Idols Fail - Yahweh Saves - Isaiah 46

Babylonian gods: • Bel (Marduk) creator of the cosmos; controls destiny • Nebo (Nabu) god of wisdom and writing Babylonian gods: • Bel (Marduk) creator of the cosmos; controls destiny • Nebo (Nabu) god of wisdom and writing Marduk Babylonian gods • Bel (Marduk) creator of the cosmos; controls destiny • Nebo (Nabu) god of wisdom and writing taken captive … c. 1595 BC, c. 1225 BC c. 1150 BC, 689 BC 484 BC Marduk 1. False gods and their idols fail miserably 1. False gods and their idols fail miserably • motionless • speechless • helpless lifeless 1. False gods and their idols fail miserably • motionless • speechless • helpless lifeless Idols need humans to invent, design, beautify, carry … 1. False gods and their idols fail miserably • motionless • speechless • helpless lifeless Idols need humans to invent, design, beautify, carry … The false gods and idols are nothing! 1. False gods and their idols fail miserably • motionless • speechless • helpless lifeless Idols need humans to invent, design, beautify, carry … The false gods and idols are nothing! 2. The Sovereign LORD triumphs completely. 1. False gods and their idols fail miserably • motionless • speechless • helpless lifeless Idols need humans to invent, design, beautify, carry … The false gods and idols are nothing! 2. The Sovereign LORD triumphs completely. • creates • carries • saves 1. False gods and their idols fail miserably • motionless • speechless • helpless lifeless Idols need humans to invent, design, beautify, carry … The false gods and idols are nothing! 2. The Sovereign LORD triumphs completely. • creates • carries • saves • purposes • predicts • fulfills Idols Fail—Yahweh Saves 1. False gods and their idols fail miserably • motionless • speechless • helpless lifeless Idols need humans to invent, design, beautify, carry … The false gods and idols are nothing! 2. The Sovereign LORD triumphs completely. • creates • carries • saves • purposes • predicts • fulfills Yahweh is unique—the one and only true God! The life-cycle of idolatry Desire ❤ The life-cycle of idolatry (food, sex, drugs, amusements) (money, property, products) (career/job, status, control) Pleasure “to do” Possession “to have” Desire ❤ Position “to be” The life-cycle of idolatry (food, sex, drugs, amusements) (money, property, products) (career/job, status, control) Pleasure “to do” Possession “to have” Desire ❤ l p s i m Position s e r i s “to be” de & d e ac s i d d r o d e er The life-cycle of idolatry (food, sex, drugs, amusements) (money, property, products) (career/job, status, control) Pleasure “to do” Possession “to have” Position s e r i s “to be” de Desire ❤ l p s i m & d e ac s i d d r o d e er Demand “I must have …” The life-cycle of idolatry (food, sex, drugs, amusements) (money, property, products) (career/job, status, control) Pleasure “to do” Possession “to have” Position s e r i s “to be” de Desire ❤ l p s i m & d e ac s i d d r o d e er Demand Devotion " • serve • sacrifice “I must have …” The life-cycle of idolatry (food, sex, drugs, amusements) (money, property, products) (career/job, status, control) Pleasure “to do” Possession “to have” Position s e r i s “to be” de Desire ❤ • unfulfilled • guilty • enslaved l p s i m Dependence & d e ac s i d d r o d e er Demand Devotion " • serve • sacrifice “I must have …” The life-cycle of idolatry (food, sex, drugs, amusements) (money, property, products) (career/job, status, control) Pleasure “to do” Possession “to have” Position s e r i s “to be” de Desire ❤ • unfulfilled • guilty • enslaved l p s i m Dependence & d e ac s i d d r o d e er Demand Devotion " • serve • sacrifice “I must have …” The death-cycle of idolatry (food, sex, drugs, amusements) (money, property, products) (career/job, status, control) Pleasure “to do” Possession “to have” Position s e r i s “to be” de Desire ❤ a e e D h t th Dependence D • unfulfilled • guilty • enslaved l p s i m & d e ac s i d d r o d e er Demand Devotion " • serve • sacrifice “I must have …” Idols Fail—Yahweh Saves 1. False gods and their idols fail miserably • motionless • speechless • helpless lifeless Idols need humans to invent, design, beautify, carry … The false gods and idols are nothing! 2. The Sovereign LORD triumphs completely. • creates • carries • saves • purposes • predicts • fulfills Yahweh is unique—the one and only true God! Idols Fail—Yahweh Saves 1. False gods and their idols fail miserably • motionless • speechless • helpless lifeless Idols need humans to invent, design, beautify, carry … The false gods and idols are nothing! 2. The Sovereign LORD triumphs completely. • creates • carries • saves • purposes • predicts • fulfills Yahweh is unique—the one and only true God! 3. Those who trust idols suffer humiliation and loss. Questions which expose our idols 1. What do I use to comfort myself when things go bad or get difficult? 2. What do I do to cope or feel better? What are my release valves? 3. What, if I failed or lost it, would cause me to feel that I did not even want to live? 4. What do I daydream about? What preoccupies me? What do I worry about most? 5. Of what am I most proud? For what do I want to be known? What do I want to make sure that people know about me? 6. What do I really want and expect out of life? What would really make me happy? 7. What is my hope for the future? - David Powlison