This week's posts are based on Jesus' words of Luke 21:34-35, taken from the Literal Translation, with the original Greek amplified:
"But take heed [pay attention; as a nautical term, to hold a ship in a direction, to sail towards] to yourselves that your hearts not be loaded down [heavily burdened, oppressed, dull, stupid] with headaches [hangover; disgust following intemperance], and drinking [intoxication—see below], and anxieties [distraction; a mind divided by worry and cares] of life, and that day [Isaiah 24:17] come suddenly upon you as a snare [spring on you like a trap], for it will come in on all those sitting on the face of all the earth."
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At some point in our Christian walk, we come to understand that idolatry is far more than the ancient practice of kneeling before a statue or offering sacrifice to it. Idolatry is exalting even the best things in our life—spouse, family, liberty—as more sacred than God. Idolatry is being willing to sacrifice for these things what we will not sacrifice for the one true Lord of Heaven and Earth.
If I'm stretching the following metaphor too far, I don't mind someone pointing out my error. But I'm also inclined to see intoxication as immersing ourselves in pleasure to the extent that our senses are dulled to the things of God. I have the perspective that we (put my name at the top of the list) are far too inclined to excess where things such as these are concerned:
Food
Work / Hobbies
Sleep
Sex
Exercise / Athletics
Study
Novels
Television / Movies
Video Games
Puzzles (crossword, Sudoku, etc.)
Media / Social Networking
__________ (fill in the blank)
These things have a good and useful place in our lives (albeit some items on that list minimally so). To use them to the point of excess, or to dull our senses to the Holy Spirit with them, is soul intoxication.
And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.
~ Ephesians 5:18-19 (NKJV)
Yesterday: Soul Hangover
Tomorrow: Soul Cares
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Copyright 2011, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
"For I will stretch out My handAgainst the inhabitants of the land," says the LORD."Because from the least of them even to the greatest of them,Everyone is given to covetousness;And from the prophet even to the priest,Everyone deals falsely."~ Jeremiah 6:12-13I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, “You shall not covet.” But sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in me all manner of evil desire.~ Romans 7:7-8Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief ... hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.~ Hebrews 3:12-13Lest any among Jeremiah's audience thought themselves innocent of sin, he brings covetousness into the picture, to convict everyone, from least to greatest. Covetousness led King Ahab to murder. Righteous David succumbed to adultery and murder because he first coveted. Even the Pharisee Saul—who scrupulously obeyed the commandments—would one day be forced to see himself as a sinner when confronted with the commandment, "You shall not covet."Covetousness may be of another's goods or spouse, of another's attributes or advantage. It requires us to deal falsely with our neighbor, either to conceal our covetousness, or to perhaps gain what we covet. We also deceive ourselves as well if we believe sin does not occur before thought becomes action.Worst of all, covetousness deceives us to believe that God has not granted to us all we need or deserve—that He isn't as good as He should be. And thus our hearts become hardened and idolatrous.The Bible's comforting words are pleasant. The Bible's harsh words are necessary, showing us how to cooperate with the Holy Spirit as He makes us ever more Christlike.Oh YHWH our Righteousness, apart from You we are utterly evil, no matter how good we look on the outside. Please wash us with the water of the Word. If necessary, scorch us with the Spirit's fire. Make us good and holy and pleasing in Your sight.Feedback invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
"Go and cry in the hearing of Jerusalem, saying, 'Thus says the LORD: "I remember you, The kindness of your youth, The love of your betrothal ...What injustice have your fathers found in Me, That they have gone far from Me, Have followed idols, And have become idolaters? ...For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, And hewn themselves cisterns— Broken cisterns that can hold no water....You lay down, playing the harlot." ' "~ Jeremiah 2:2,5,13,20 (NKJV)Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, "The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously"?~ James 4:4-5 (NKJV)The Bible uses an vivid image to portray idolatry: adultery.
Does anything else in human experience ignite wrath like finding a spouse in bed with someone else? Human jealousy needs no explanation.The Lord views idolatry with the same jealousy. We see ourselves as far too sophisticated to bow before a piece of metal, wood or stone. We forget that seeking satisfaction from the world is the New Testament’s definition of idolatry, and is also called adultery.The Lord offers abundant living waters. To show preference for offerings from the dry and broken cistern of this world rightly ignites the jealousy of the Spirit who dwells within us.Beloved Bridegroom, You paid a great price to make available the living waters of Your Spirit. You satisfy as nothing else. Please give us discernment between the godless, the goodly and the godly. Please powerfully woo our hearts so we'll both seek Your face and woo You with our own love.Feedback invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
And he received the gold from their hand, and he fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made a molded calf. Then they said, "This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!" So when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it. And Aaron made a proclamation and said, "Tomorrow is a feast to the LORD [YHWH]." (Exodus 32:4-5 NKJV)
"Hear, O My people, and I will speak,
O Israel, and I will testify against you;
I am God, your God! ...
You thought that I was altogether like you;
But I will rebuke you."
(Psalms 50:7,21 NKJV)
"For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways," says the LORD.
"For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts."
(Isaiah 55:8-9 NKJV)
Witnesses to the ten plagues and parting of the Red Sea, the Israelites thought they could not be comfortable with YHWH until they put an identifiable face on Him. The strength and vigor of a calf seemed a fitting idol, made with gold intended to enrich them and God's sanctuary.
Even in the 21st Century, and even for witnesses to God's deliverance, it's not difficult to make equally absurd attempts to shape God into an image we believe suits Him and us, whether we shape Him as lenient or legalistic. We then easily conform ourselves to the same image.
Likewise, we too easily take the blessings God has provided, with which we might enrich God's kingdom, and make idols of them. It's not wrong to possess gold—family and freedom, health and wealth—as long as it's used for God's glory and doesn't become an idol itself.
Lord, You are too magnificent to behold, too great to be fully understood in earthy terms. Please give us hearts to continually seek Your face, to better see You as You are, and to wholeheartedly love You in terms as simple as, "I AM."
Feedback invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com.
Copyright 2008, Anne Lang Bundy
We know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one. For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live. (1 Corinthians 8:4-6 NKJV)
"For the sin of divination [witchcraft] is rebellion; insolence [self-will] is both iniquity and idolatry." (1 Samuel 15:23 LITV)
Who would commit idolatry? The idea of worshiping an idol of wood, stone or metal is disgusting. Yet God equates idolatry with patsar—to persistently press or peck against His authority with self-will. He equates rebellion to the same alliance with the devil used for occultic practices, which elevate demons as gods. And there is no denying that we have idols, for that is exactly what we call the famous and pretty faces even God’s people may gaze upon and emulate.
YHWH of Hosts, Lord of Heaven and Earth, You alone are our God. You alone are worthy to receive our adoration and give us counsel by Your Word, Your Spirit, Your people. To You alone may we give ourselves.Feedback invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. © 2008, Anne Lang Bundy
"Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves." ... So the LORD scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they ceased building the city. (Genesis 11:4,8 NKJV)
Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from the heavens; Praise Him in the heights! ... For His name alone is exalted; His glory is above the earth and heaven. (Psalm 148:1,13 NKJV)
Self-esteem seems a worthy priority. But it goes beyond valuing ourselves as worthy of love, respect, "certain unalienable rights." We want others to show us that they esteem us—to exalt us. We are indeed of great value to God, and therefore to each other. All people must be given love, respect, and fundamental needs. But honor for one another must follow due honor and esteem to Him who alone is worthy of praise and worship. Oh LORD my God, You are awesome, almighty, abundant in goodness and holiness, Adonai, Alpha and Omega. Only Your goodness in us makes us worthy to worship and praise You. Put it in our hearts to exalt You alone.
Feedback invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. © 2008, Anne Lang Bundy
Now concerning things offered to idols [eidolothuton]: We know [eido] that we all have knowledge [gnosis]. Knowledge [gnosis] puffs up, but love edifies. And if anyone thinks that he knows [eido] anything, he knows [ginosko] nothing yet as he ought to know [ginosko]. But if anyone loves God, this one is known [ginosko] by Him. (1 Corinthians 8:1-3 NKJV)
Paul uses two words for "know." To know by perceiving is eido (idol sacrifices are for eidolon — images known by perception). To know by experience (verb) is ginosko (experiential knowledge, related noun is gnosis; gnosis can be as intimate as is expressed by the idiom for physically intimacy, a man "knew his wife"). One might expect Paul to say "if anyone loves God this one knows Him." Instead, Paul says here by our love for God — who we do not perceive by our senses — God experientially knows us.
Lord, please enable me to love You with all my heart, soul, mind, strength. Please let me ginosko You as You ginosko me, but let me never be puffed up in such knowledge.Feedback invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2008, Anne Lang Bundy
For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. (Romans 10:2-3 NKJV)
We laugh at the notion of bowing before a graven idol of wood or metal. Yet it does not seem unnatural to paint a room with posters of Hollywood idols, to worship from afar. It does not seem unnatural to spend hours gazing at a screen filled with images of strangers (whether T.V. or internet), and shape our lives according to their words. It does not seem unnatural to paint an image of God and His righteousness that suits our personal theology, without sufficient understanding from the words of His autobiography (the Bible) Who He is — without spending adequate time having a real relationship with Him in devotional prayer. Whatever face is put on our misplaced zeal, righteousness is found only in knowledge — not knowing about God, but knowing God.Feedback invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2008, Anne Lang Bundy
