ADULT STS LESSON 132 CAUTION AGAINST IDOLATRY AND FALSE PROPHETS
MEMORY VERSE: “Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise“(Deuteronomy 12:30).
TEXT: Deuteronomy 12:1-32; 13:1-18
In the previous chapter, Moses reminded the children of Israel of the place of love for God and obedience to His word as a condition for enjoying His favour and blessings. In this study, he delivered God’s specific and clear directive to them: “These are the statutes and judgments, which ye shall observe to do in the land, which the LORD God of thy fathers giveth thee to possess it, all the days that ye live upon the earth” (Deuteronomy 12:1). Israel must destroy all relics and remains of idolatry to avoid false worship. The Lord gave definite instructions about the place, people, property and pattern of true worship in the sanctuary, pointing them to a central place that He has chosen for them – a place where they would worship and bring their offerings, tithes and vows. He also gave them a stern warning against false prophets and dreamers who draw souls away from His kingdom into idolatry. He cautioned them against the negative influence of backslidden family members and close associates who might entice them into error. Finally, He gave assurance of His blessings and favour to Israel based on their diligent obedience to His word. “...That the LORD may turn from the fierceness of his anger, and shew thee mercy, and have compassion upon thee, and multiply thee, as he hath sworn unto thy fathers; When thou shalt hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep all his commandments…” (Deuteronomy 13:17,18).
CAUTION AGAINST IDOLATRY (Deuteronomy 12:1-4; 7:1-5,25; Matthew 7:15-23; 1 Samuel 7:3,4; 1 Kings 15:12,13; Ephesians 5:5; 1 Thessalonians 1:9; Revelation 22:15; Colossians 3:5)
“Ye shall utterly destroy all the places, wherein the nations which ye shall possess served their gods, upon the high mountains, and upon the hills, and under every green tree: And ye shall overthrow their altars, and break their pillars, and burn their groves with fire; and ye shall hew down the graven images of their gods, and destroy the names of them out of that place” (Deuteronomy 12:2,3). Idolatry is the real or subtle devotion to any other thing or person besides the almighty God. It is an act of deifying any object literal or abstract or any individual, dead or alive, over and above the living God. On many occasions, Moses had warned the children of Israel of the danger of idolatry and turning away from the Lord. The warning became more compelling because the Canaanites, whose land they were about to possess, were avowed and devoted idolaters. The text brings to fore, the danger of idolatry. The Israelites were commanded to destroy all the places of worship of the pagan nations. The command to destroy all vestiges of idolatrous practices in Canaan was imperative because of the dangers that they pose to them.
To leave the altars of pagan worship intact would tempt them to engage in heathen practices. Same way, believers must discover and ruthlessly destroy possessions, relationships, altars, habits or inclinations that tempt or turn their hearts away from serving the almighty God. They should never think they are too strong to be tempted. Israel learnt this lesson in a bitter way (1 Corinthians 10:12). The sin of idolatry is a gross violation of God’s command: “Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image…” (Exodus 20:3,4). Idolatry leads to spiritual death. In this regard, peddlers of idolatry received capital punishment. The inhabitants of any city that would descend into this crime were to be wiped out without pity and the city reduced to heaps never to be rebuilt. This severe punishment was to serve as a deterrent to others. God is impartial; if Israel would descend into idolatry like the Canaanites, they would suffer the same fate of being destroyed. In modern times, idolatry goes beyond the worship of carved images, wood or stone. It also includes placing men, money, position, power or possession, worldly entertainment and amusement on the same pedestal with or above God. It also includes the worship or adoration of saints and angels. The command to destroy idols has deeper implications for New Testament believers. God does not expect believers to go out fanatically to destroy these graven images, but to preach the gospel to sinners and idol worshippers.
As a mark of genuine repentance, anyone who once engaged in occult practices and idolatry must renounce such association, and all occult regalia, property, emblems of worship, talisman, amulets, charms, tattoos and other related materials such as human philosophies, ideologies, superstition, necromancy and the deifying of religious figures, including communication links, must be discarded. “And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds. Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men…” (Acts 19:18, 19).
Believers must identify and deal with those tendencies in their lives that may ensnare or lead them to evil and damnation in hell. The command on the extermination of places of idolatrous practices also prohibited the children of Israel from eating blood (Deuteronomy 12:23). Long before science discovered the significance of blood, the Lord declared that life was in the blood and that it should be respected and not treated like common food (Genesis 9:4). God prohibited the eating and drinking of blood to discourage heathen culture and practices. Israel was to be separate and distinct from the heathen nations around them. It was to preserve the symbolism of the sacrifice. Blood symbolised the life of the animal that was sacrificed in the sinner’s place. Also, it was to protect the people from infection since many deadly diseases are transmitted through the blood. The emphasis on the shedding of blood is at the very root of the gospel message. We are saved by the sacrificial death of Christ: “In whom we have redemption through his blood…” (Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14).
CHOICE OF AN ACCEPTABLE PLACE OF WORSHIP (Deuteronomy 12:5-32; 11:22-27,29; 26:2; John 4:22- 24; Matthew 4:10; Revelation 22:9)
“But unto the place which the LORD your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put his name there, even unto his habitation shall ye seek, and thither thou shalt come” (Deuteronomy 12:5). After commanding that all forms of heathen practices be expunged, Moses gave a blueprint about the place, people, properties and pattern of acceptable worship in the sanctuary. They were not to follow the pattern of their idolatrous neighbours who worshipped on “…high mountains, and upon the hills, and under every green tree”, which were the favourite places of worship among the Canaanites. God gave an express command that these places of idolatrous worship should be completely rooted out. Believers too must refrain from engaging in false worship and any practice in their communities that will bring corruption, pollution and defilement. The Canaanites, whose land Israel possessed, had many temples and shrines but Israel with its new identity and culture had the glorious presence of the true and living God dwelling with them. The fact that there was only one central sanctuary for Israel signifies that there was only one true God, one authorised worship and priesthood, and one holy nation.
As a peculiar people, Israel was required to adhere to divine precepts concerning acceptable worship. One, the Lord Himself would choose the place where He would be worshipped.
Two, the place would be a holy place, sanctified to the Lord.
Three, they were to bring their tithes, freewill offerings, vows and sacrifices to the place of worship. Four, they were not to eat their offering within their gates.
Five, they were to come to the place of worship along with their children and servants rejoicing. Today, once Christ inhabits the sanctuary of our heart, we can worship Him anywhere, for we are the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19; (John 4:23,24). But there is still the need to come together in local assemblies for regular worship so that we can be edified and establish a platform for the evangelisation of the world (Hebrews 10:25). Worship in the sanctuary did not exclude any member of the family of an Israelite. God expects more from believers in the new covenant.
We are expected to bring all members of our family to our local church services. “And ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God, ye, and your sons, and your daughters, and your menservants, and your maidservants, and the Levite that is within your gates; forasmuch as he hath no part nor inheritance with you” (Deuteronomy 12:12). The children of Israel were commanded to feast upon their “hallowed things” before the Lord. This signifies that the time spent before God in worship is a time of spiritual nourishment. In His presence, there is renewal of mind, increase in knowledge and faith, and transformation of life. They were also commanded to “rejoice before the LORD” as they converge at the central sanctuary. We should settle offences before appearing in God’s presence and allow His love to flow through us to others. “Take heed to thyself that thou forsake not the Levite as long as thou livest upon the earth” (Deuteronomy 12:19). In God’s wisdom and economy, He has deep concern for men and women who are engaged in the Kingdom work on full-time basis. He, therefore, warned that their labour, commitment and devotion should not be forgotten. Believers are under obligation to support their ministers, especially, those on full-time service. “Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 15:26).
THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL WARNED AGAINST FALSE PROPHETS (Deuteronomy 13:1-18; 18:20-22; Ezekiel 13:1-6; 2 John 9-11; Galatians 1:6-9; Matthew 24:24-26; 1 Timothy 4:1-3)
“If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul” (Deuteronomy 13:1-3). God warned the children of Israel against fraternising with false prophets and dreamers whose visions and dreams might be fulfilled but draw His people away to follow the idolatrous practices of the land. Three categories of false prophets were presented in the text under review.
One, false prophets and dreamers of dreams who predicted and their prediction came to pass but invited the people to follow other gods.
Two, where a close family member or friend enticed others to follow other gods, God commanded that such an individual should be killed (Deuteronomy 13:6-9).
Three, where certain men, “children of Belial” inhabiting a city lured the inhabitants to go and serve other gods, the entire inhabitants shall be destroyed along with their cattle. The penalty God spelt for false prophets and their followers was capital punishment, which shows His total displeasure toward false prophets and dreamers. Believers should not compromise with family members, neighbours and friends, who might entice them into false worship or idolatrous tradition.
“If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom, or thy friend, which is as thine own soul, entice thee secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which thou hast not known, thou, nor thy fathers; Thou shalt not consent unto him, nor hearken unto him…’ (verses 6,8). False prophets are evil and should be avoided. Although the Church cannot use physical or carnal weapon to stop the practices and activities of false prophets and teachers, she can, through much prayers and relentless propagation of the word of God. It should be noted that in the New Testament, we are not to kill false prophets or anyone. Jesus warned us to beware of them (Matthew 7:15).
As believers, we should avoid false prophets and teachers and their assemblies (Romans 16:17), expose their false teachings and protect our members from their destructive influence. To escape the deception of false prophets and dreamers of dreams, believers must be grounded in the faith and in the word of God (Colossians 1:23; 3:16), remain committed to the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27), make getting to heaven their priority (Matthew 6:33; Mark 8:36,37) and prove every spirit (1 John 4:1). They must also “…give the more earnest heed to the things which [they] have heard, lest at any time [they] should let them slip” (Hebrews 2:1). Individuals and congregations that have departed from the true gospel to falsehood should urgently cry out to God in genuine repentance, make necessary restitutions and return fully to the Lord while the door of mercy is still open (Isaiah 55:6,7).
Questions for review:
1. Why is complete obedience to God’s statutes required of every believer?
- Why did God prescribe capital punishment for anyone or individuals who descended into idolatry in the Old Testament?
- How can you describe idolatry in modern times?
- Why did God prohibit His people from eating blood?
- Why did God choose a central sanctuary of worship for Israel?
- Why is it important to come together in our local assemblies for worship?
- How can believers escape the deception of false prophets and teachers in these last days?
