Drunkenness, Violence, and Idolatry

 O. T.#2232 "Drunkenness, Violence, and Idolatry"

July 11, 2022

Habakkuk 2-Part 8

LET IT GLOW

Mom always said, "What goes around comes around." She referred to reap and sow concept. How we treat others will be done to us, eventually. 

The prophet named 5 different sins Babylon did to merit judgment from God:

1. Selfish ambition
2. Covetousness
3. Exploitation of people
4. Drunkenness and violence (verses 15-17)

The Bible warns against the evils of strong drink (Prov. 20:1; Rom. 13:13; Gal. 5:21) Drunkenness and sensual behavior often go together. In Scripture, drinking a cup of wine can be a picture of judgment (Jer. 25:15), and nakedness often speaks of devasting effects of military invasion (Is. 47:1-3)

What Babylon did to others, God would do to her. Her land was stripped naked and her blood was shed, just as she had done to Judah. Their soldiers chopped down trees for firewood, probably, and killed the cattle for their food during the war. They had no moral discernment. It was the cup of the LORD's right hand that brought judgment. 

Sounds like you reap what you sow principle, huh? How we treat others will be done to us. So we better be sowing love and respect, for it could come back to haunt us if we don't.

LET IT GROW

5. Idolatry (verses 18-20)

I admit there was a time in my life when my career was more important than family and God. Finally, God got my attention and showed me, to which I am thankful.

The people of Nineveh had repented and turn away from worshiping idols, but then about 100 years later they returned to idols. So had Judah. 

Romans 1:25 NAS says, For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.)

There it is in black and white-worshiping and serving the creature instead of the Creator is idolatry. As Satan lied to Eve, saying she would be as God if she ate the forbidden fruit, he had previously done so when he was kicked out of heaven (Gen. 3:5). 

Idols are dead substitutes for the Living God. (Ps. 115)

Wiersbe said, "Whatever people delight in other than God, whatever they are devoted to and sacrifice for, whatever they couldn't bear to be without, is an idol and therefore under the condemnation of God."

Famous people can be idols-actors, athletes, politicians, wealthy tycoons. Idols can be things-cars, houses, boats, jewelry, and art. People can make their children and grandchildren their idols, as they refuse to let them serve God away from them. Also, jobs, social position, intellectual ability can all become idols for people to have, worshiping IQ instead of God. 

Albert Schweitzer said, "Anything you have that you cannot give away, you do not really own; it owns you."

[Resource: The Wiersbe Bible Commentary]

LET IT GO

God, show us if there be anything we hold more important than You.

Thank You Jesus, for leaving heaven to come be our Redeemer and Savior.

Please forgive us when we allow things to be more important in our life than You.