Idol Hands

Psalm 106:32-39

32At Meribah, too, they angered the LORD,

causing Moses serious trouble.

33They made Moses angry,

and he spoke foolishly.

34Israel failed to destroy the nations in the land,

as the LORD had told them to.

35Instead, they mingled among the pagans

and adopted their evil customs.

36They worshiped their idols,

and this led to their downfall.

37They even sacrificed their sons

and their daughters to the demons.

38They shed innocent blood,

the blood of their sons and daughters.

By sacrificing them to the idols of Canaan,

they polluted the land with murder.

39They defiled themselves by their evil deeds,

and their love of idols was adultery in the LORD’s sight.

After church on Sunday, the young couple climbed into their classy sports car and began the drive home.

“So, what did you think about the pastor’s message?” the husband asked, turning on the radio.

“Well, it was interesting,” the wife replied, “but I don’t think it really applied to—ooh, turn the radio up. I love this song.”

“Don’t you love this car’s sound system?” he added as the music swelled. “I paid an arm and a leg for this car, but it’s worth it.”

She suddenly thought of something. “Honey, could we swing by my office? I need to pick up some reports to work on this afternoon.”

“Working again?” he chided. “You never rest, do you?”

“Well, I assume you want to keep making the payments on this car. Besides, you work as much as I do.”

“Not today,” he countered. “Football season is starting. I’m going to camp out on that sofa all afternoon.”

“Oh yeah,” she said, “I forgot.” Then, as her favorite song ended, she asked, “So what did you think about the pastor’s message?”

“Well, it was all right, I guess. But I wish he’d make it more relevant. I just don’t see what idol worship has to do with us today.”

His mighty works and ways

By Moses he made known,

But gave the world his truth and grace

By his beloved Son.

ISAAC WATTS

Bible Networking

For more on the life of a believer in the midst of an unbelieving culture (verse 35), read 1 Corinthians 10:19-22.

Notable Quotable

“The grace of God is as necessary to create a right temper in a Christian on the breaking of a china plate as on the death of an only son.”

JOHN NEWTON