Worshiping the dead
The folly in worshipping dead people in Heaven
It has long been a practice for humans to worship idols instead of the God of Heaven, and also for those who along side worshipping idols, go through the motions to worship the God of Heaven. Let’s see what God’s Word actually says we are to do.
God is a jealous God, He will not be mocked.
(Deuteronomy 4:24, Galatians 6:7)
He says to obey my commands and you will be blessed; to disobey my commands you will be cursed. (Read Deuteronomy chapter 28 for full story of blessing and curses.)
“Look! I am presenting you today with, on the one hand, life and good; and on the other, death and evil—in that I am ordering you today to love Adonai your God, to follow his ways, and to obey his commands, regulations and rulings ; for if you do, you will live and increase your numbers; and Adonai your God will bless you in the land you are entering in order to take possession of it.
But if your heart turns away, if you refuse to listen, if you are drawn away to prostrate yourselves before other gods and serve them; I am announcing to you today that you will certainly perish; you will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. “I call on heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have presented you with life and death, the blessing and the curse. Therefore, choose life, so that you will live, you and your descendants, loving Adonai your God, paying attention to what he says and clinging to him—for that is the purpose of your life! On this depends the length of time you will live in the land Adonai swore he would give to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” Deuteronomy 30:15-20
From the beginning of time and still today, people are doing what they want to do, and not what God commanded them to do. Then when bad things happen in their life, they want to know why the “mean God of the Old Testament” is cursing them. Deuteronomy 28 will spell it out for you, but let’s look at other comments from God to help you better understand.
“First you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, offer to Ba`al and go after other gods that you haven’t known. Then you come and stand before me in this house that bears my name and say, ‘We are saved’—so that you can go on doing these abominations! Do you regard this house, which bears my name, as a cave for bandits? I can see for myself what’s going on,” says Adonai.” Jeremiah 7:9-11
God sees what you are doing.
Your sins can NOT be hidden from Him.
“Can anyone hide in a place so secret that I won’t see him?” asks Adonai. Adonai says, “Do I not fill heaven and earth?” Jeremiah 23:24
“And when you look up into the sky and see the sun, moon, and stars—all the forces of heaven—don’t be seduced into worshiping them. Adonai your God gave them to all the peoples of the earth.” Deuteronomy 4:19
We are to serve only the God of Heaven, Adonai. We are not to worship the sun, moon, stars, and the forces/armies/powers in Heaven. Wait! What? The forces/armies/powers in Heaven? Who is that? It’s the dead in Heaven; the saints, those who worshipped God wholeheartedly, and the believers in Jesus our Messiah who have gone before us. Adonai says it’s an abomination to worship the dead, regardless of what they did for Him on earth. We are to worship only Adonai our God.
Just like the Israelites who were punished for erecting the golden calves to “represent” their God, Adonai, to worship Him, we are not to erect statues of anything to represent worshiping our God in Heaven, or any other gods on earth.
“For instance, they might serve other gods or worship the sun, the moon, or any of the stars—the forces of heaven—which I have strictly forbidden.” Deuteronomy 17:3
“They abandoned the LORD to serve Baal and the images of Ashtoreth.” Judges 2:13
“They rejected all the commands of the LORD their God and made two calves from metal. They set up an Asherah pole and worshiped Baal and all the forces of heaven.” 2 Kings 17:16
Here we read an example of just one of the evil kings who lead the people astray.
Manasseh the evil king
“Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years. His mother was Hephzibah. He did what was evil in the LORD’s sight, following the detestable practices of the pagan nations that Adonai had driven from the land ahead of the Israelites. He rebuilt the pagan shrines his father, Hezekiah, had destroyed. He constructed altars for Baal and set up an Asherah pole, just as King Ahab of Israel had done. He also bowed before all the powers of the heavens and worshiped them.”
“He built pagan altars in the Temple of the LORD, the place where Adonai had said, “My name will remain in Jerusalem forever.” He built these altars for all the powers of the heavens in both courtyards of the LORD’s Temple.”
“Manasseh also sacrificed his own son in the fire. He practiced sorcery and divination, and he consulted with mediums and psychics. He did much that was evil in Adonai’s sight, arousing his anger. Manasseh even made a carved image of Asherah and set it up in the Temple, the very place where Adonai had told David and his son Solomon: “My name will be honored forever in this Temple and in Jerusalem—the city I have chosen from among all the tribes of Israel.”
“If the Israelites will be careful to obey my commands—all the laws my servant Moses gave them—I will not send them into exile from this land that I gave their ancestors.” But the people refused to listen, and Manasseh led them to do even more evil than the pagan nations that Adonai had destroyed when the people of Israel entered the land.” 2 Kings 21:1-9
Adonai’s judgement against Manasseh’s Idolatry
“Then Adonai said through his servants the prophets: “King Manasseh of Judah has done many detestable things. He is even more wicked than the Amorites, who lived in this land before Israel. He has caused the people of Judah to sin with his idols. So this is what Adonai, the God of Israel, says: I will bring such disaster on Jerusalem and Judah that the ears of those who hear about it will tingle with horror. I will judge Jerusalem by the same standard I used for Samaria and the same measure I used for the family of Ahab. I will wipe away the people of Jerusalem as one wipes a dish and turns it upside down.”
”Then I will reject even the remnant of my own people who are left, and I will hand them over as plunder for their enemies. For they have done great evil in my sight and have angered me ever since their ancestors came out of Egypt. Manasseh also murdered many innocent people until Jerusalem was filled from one end to the other with innocent blood. This was in addition to the sin that he caused the people of Judah to commit, leading them to do evil in Adonai’s sight.” 2 Kings 21:10-16
All the evil that had been done by King Manassah, was extensive, but in God’s timing He judged him and put an end to his reign. He then rose up King Josiah who did what was good in Adonai’s sight, and had him tear down the man-made idols.
“Then the king instructed Hilkiah the high priest and the priests of the second rank and the Temple gatekeepers to remove from the LORD’s Temple all the articles that were used to worship Baal, Asherah, and all the powers of the heavens. The king had all these things burned outside Jerusalem on the terraces of the Kidron Valley, and he carried the ashes away to Bethel.” 2 Kings 23:4
“He did away with the idolatrous priests, who had been appointed by the previous kings of Judah, for they had offered sacrifices at the pagan shrines throughout Judah and even in the vicinity of Jerusalem. They had also offered sacrifices to Baal, and to the sun, the moon, the constellations, and to all the powers of the heavens.” 2 Kings 23:5
“He rebuilt the pagan shrines his father, Hezekiah, had broken down. He constructed altars for the images of Baal and set up Asherah poles. He also bowed before all the powers of the heavens and worshiped them. He built pagan altars in the Temple of the LORD, the place where Adonai had said, “My name will remain in Jerusalem forever.” He built these altars for all the powers of the heavens in both courtyards of the LORD’s Temple.” 2 Chronicles 33:3-5
“Stop bringing worthless grain offerings! They are like disgusting incense to me! Rosh-Hodesh, Shabbat, calling convocations—I can’t stand evil together with your assemblies! Everything in me hates your Rosh-Hodesh and your festivals; they are a burden to me—I’m tired of putting up with them!
“When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; no matter how much you pray, I won’t be listening; because your hands are covered with blood.”
“Wash yourselves clean! Get your evil deeds out of my sight! Stop doing evil, learn to do good! Seek justice, relieve the oppressed, defend orphans, plead for the widow.”
“Come now,” says Adonai, “let’s talk this over together. Even if your sins are like scarlet, they will be white as snow; even if they are red as crimson, they will be like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you will be eaten by the sword”; for the mouth of Adonai has spoken.” Isaiah 1:13-20
The Word of God could not be more clear about
‘who to worship,
and who, what, and how NOT to worship.’
If you are in a place in your life where you are currently disobeying God’s commands,
whether intentionally or unintentionally, repent today
and turn from your sinful ways and follow Him while there is still time.
“Therefore, house of Isra’el, I will judge each of you according to his ways,” says Adonai Elohim. “Repent, and turn yourselves away from all your transgressions, so that they will not be a stumbling block that brings guilt upon you. Throw far away from yourselves all your crimes that you committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit; for why should you die, house of Isra’el? “I take no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies,” says Adonai Elohim, “so turn yourselves around, and live!” Ezekiel 18:30-32
“if my people, who bear my name, will humble themselves, pray, seek my face and turn from their evil ways, I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14
“Look! I am presenting you today with, on the one hand, life and good; and on the other, death and evil—in that I am ordering you today to love Adonai your God, to follow his ways, and to obey his commands, regulations and rulings ; for if you do, you will live and increase your numbers; and Adonai your God will bless you in the land you are entering in order to take possession of it.
But if your heart turns away, if you refuse to listen, if you are drawn away to prostrate yourselves before other gods and serve them; I am announcing to you today that you will certainly perish; you will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. “I call on heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have presented you with ‘life and death, the blessing and the curse.’”
“Therefore, choose life, so that you will live, you and your descendants, loving Adonai your God, paying attention to what he says and clinging to him—‘for that is the purpose of your life!’ On this depends the length of time you will live in the land Adonai swore he would give to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” Deuteronomy 30:15-19
Worshipping the One True Living God of Heaven, Adonai
Today is the day!
There is Shalom peace in His “promised land.” It doesn’t mean you will have a perfect life and no more problems, sickness, or disease. It means He will be with you through these things, thereby making them bearable until Jesus our Messiah comes to get you. You truly can find His peace while living in this corrupted world.
“When you go out to fight your enemies and see horses, chariots and a force larger than yours, you are not to be afraid of them; because Adonai your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt, is with you. When you are about to go into battle, the priest is to come forward and address the people. He should tell them, ‘Listen, Isra’el! You are about to do battle against your enemies. Don’t be fainthearted or afraid; don’t be alarmed or frightened by them; because Adonai your God is going with you to fight on your behalf against your enemies and give you victory.’” Deuteronomy 20:1-4
Keep yourself holy.
“For Adonai your God moves about in your camp to rescue you and to hand over your enemies to you. Therefore your camp must be a holy place. Adonai should not see anything indecent among you, or he will turn away from you.” Deuteronomy 23:15
Keep you promises to God
“When you make a vow to Adonai your God, you are not to delay in fulfilling it, for Adonai your God will certainly demand it of you, and your failure to do so will be your sin.” Deuteronomy 23:22
Keep His commands
“Today Adonai your God orders you to obey these laws and rulings. Therefore, you are to observe and obey them with all your heart and all your being. You are agreeing today that Adonai is your God and that you will follow his ways; observe his laws, commands and rulings; and do what he says. In turn Adonai is agreeing today that you are his own unique treasure, as he promised you; that you are to observe all his commands; and that he will raise you high above all the nations he has made, in praise, reputation and glory; and that, as he said, you will be a holy people for Adonai your God.” Deuteronomy 26:16-19
Prayer
Thank you Father for repentance and forgiveness. Thank you Father for revealing my sins to me. Thank you for showing me that things I thought I was doing for you, were not in alignment with your commands. Thank you Father for showing me my sinful ways and helping me turn from them. Thank you for showing me what grieves you. Thank you for sending your son to die for me so that I might live with you for eternity. Thank you for helping me be holy, keep my promises to you, and keep all of your commands. Thank you for showing me that this world offers nothing that can bring me true hope, joy, peace, and love. Thank you for loving me.
Amen