October 04, 2022 – Tuesday
Deuteronomy 12:31 NIV
31 You must not worship the Lord your God in their way, because in worshiping their gods, they do all kinds of detestable things the Lord hates. They even burn their sons and daughters in the fire as sacrifices to their gods.
Deuteronomy 12:31 NET
31 You must not worship the Lord your God the way they do! For everything that is abhorrent to him, everything he hates, they have done when worshiping their gods. They even burn up their sons and daughters before their gods!
Comment
The prior two verses for context NIV, 29 The Lord your God will cut off before you the nations you are about to invade and dispossess. But when you have driven them out and settled in their land, 30 and after they have been destroyed before you, be careful not to be ensnared by inquiring about their gods, saying, “How do these nations serve their gods? We will do the same.”God is going to drive out the Canaanites before Israel and give them the land of Canaan. But this came with a warning not to be ensnared by inquiring about their gods, saying, “How do these nations serve their gods? We will do the same.
No, they won’t and that is what verse 31 is all about. Why? Because they do all kinds of detestable things the Lord hates. And what was the worst they were known to do? They even burn their sons and daughters in the fire as sacrifices to their gods.Something well known and documented today as the practice of Molech worship, where those in Canaan would offer their children as live sacrifices by placing them alive on a burning hot metal statue of Molech. At the same time drum beats would be used to drown out the screams of the infants being burned alive.
The Believer’s Bible Commentary tells us Paul said the motivating force behind idolatry is demonic. Should we marvel at the cruelty and degradation of idolatry when we realize its true nature? Paul said this in 1 Corinthians 10:19-20 when he describes the true nature of idolatry, 19 Do I mean then that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons.
Guzik lists Israel’s history of following the false god Molech in spite of God’s warnings
– Solomon sanctioned the worship of Molech by building a temple to him, 1 Kings 11:7
– King Ahaz of Judah gave his own son to Molech, 2 Kings 16:3
– King Manasseh of Judah gave his son to Molech, 2 Kings 21:6
– King Josiah ended Molech worship when he destroyed a place of worship to him 2 Kings 23:10.
Are you as surprised as I was that Solomon, Israel’s third king built an altar for Molech in Jerusalem where the Lord had put His Name? This perhaps shows how easily the human heart can be pulled to this darkness. Pulled more readily than seeking the true light of God. I am surprised no longer though as certain states vie to become the meccas for abortion, modern day child sacrifice. Some would deny abortion as child sacrifice, but the movie Silent Scream ends all such denials. Ignorance was once a valid reason for not knowing a fetus could feel pain and would actively try to avoid being aborted. No longer is that true.
Bottom Line: Child sacrifice was evil in God’s eyes and remains evil to this very day.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, Continue to open our eyes so we might understand what is and is not evil. Help us not to be curious about the practices of people who reject You and Your Son. – In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
RileyD, nwJ
Riley D. Driver – Pastor
Calvary Chapel of Dayton
in Beavercreek