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2 Kings 18:4 – The Seduction of Idolatry – Subtlety
How easy is it to mock the sins of ancient societies as irrelevant to our age or level of spirituality? How easy is it to blame their silly superstitions as simple ignorance? But if we do, are we any better than those self-enlightened ones who disdain theism or religion as irrelevant and unsophisticated? Doesn’t our own society view spirituality as silly superstitions? If we disdain others, aren’t we guilty of the same sin of pride, a sin which seems to know no age or century?
However distant the sin of paganism seems to be, the seduction of idolatry is similar to most every sin. And while we might not be guilty of idolatry in its most dramatic form – bowing down to an image – seeing the seduction of idolatry might help us see ourselves and our sins. And while we might view idolatry as archaic and ignorant, I can’t help but to wonder if other cultures look at ours and think the same things about our societal sins.
It Is Subtle – As blatant as idolatry is in the end, it can also be in the beginning subtle because, like most sins, the process can be slow. Throw a frog in into a pot of hot water and it has enough sense to jump out. Set that same frog in room temperature water, and start to slowly raise the temperature, and it will sit there until it boils to death. Same frog, same water, same pot, same temperature. The only difference the speed at which the water heated.
The subtlety of idolatry often begins with noble intentions:
2 Kings 18:4 – He removed the high places and broke down the sacred pillars and cut down the Asherah. He also broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the sons of Israel burned incense to it; and it was called Nehushtan.
Most likely “it had been carefully preserved, as a memorial of God’s goodness to their fathers in the wilderness and a traditional evidence of the truth of that story….Good things, when idolized, are better parted with than kept.” Matthew Henry, p.797.
Replacing God in our hearts is often a slow process, very much like growing old. We do not see the effects every day, and yet they must occur, or else the long term effects cannot happen. I can’t see any difference in the mirror today than yesterday. But sometimes I am amazed at the differences that seemingly appear out of nowhere. “When did that happen?” I wonder. Every day. Sin is the same. It can be so subtle that we can’t see the everyday effects. How many people wake up one day and decide, “I am going to stop loving God today.” And yet, how many drift away, slowly, subtly, not seeing themselves grow distant from God?
Covetousness, the love of money, is idolatry. Colossians 3:5 HCSB Therefore, put to death whatever in you is worldly: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry.
There is a sin which a Catholic priest once declared that no one had ever confessed to him –
- a sin so deadly that the wrath of God comes upon men because of it;
- a sin so common that probably everybody has at some time been guilty of it;
- a sin so gross in the sight of God as to be classed with fornication, idolatry, murder, and such like;
- a sin so subtle, that men most guilty of it seem to be most unconscious of it;
- a sin that has led to the ruin of homes, to the doom of cities, the downfall of kings, the overthrow of empires, the collapse of civilizations, the damnation of an apostle, of ministers of the Gospel and of millions of less conspicuous men.
- When Achan and his household were stoned, it was because of this sin.
- When Eli and his sons lost the priesthood and died miserably, it was at root because of this sin.
- When Saul lost his kingdom, it was because this sin had subtly undermined his loyalty to God.
- When Ahab died and the dogs licked his blood, he was meeting the doom of this sin.
- When David fell from heights of God’s tender favor and fellowship, and brought shame and confusion upon himself, and incurred God’s hot displeasure and life-long trouble, it was because of this sin.
- When Elisha’s servant, Gehazi, went out from the presence of the prophet smitten with leprosy white as snow, it was because of this sin.
- When Judas betrayed the Master with a kiss, thus making his name a synonym of a traitor, and bringing, upon himself the death of a dog and a fool, it was because of this sin.
- When Ananias and Sapphira dropped dead at Peter’s feet, they suffered the dread penalty of this sin.
- It is the sin of Covetousness – which the Holy Spirit said is idolatry.
Subtle sins are very dangerous because we don’t see ourselves changing. We don’t so much just fall away over a cliff, as we drift slowly and further away.
Hebrews 2:1 HCSB We must therefore pay even more attention to what we have heard, so that we will not drift away.
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