• Download Video
• Download Audio
• Print
• Email
• Save As PDF

"You shall no more worship the work of your hands"

Text: Micah 5:13

THE PROBLEM OF IDOLATRY

The problem of idolatrous worship was deep and sinister. Israel had a long history of idolatry.

1. In the days of Moses

The children of Israel worship a golden calf (Exodus 32).

2. In the period of the Judges

The pure worship of the Lord was virtually non-existent.

3. In the period of the kings

a) Israel worshipped idols, promoted by king Jeroboam (1 Kings 12).

b) Judah was not much better.

c) Infamous idolatrous kings like Jotham and Manasseh hurt Judah badly (2 Kings 16, 21).

DESTRUCTION OF IDOLATROUS CITIES

Micah sounded a stern word of admonition to Judah. He spoke about God’s plan to deal with the problem of idolatry.

“Your carved images I will also cut off,
And your sacred pillars from your midst;
You shall no more worship the work of your hands;
I will pluck your wooden images from your midst;
Thus I will destroy your cities.”
Micah 5:13-14

1. The practice of idolatry

Three things were highlighted:

a) Carved images

b) Sacred pillars

c) Wooden images

2. “I will also cut off… I will pluck”

a) Stated in two different ways.

b) But the point is very clear.

c) God will remove idolatrous practices in the land.

3. “Thus I will destroy your cities”

a) Some cities were centers of idolatry.

b) Once idols are removed, those cities would be destroyed.

c) The livelihood of the idol makers would be affected severely.

d) The destruction of these idolatrous cities will help cleanse the nation.