Idolatry, Social Injustice, and Religious Ritualism

Idolatry, Social Injustice, and Religious Ritualism

The prophets, both major and minor, have written much about idolatry, social injustice, and religious ritualism. God has revealed Himself through His prophetic voices so that His people might learn of His great love and expectations. Time after time, God would show Himself as the perfect and faithful Father that He is in the training of His people to be a light to the nations (Genesis 12). Regrettably, Israel spent long periods in rebellion and consequentially the corrective judgment of God for spiritual and moral failures. Regardless of the parental strife a wayward Israel would cause the loving Father, God remained faithful to the covenant that He established with His beloved people, keeping His promises. A faithful parent brings correction as needed. Towards Israel as towards us, God’s correction is always motivated by love (Proverbs 3:12).

Idolatry is committed on a personal level first by listening to a false prophet. Israel had its share of false prophets. We each have a propensity to listen to our own selfish prophetic voice, in a manner of speaking. We are often self-deluded and self-deceived (James 1:22). We lie to ourselves to justify our sin. In so doing, we distance ourselves from God. Sincere but deceived people created or adopted the false gods of Israel, meaning their idols were merely extensions and reflections of their sinful hearts. In Jeremiah 25:3-7, God warned His people to not go after other gods but they did. They stirred Gods jealousy with their idolatry, “provoke Me not to anger with the works of your hand, and I will not harm you.” “Yet you have not listened to Me, ” says the Lord, “that you might provoke Me to anger with the works of your hands to your own hurt.” Sadly, repentance did not happen. The phrase “works of your hands” here denotes ones idolatrous way of thinking. When the false prophet rises to speak in us as it did in the...