SPECIAL TOPIC: CONSEQUENCES OF IDOLATRY

SPECIAL TOPIC: CONSEQUENCES OF IDOLATRY (cf. Deut. 11:16-17)

Beware, lest your hearts are not deceived” – BDB 834, KB 984, Qal
IMPERFECT, cf. Job 31:27
1. “turn away” – BDB 693, KB 747, Qal PERFECT,
  cf. Exod. 32:8; 9:12; 17:11,17; Jer. 5:23
2. “serve other gods” – BDB 712, KB 773, Qal PERFECT,
  cf. Deut. 7:4,26; 8:19; 11:16; 13:6,13; 17:3; 28:14,36,64; 29:26; 30:17; 31:20; Jos. 23:16;
  24:2,16; Jer. 11:10; 13:10; 16:11,13; 22:9; 25:6; 35:15
3. “to worship” – BDB 1005, KB 295, Hithpael (Owens, p. 805) and
  Hishtaphel (Parsing Guide, p. 146)
  
  Obviously this was a recurrent tendency on Israel’s part! The
  consequences for idolatry were severe.
“the anger of the Lord will be kindled against
you” – BDB 354, KB 351, Qal PERFECT, cf. Exod. 4:14; 22:24;
32:10; Num. 11:1,10; 12:9; 32:10; Deut. 6:15; 7:4; 11:17; 29:27; Jos. 23:11
1. “He will shut up the heavens so that there will be no rain.” This is part
  of the curse for disobeying the covenant, cf. Deut. 28:24; 2 Chr. 6:26-28; 7:13
2. “the ground will not yield its fruit” – results of no rain
“you will perish quickly from the good land” – BDB 1, KB 2, Qal
PERFECT, cf. Deut. 4:26; 7:4; 8:19,20; 28:20,22; 30:18; Jos. 23:13,16

There is no middle option! God presents His covenant as fully compliant or in
default. Fallen humanity cannot obtain this level of consistent or complete obedience
(cf. Jos. 24:19). Therefore, there was/is a need for a new covenant based on God’s mercy and
His performance (cf. Jer. 31:31-34; Ezek. 36:22-38; Rom. 3:9-18,23; Galatians 3)!