The weight of idolatry
This week's verses are Isaiah 46:1-4: Bel kneels down, Nebo bends low. Their images weigh down animals and beasts. Your heavy images are burdensome to tired animals. Together they bend low and kneel down; they are unable to rescue the images; they themselves head off into captivity. “Listen to me, O family of Jacob, all you who are left from the family of Israel, you who have been carried from birth, you who have been supported from the time you left the womb. Even when you are old, I will take care of you, even when you have gray hair, I will carry you. I made you and I will support you; I will carry you and rescue you. In these verses God is speaking to us through his prophet Isaiah about the dangers of idolatry. He doesn't even mention the sinfulness of it, just the practical dangers that come from being involved in it. Idolatry is forbidden in the Ten Commandments, but here we see it's even a bad idea on its own. Some background so you know where Isaiah is coming from:...