Daily Devotions
Isaiah
"They shall be ashamed together"
Text: Isaiah 44:11
THE MAKERS OF IDOLS
There were those who promoted idolatry. They were making huge profits from the sale of the idols they made.
“Those who make an image, all of them are useless,
And their precious things shall not profit;
They are their own witnesses;
They neither see nor know, that they may be ashamed.
Who would form a god or mould an image
That profits him nothing?
Surely all his companions would be ashamed;
And the workmen, they are mere men.
Let them all be gathered together,
Let them stand up;
Yet they shall fear,
They shall be ashamed together.”
Isaiah 44:9-11
1. An evaluation of the idol makers.
a) Idols were “images”.
i) Images of animals.
ii) Images of human beings.
b) Idols are sold as “precious things”.
i) Wooden idols were made for the poor people.
ii) Silver or gold idols were sold at higher prices.
2. But what could the idols do for their devotees?
a) They cannot see.
b) They cannot know the future.
c) They were unable to profit the worshippers though they were promoted as deities.
3. The workmen.
a) They employed many people.
i) Some told stories about the power of idols.
ii) Others were skilled artisans that made fortunes out of their creations.
b) In the final analysis.
i) All involved in this trade would be ashamed.
ii) The idols had absolutely no power to help anyone.
iii) The idol makers would be found out to be mere profiteers,
taking advantage of those who were superstitious.