Daily Devotions
Isaiah
"They do not know nor understand"
Text: Isaiah 44:18
THE FOOLISHNESS OF THE IDOLATERS
The idolaters in Israel pursued their idolatry vigorously. They had rejected the words of the prophets! They had failed to realise the consequences of their folly!
“They do not know nor understand;
For He has shut their eyes, so that they cannot see,
And their hearts, so that they cannot understand.
And no one considers in his heart,
Nor is there knowledge nor understanding to say,
‘I have burned half of it in the fire,
Yes, I have also baked bread on its coals;
I have roasted meat and eaten it;
And shall I make the rest of it an abomination?
Shall I fall down before a block of wood?’
He feeds on ashes;
A deceived heart has turned him aside;
And he cannot deliver his soul,
Nor say, ‘Is there not a lie in my right hand?'”
Isaiah 44:18-20
1. Foolish ignorance.
a) The idolaters did not know what they were doing.
b) They did not understand the consequences of their folly either.
2. The practice of idolatry observed.
a) Wood was used to make a fire.
b) Bread and meat are baked and cooked on the fire.
c) The rest of the wood is made into an idol which was an abomination to God.
d) The worshippers prostrated themselves to the piece of wood they called “a god”.
3. An evaluation of Idolatry.
a) On the human side:
i) The idolaters feed on ashes and not spiritual food.
ii) His deceived heart has been turned aside.
iii) His soul is trapped and he cannot deliver himself.
b) On God’s side:
i) He has shut their eyes and they cannot see.
ii) He has shut their hearts so they cannot understand God and truth.