Old Testament reading: Isaiah 44-45
Are we really any less foolish than they? Isaiah 44 is one of my all time favorite Old Testament texts. It really cuts to the heart of the folly of idolatry by simply describing the means by which idols are made. In Isaiah 44:9-11, the prophet declares the idolater as being blind and ignorant to his own foolishness, else he would be ashamed of his absurd doings. The prophet begins in verse 12, not with the creation of an idol of iron, but with the blacksmith creating the axe wherewith the craftsman will cut down the tree to make the idol (vv 13-14). Then comes the decision to be made by the craftsman… ‘What part of this tree will I use for fire to warm myself and make my bread, and what part will I use to make my god?’ After the determination is made, he falls down before the god of his own hands, prays to it and says, “Deliver me, for you are my god!” Adding irony to ignorance, it should not go unnoticed that the part of the tree that was burned actually provided more help to the man than the part he fashioned into an idol. As Isaiah notes, no one pauses long enough to consider the utter stupidity of this whole scene (vv 19-20).
New Testament reading: Revelation 16-18
“Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean bird!” (Rev 18:2). When one visits Rome today, he stands in awe outside the Colosseum, taking in the magnificence of the structure. Upon entering the Colosseum, he sees the the floor filled with small passageways and rooms, as the poor and dregs of Roman society took refuge there after Rome’s fall in 476. The Colloseum, which once stood as a representation of Roman opulence and intellect, was reduced to a haunt for every foul spirit and unclean bird. We should remember that the text does not here speak of the Colosseum, as it was not constructed until near the end of the first century. However, the city at that time stood as the center of all the world’s trade and culture. She was rich and made rich those who conducted their business within her walls (18:3). While financially secure, Rome was morally bankrupt. This would be her ultimate undoing and ruin (18:4-8).
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