Dwell in the Word: Isaiah 44:9-20

Contemplate these questions as you dwell in Isaiah 44:9-20:

1. In this passage, the foolishness of idolatry is highlighted, emphasizing that idols made of wood or metal are lifeless and powerless. How does this message relate to the concept of idolatry in modern society, where people may not create physical idols but still prioritize worldly pursuits or possessions over God?

2. The passage suggests that idolatry is rooted in the fallen nature of humanity, where God has to open our eyes and hearts for us to discern the truth. How does this understanding of the human condition relate to the Christian doctrine of original sin and the need for divine grace and intervention for salvation?

3. The text points out that despite the prevalence of idol worship and the craftsmanship involved in making idols, none of them can truly provide hope or deliverance. How does this message resonate with the Christian belief that true hope and deliverance come solely from God and the redemption offered through Jesus Christ?

Transcript:

This passage on idolatry, these eleven verses are straight fire, right? I mean, this is fantastic stuff. This is completely different. We're not completely different, but it's quite a bit different than a lot of what we have looked at in Isaiah. There has been some times where idolatry has been addressed, but most of the time we're looking at judgment and restoration. And here the foolishness of idolatry is on display. And you have to love the questions that are asked, Who fashions of God are cast an idol that is profitable for nothing. Why do you do this? Why is this what you are doing with your life? Why is this happening? And notice what verse 11 says, Behold, all his companions shall be put to shame, and the craftsmen are only human. Let them all assemble, let them stand forth. They shall be terrified. They shall be put to shame together. There isn't a one of them that has a true answer here. That's the idea that you can gather all these makers of idols, and it amounts to nothing. Whether it's one, whether it's a bunch, well, all of it is nothing. Zero plus zero is zero, right?

If there's nothing there, there is no reason to look to these idols for any type of hope. And so, we see all these different ways of making idols, and you have to see that he's talking about the ironsmith. He talks about someone who's making something from wood. He talks about how they become faint, that they are just mere humans and they're making a God? What sense does any of this make? And you have to really like the imagery used, the way the story is told here regarding idols made of wood, right? You cut down the cedar, you take a part of it, you make food, you warm yourself by it, you burn it up. But with the other parts of it, you make a God. You say to this wood that you have cut down, this wood that you have burned, and now you're saying to it, 'Deliver me, for you're my God. Here it is, ' But notice what the source of this is. This idolatry is in our hearts, yes, but because they are fallen, because they are sinful, because God has not given them their spirit, because He has not come to them and called them, we see that they know not, nor do they discern, for He has shut their eyes, so they cannot see in their hearts, so they cannot understand.

This is the state of our hearts, naturally. We are prone to idolatry. We will follow after anything other than the one true God. And it turns out that is foolishness. It only makes sense, right? What else could possibly be a source of hope for us other than the one true God? Because as we have seen, as we've been going through the book of... And in Isaiah, He is the one who is sovereign. He is the one who cares for us. He is the one who comes to us and delivers us from sin, from idolatry, from unbelief, all of these things. God is the one who rescues His people. And so as we consider this passage, it's really easy for us, as I've said previously when we've looked at idolatry here in Isaiah, it's really easy for us to look down on these people who actually fashioned idols. But you and I fashion idols every day in our hearts, right? We build up people maybe more highly in our lives than we should. We have things that we desire that we seek after. We also fail to understand God correctly. Instead of allowing our view of God to be shaped by His word, we shape it with the sinful desires of our hearts.

But we have a blessing here. Our eyes have not been shut. Even though our sinful hearts try to close them, God comes to us by His Holy Spirit, and He keeps our eyes open. Through His word and spirit, we are able to hear and believe the truth of the gospel, to hear the truth of his word, and to know what is an idol and what is not. And so may we pray that this Holy Spirit would continue to come to us, keeping our eyes open, keeping our ears able to hear that we might continually turn away from idolatry and the idol's that our hearts fashion, and instead turn to the one true God in faith.