Zephaniah 1:4-5, 17 (ESV)

[4] “I will stretch out my hand against Judah

and against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem;

and I will cut off from this place the remnant of Baal

and the name of the idolatrous priests along with the priests,

[5] those who bow down on the roofs

to the host of the heavens,

those who bow down and swear to the LORD

and yet swear by Milcom,

[17] I will bring distress on mankind,

so that they shall walk like the blind,

because they have sinned against the LORD;

their blood shall be poured out like dust,

and their flesh like dung.

Zephaniah speaks of judgment coming on the whole earth. “In the fire of his jealousy, all the earth shall be consumed; for a full and sudden end he will make of all the inhabitants of the earth” (Zeph 1:18). Why is God so upset? What has him pouring out judgment on the earth? The wickedness and violence of people of course. But, even more than that is the double minded individuals who claim to worship God, yet mix his worship with other gods, “Those who bow down and swear to the LORD and yet swear by Milcom” (Zeph 1:5).

James says of the one who asks with doubt that “he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” Psalm 119:113 says, “I hate the double-minded, but I love your law.” Elijah challenged the People of God, “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him” (1 Kng 18:21).

Idolatry is when we look to anyone or anything to provide for us what only God is to provide. It is when we pledge a loyalty to anyone or anything that only God should receive. We may not bow before images of gods, but if we are honest we must admit that we have often been double-minded. We too often give lip service to God, but look to ourselves, our family or friends, our credit limit, our job, or our education for our security. We talk about trusting God, but we often fail to actually trust him.

Zephaniah calls for his readers to, “Be silent before the Lord GOD! For the day of the LORD is near” (Zeph 1:7). Maybe part of our problem is that we have failed to listen well. We have failed to recognize and acknowledge the awesome fearfulness of God himself. We have been more interested in singing songs that make us feel good, praying prayers to make us feel better, and serving others to feel good about ourselves, than in actually recognizing the presence and greatness of God. In our doublemindedness we have developed a god who is here to serve us and keep us happy rather than an almighty God. This is the essence of idolatry. So today, let us “be silent before the Lord GOD!” (Zeph 1:7). “Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!” (Ps 95:6). Let us renounce our other gods and begin to look to the God of Heaven and Earth in truth. “Choose this day whom you will serve” (Josh 24:15).