and on a path that leads straight to Hell. Satan is always tempting the minds and souls of people to yield to these sinful nature’s attributes and a person willingly chooses to grab hold of these temptations and do what should not be done. God knows the thoughts and intents of every person. There is nothing hidden from His sight in all of creation. There are no excuses. Every single person is given a foundational knowledge of God. He has placed it in the hearts of all people. Rejecting this foundational knowledge denies God, the Creator of all there is and will yield a wasted, unfruitful, unsatisfied, and non-purposed life, ending in judgment and eternity in Hell.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.”

Heaven is reserved for those who acknowledge their sin (and sinful nature) and believe, repent, humbly surrender, follow, obey, trust, and rely on Jesus Christ for forgiveness, redemption, and salvation. This is an intentional choice to believe and rely on Jesus Christ. Their lives are no longer under the influence of Satan for they have been given and filled with the Holy Spirit of God. Daily they intentionally choose to honor and glorify Jesus Christ in all they think, say, and do. Eternal Heaven is promised and assured to these, just as eternal Hell is promised and assured to those who reject Him.

12.w. “But I will leave within you the meek and humble”

Zephaniah 3:9 “Then I will purify the lips of the peoples, that all of them may call on the name of the Lord and serve him shoulder to shoulder. From beyond the rivers of Cush my worshipers, my scattered people, will bring me offerings. On that day you, Jerusalem, will not be put to shame for all the wrongs you have done to me, because I will remove from you your arrogant boasters. Never again will you be haughty on my holy hill. But I will leave within you the meek and humble. The remnant of Israel will trust in the name of the Lord. They will do no wrong; they will tell no lies. A deceitful tongue will not be found in their mouths. They will eat and lie down and no one will make them afraid.”

Jeremiah 7:9-12   Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, make offerings to Baal, and go after other gods that you have not known,  and then come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, ‘We are delivered!’—only to go on doing all these abominations?

Ezekiel 7:24     I will bring the worst of the nations to take possession of their houses. I will put an end to the pride of the strong, and their holy places shall be profaned.

Ezekiel 24:21    ‘Say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will profane my sanctuary, the pride of your power, the delight of your eyes, and the yearning of your soul, and your sons and your daughters whom you left behind shall fall by the sword.

Zephaniah makes it very clear there will be a time of judgment for the prideful, arrogant, haughty, self-important, smug, puffed up, and condescending people. These will be removed and will no longer be influencing others. They are gone. Their final place is in torment in hell. By Zephaniah’s warning/proclamation people throughout time have had chance after chance through the grace of God to turn away from their defiance and denial of God. Some do, but many millions more do not. The promise of peace and rest, grace and mercy, forgiveness, and salvation is not enough for them to turn away from the path in life they have chosen. Defiance and denial do not negate the judgment coming but certainly do cement their eternal destiny. The humble and meek will be with Jesus Christ. Those who by faith surrender their eternal destiny into the hands of Jesus Christ will be with Him. They have repented of their sin and trusted in Jesus Christ. They humbly seek and desire His Word to guide, protect, encourage, and give them the wisdom to see the world’s lies, temptations, and enticements so that they live honoring and glorifying Jesus Christ this side of eternity. A time is coming, much sooner than we think, where we will be face to face with Jesus Christ our Redeemer, Savior, and King. The time of salvation is now, before judgment, not after. Do not delay in finding true peace rest, and eternal salvation through faith in Him.

Most high over all the earth

Psalms 97:1 The LORD reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad! Clouds and thick darkness are all around him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. Fire goes before him and burns up his adversaries all around. His lightnings light up the world; the earth sees and trembles. The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth. The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all the peoples see his glory. All worshipers of images are put to shame, who make their boast in worthless idols; worship him, all you gods! Zion hears and is glad, and the daughters of Judah rejoice, because of your judgments, O LORD. For you, O LORD, are most high over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods. O you who love the LORD, hate evil! He preserves the lives of his saints; he delivers them from the hand of the wicked. Light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart. Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous, and give thanks to his holy name!

I am not sure of the author but I was intrigued (and convicted once again) by this short conversation and his comments on this Psalm. Why do I grumble at the circumstance I am in? Why do I not trust God in all things? Why do I speak of His power, might, strength and control over all there is and then fall into the trap of not believing it? Forgive me.

When Bulstrode Whitelock was embarked as Cromwell’s envoy to Sweden, in 1653, he was much disturbed in mind, as he rested at Harwich the preceding night, which was very stormy, as he thought upon the distracted state of the nation. It happened that a confidential servant slept in an adjacent bed, who, finding that his master could not sleep, at length said: —

“Pray, sir, will you give me leave to ask you a question?”

“Certainly.”

“Pray, sir, do you think God governed the world very well before you came into it?”

“Undoubtedly.”

“And pray, sir, do you think that He will govern it quite as well when you are gone out of it?”

“Certainly.”

“Then pray, sir, excuse me, but do not you think you may trust him to govern it quite as well as long as you live?”

To this question Whitelock had nothing to reply; but turning about, soon fell fast asleep, till he was summoned to embark. –G.S. Bowes, in “Illustrative Gatherings.” 1862. The reign of the Lord in the saints.

First, This kingdom that God is now setting up is his everlasting kingdom. It will not be administered by the weakness of man, but by the power of God; not by the folly of man, but by the judgment of God. God will, in this kingdom, nakedly manifest his own righteousness, his own compassion and pity; his own love, his own peace: he will do all things immediately by his own self. And therefore all the pride and ambition, all the oppression and tyranny, and miscarriages that have been in the government of men, shall be wholly taken away. Pure righteousness and judgment and equity shall be infallibly dispensed; and infinite power, strength, holiness, goodness, and authority shall shine forth nakedly in the face of God; and that shall be the judge of all men. We shall no longer be abused and oppressed by the will of men, by the lusts of men. The poor people shall no longer groan under the burden of men’s lusts, nor sweat for the pleasure and contents of men; nor their faces any longer be ground by the hardness of the spirit of men; but they shall be under the protection of God. The great cry now of the people is, “Let’s have a King!” Ye shall have one, one that will “reign in righteousness”, the LORD himself.

Disaster and Loneliness

“Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.”

Psalms 16:4
The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply; their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names on my lips.

Psalms 32:10
Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the LORD.

Psalms 97:7
All worshipers of images are put to shame, who make their boast in worthless idols; worship him, all you gods!

Jonah 2:8
Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their hope of steadfast love.

Joshua 23:7
that you may not mix with these nations remaining among you or make mention of the names of their gods or swear by them or serve them or bow down to them,

Ecclesiastes 8:12
Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life, yet I know that it will be well with those who fear God, because they fear before him.

Isaiah 3:11
Woe to the wicked! It shall be ill with him, for what his hands have dealt out shall be done to him.

Romans 2:8-9
but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek,

Proverbs 13:21
Disaster pursues sinners, but the righteous are rewarded with good.

Many sorrows pursue those who are self-seeking, not obeying or seeking truth, and not fearing God. I wonder what worthless self seeking things I chase after through out the year, month, week, day. How do I identify those things in my life that are not God honoring but are self-seeking? Reading God’s word with a desire to know and serve Him more is a good place to start. On top of reading, add listening to what it is saying to my heart with a willingness to obey. How many days start and finish without a thought of honoring and serving Him? How many days could have been better with Him leading and me following? Start each day with purpose to listen, obey, honor and serve Him. We all meet up with sorrow this side of eternity. Sorrow without God is sorrow without hope and that is disaster and loneliness.