Idols of the Heart

Idols in the Heart Exodus 20:4-6 Context • God thunders His ten words/commands from Sinai with sights and sounds that terrify the people of Israel. • The First Command: 1. Asserts God’s right to exclusive rule 2. Excludes atheism and pluralism 3. Establishes God’s right to dictate worship • The Second Command – God begins to form the how and why of worship. God’s Rule 1. God prohibits all carved images for worship: • • God excludes any image used to represent Him (see Exodus 32; 1 Kings 12:25ff) God excludes any image that represents anything else of ultimate authority – anything in the heavens, on the earth, or under the earth. 2. God prohibits His people from honoring any idol: • • “Bow down” can mean to worship or simply to show honor. “Service” implies worship and sacrifice. God’s Reasons 1. God is a jealous: • • He is zealous for the truth (John 4:24; Hebrews 6:18) He is jealous for His covenant people (Zechariah 8:2) 2. God demands counter-cultural worship: • • Even if this worship defies all the surrounding culture Even if this worship defies family practices/norms 3. God is merciful beyond measure – note the numerical disparity 4. God is a personal God – idolatry = hate; true worship = love. God’s Applications 1. Idolatry begins in the heart (see Colossians 3:5) 2. Idolatry goes hand-in-glove with sensuality (see Exodus 32; 1 Peter 4:3) 3. Idolatry in the heart hinders our prayers (see Ezekiel 14:4-7; James 4:4) Personal Applications How do I know when something has become an idol? 1. Am I unreasonably angry/afraid when the thing is threatened? 2. Am I willing to make financial sacrifices for it that I’d hesitate to make for the Lord? 3. Does it cause me to neglect basic aspects of Christian discipleship?