(Better Late Than Never)
posted by Phil Johnson
The PyroManiacs devote some space each weekend to highlights from The Spurgeon Archive. The following excerpt is from Spurgeon's expostion of Psalm 115:5-7, first published in June of 1902.
They have mouths, but they speak not:
Eyes have they, but they see not:
They have ears, but they hear not:
Noses have they, but they smell not:
They have hands, but they handle not:
Feet have they, but they walk not:
Neither speak they through their throat (Psalm 115:5-7).
note the grim sarcasm of this remark of the psalmist; it reminds me of Elijah's taunting words to the prophets of Baal, "Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked."The ancient Hebrews were not accustomed to treat idolatry with any kind of respect; they poured all sorts of ridicule upon it. Nowadays, we are expected to speak very respectfully concerning all false religions, and some philosophers and divines tell us that there is something good in them all; and they say that modern Papistry, with its gods many, and its rotten rags and cast clouts, which they call relics, is to be treated very delicately.
Perhaps someone asks, "Is it not a religion?"
Yes, a religion for fools; but not for those who think.
"Noses have they, but they smell not." Their devotees fill the room with the smoke of incense; they burn sweet spices before the idols, but their nostrils are not thereby gratified.
8 comments:
And boom goes the dynamite.
I love Spurgeon.
Got to love this man.
This reminds me of a book I'm reading about Proverbs where the author talks about the use of sarcasm in the Bible. Sadly, many today think that this is the most abominable practice. "Popular writers often seem to dedicate themselves to preserving the honor and dignity of unbelief." (From "God's Wisdom in Proverbs", by Dan Phillips)
Nice to see that there are people still willing (by the grace of God) to follow in the footsteps of Godly men who God has worked through to preserve the faith.
There's a time to call idols stupid, and that's always, when we are comparing them to Yahweh, our Adonai Elohim.
And there's a time to be gentle of course. I believe the Holy Spirit helps us when we speak the Word in love, with humility and boldness.
For the divines that are bold and proud of their convictions that all "dumb idols" are basically good in their own way, we certainly don't need to play paddy-cake, but a stren rebuke is in order, sin't it.
I pray we would have the couarge and humility to speak up for our Savior and the only God and Lord of the universe. Amen.
My Spurgeon bobblehead is vigorously nodding his agreement...
And mormonism is a cult!
Witness the poor pastor in the news today being raked over the clothes for mentioning this.
"Witness the poor pastor..."
For me, this pastor was wrong. Just wanted to say that. But don't want to go on a rabbit path.
It is only ever about what our great Saviour accomplished on our behalf, the focus on anything else results in idolarty, plain and simple.
Therefore may we remember HIM today, whatever needs to be tackled, false religions or just daily living.
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