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"Those who worship the host of heaven"

Text: Zephaniah 1:5

THE FAITH OF KING DAVID

Israel was a united monarchy in the earlier days. King David determined that he would never offer worship to idols nor would he even take up the names of other gods on his lips (Psalm 16:4). Sadly, David’s faith in the Lord was not taken up by all his descendants.

THE IDOLATROUS NATION OF JUDAH

David could not foresee how his descendants would turn out. He would have turned in his grave if he had known how his offspring and his beloved nation would become so idolatrous.

“Those who worship the host of heaven on the housetops;
Those who worship and swear oaths by the LORD,
But who also swear by Milcom.”
Zephaniah 1:5

1. “Those who worship the host of heaven”

a) Ahab, king of Israel worshipped the host of heaven (2 Kings 21:3).

b) Manasseh also worshipped the host of heaven (2 Kings 21:1-3).

2. “On the housetops”

a) Most of the houses in ancient Israel had flat roofs.

b) A common family practice was to relax and enjoy cool evenings together.

c) But there came a time when families would use their housetops for the worship of the heavenly host (the moon, the stars etc).

d) This was severely warned against by Moses (Deuteronomy 4:19).

3. “Swear oaths”

a) Swearing oaths was allowed.

b) But strict rules applied (Leviticus 19:12).

i) No oaths must be taken falsely.

ii) The name of the Lord must not be profaned.

c) The corrupt practice of oath-taking condemned.

i) When the people swore by the Lord’s name.

ii) And also, by the name of the god Milcom.

iii) The worship of the Lord was severely compromised.

iv) Milcom was the deity of the Ammonites.

v) The worship of the deities Milcom and Molech sometimes involved the sacrifice of children.

vi) This was a practice of king Manasseh (2 Kings 21:6).

Of course, this evil practice had to be judged and condemned!