We saw in our last discussion how God warned against poor and
deficient leadership. In Isaiah 57:3-10, God then warned about being involved
in idolatry and the occult. These are two things that the Bible clearly
tells us that God detests. He abhors idolatry as well as occult practices. Why?
Because idolatry and occult practices have to do with the spirit world of
darkness. Both deal deceptively with the people claiming to be able to do the
things that only God alone can do. No wonder God showed such strong objection
in Isaiah 57:3-10.
God referred to his hearers as “sons of
sorceress” and offspring of adulterer and prostitute. They of all people had
the audacity to make fun of those who were faithful to God. They mocked and
jest at them when they themselves were offspring of rebellion. In their secret
arts, they were murdering innocent children in their wide-ranging occultic
practices.
Verses 5-8 reveal that they flirted with idolatry everywhere, among oak trees, among luxuriant trees, in the ravines, on the mountains, and every conceivable secret place. They would offer both drink and grain offerings to the idols instead of to the true God. They chose to distance themselves from God, and practice child sacrifice, and even engaged in sexual immorality. In verse 9, God charged them for going all out to solicit the alliance of foreign powers and was willing even to be deluded by a false sense of security. How foolish!
All the while, the Bible tells us that our conflicts in life are not physical but spiritual in nature. Our battle in life is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. The good news is that we are armed with a weapon to tear down stronghold and every vain and lofty imagination of the mind. So let us stand firm, put on the whole armor of God, and resist every work of the evil one. Take heart, we are on the victory side. Hallelujah!
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