Topical Bible: Idolatry: Obstinate Sinners Judicially Given up To

◄ Idolatry: Obstinate Sinners Judicially Given up To ►

Topical Encyclopedia

Idolatry, the worship of idols or the elevation of anything above the one true God, is a recurring theme throughout the Bible, often leading to severe consequences for those who persist in it. The Scriptures provide numerous accounts where obstinate sinners, who refuse to turn from their idolatrous ways, are judicially given up to their sins as a form of divine judgment.

The Apostle Paul addresses this concept in his epistle to the Romans, where he describes the spiritual decline of those who reject God. Romans 1:24-25 states, "Therefore God gave them over in the desires of their hearts to impurity for the dishonoring of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is forever worthy of praise! Amen." Here, Paul illustrates that when individuals persistently choose idolatry, God allows them to follow their sinful desires, resulting in moral and spiritual degradation.

This judicial giving over is not an arbitrary act but a response to the willful rejection of God's truth. It serves as both a judgment and a consequence of the sinner's obstinacy. In the Old Testament, the Israelites frequently fell into idolatry, despite repeated warnings and calls to repentance. Judges 10:13-14 records God's response to Israel's persistent idolatry: "But you have forsaken Me and served other gods, so I will no longer deliver you. Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen. Let them deliver you in your time of distress."

The pattern of being given over to idolatry is also evident in the history of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. The people repeatedly turned to the worship of Baal and other deities, despite the prophetic warnings. As a result, God allowed them to be conquered and exiled by the Assyrians, as recorded in 2 Kings 17:16-18 : "They abandoned all the commandments of the LORD their God and made for themselves two cast idols of calves and an Asherah pole. They bowed down to all the host of heaven and served Baal. They sacrificed their sons and daughters in the fire and practiced divination and soothsaying. They sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger. So the LORD was very angry with Israel, and He removed them from His presence."

The New Testament continues to warn against idolatry, emphasizing the spiritual blindness and hardening of heart that accompany it. In Ephesians 4:18-19 , Paul describes the state of those who are alienated from God: "They are darkened in their understanding and alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts. Having lost all sense of shame, they have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity, with a craving for more."

The biblical narrative consistently portrays idolatry as a grave sin that leads to spiritual ruin. When individuals or nations persist in idolatry, despite divine warnings, they are often judicially given up to their sins, resulting in further alienation from God and eventual judgment. This theme serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of fidelity to God and the dangers of allowing anything to take His rightful place in our lives.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Deuteronomy 4:28
And there you shall serve gods, the work of men's hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Deuteronomy 28:64
And the LORD shall scatter you among all people, from the one end of the earth even to the other; and there you shall serve other gods, which neither you nor your fathers have known, even wood and stone.
Torrey's Topical Textbook