Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.
Psalm 95:6
The people of Israel turned from their Creator, choosing to worship other gods. Isaiah 44 describes the idols that the people made: They know nothing, they understand nothing; their eyes are plastered over so they cannot see, and their minds closed so they cannot understand. (Isaiah 44:18) It is interesting to note that although this is a description of the wooden idols, it also describes the people to whom Isaiah was sent to prophesy. God told Isaiah, “Go and tell this people: ‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing but never perceiving.
Make the heart of this people callused; make their ears dull, close their eyes.” (Isaiah 6:9)
The Israelites worshipped wooden false gods, and they as a people took on the same characteristics as the gods they worshipped.
I once heard that we become like whomever or whatever we choose to worship. The Psalmist exhorts us to bow down in worship, kneeling before the Lord, our Maker. (Psalm 95) There are so many things that we bow down to – the gods of money, power, reputation. But God wants us to bow down to Him alone. The Israelites became like the idols they worshipped with eyes closed and ears too dull to hear. When they worshipped God, their spiritual eyes and ears were opened.
Worship transforms us. If we worship God, we will be like God. If we worship other things, we will become absorbed in those things. American Idol has become one of the most popular shows on TV. I love to watch the young talented (and not so talented) people as they pursue their dream to become a famous star. I believe the show has become successful because it is thrilling to see an unknown person become famous overnight. What strikes me the most is America’s obsession with stardom. Magazines about the rich and famous fill our stores, and even national news focuses on the lives of stars. In many ways we idolize them and long to live the life of the rich and famous. The problem is we fall prey to the desire to emulate them.
God is calling us to be like Him – to be transformed through worshipping God into His image. We will become like Him when we worship Him alone.
Heavenly Father,
You alone are worthy of all of my worship. Transform me into Your likeness that I might reflect Your glory and draw others to You.
In Jesus’ name, Amen
