The Pagan Diet
The Lord will be terrifying to them, for He will starve all the gods of the earth; and all the coastlands of the nations will bow down to Him, everyone from his own place. Zephaniah 2:11 NASB
Starve – The God of heaven will waste away all the gods of the earth. YHVH will cause the ehohim of the earth to become lean, to be famished. They will be weak, powerless, dissapated. No one will serve them any longer because their true helplessness will be revealed.
Sounds good, doesn’t it? The One True God will reign victorious over all the false gods of the earth, all those supposedly divine entities that previously commanded the attention of men. YHVH will rule and all will come before Him. The gravestone of the idols of men will litter the landscape. YHVH will at last be acknowledged as the Only Supreme God.
But how? How will God starve all the other elohim? The etymology of the word doesn’t offer much help. Found only here and in Isaiah 17:4, it simply suggests wasting away for lack of nourishment. We are encouraged to fill in the picture. What will it take to starve the elohim? Perhaps that answer requires us to think about how these gods got fat. Someone had to feed them. Someone had to give them the sustenance that expanded their influence and control. The gods of prosperity had to be fed a constant diet of prosperous advances. The gods of power consumed power. The gods of money always needed more. The gods of pleasure were no less demanding. All the elohim of the earth demanded homage in the form of whatever it was they offered. Sycophants did not give power to the money-accumulation gods. Only hard currency counted. Worshippers who brought lust to the gods of power were turned away empty-handed. The elohim of the earth required specialized diets in order to grow.
How do you starve such a god? You withhold what he offers. You recognize that the elohim of the earth only give back a promise of what you provide. So you don’t provide and the promise withers. You withhold money from the god who promises you endless financial returns. You refuse power to the god who promises you control. You deny pleasure to the god who fills your thoughts with gratification. Instead, you give the offerings to YHVH—and watch the elohim waste away.
Every morning on the streets in Bali men and women bring offerings of food and flowers to the household temples of the gods. Every evening the street sweepers put the same offerings in the garbage. The power of these gods over the lives of these people depends entirely on feeding them. Westerners observe this phenomenon and shake their heads in disbelief. Then they go home and feed their own monsters. Retirement accounts, surgical enhancements, corporate maneuvering, social ladders and image posing are different forms of the same gods. What will happen to us when God starves them?
Topical Index: gods, elohim, starve, raza, Zephaniah 2:11
A friend once said to me “what you feed the most grows the most.
Lately I had a restlessness within me as I sense the desires of self gratification and medication of the world trying to control every aspect of my life. Sensing a wrestling within to walk according to what He says and why, why is it so hard? Because I haven’t put forth the effort to starve to worthless gods in my life.
Thanks for saying what I need to hear.
woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD, to what end is it for you? The day of the
LORD is darkness, and not light. As if a man did flee from a lion and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him…..Amos 5
funny thing is, (or not) it’s directed toward Israel. He says, “seek not Bethel……..seek the LORD” the difference is subtle, the house of God or God, the results are drastically different. “you turn judgment to wormwood and leave off righteousness in the earth.
Doesn’t seem that much has changed, we’re still in trouble and God hasn’t changed. He refuses to leave us where we are because of His love for us. Have you prayed for your “pagan” friend lately? If this is what the “righteous” are subject too, how will it go for those who’ve refused Him?
My days in spiritual darkness prevented me from even knowing
that all the allures and attractions of “the pattern of this world”
were actually gods in disguise. I was simply hoodwinked and
beguiled by all the “riches” this world had to offer.
Darkness offered me no alternative.
Until the light dawned . . .
I agree, Robert. We need to pray for the masses still struggling
in the darkness. And in addition to prayer, there’s our very lives.
“You are the light of the world.”
We each have our role. “Let your light so shine before men that they
may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Yes, prayer is the thing that brings into focus. If I pray for someone, it shouldn’t be a rote exercise, but rather should make me sensitive to how I treat and display the kingdom of heaven too them.
Good and timely word as always Skip. so many ‘gods’ surround us and when we think we have thumped one another pops up. The idols of our lives are misnamed…misjudged…and misused. We don’t even know they are ‘gods’ anymore! Have you noticed that you do ‘this’ in order to get ‘that’? I have….ahhh…..a mini-god … Have you said something in just the right way to elicit just the right answer that you desire? I have….ahhh…another mini-god. No honesty, no transparency, no vulnerability. Some of us are made to please people – others are made to be the one pleased … all mini-gods in and of themselves.
It is time to open our hands and see exactly what we are bringing each morning to those ‘gods’ ….. and recognize them for what they are – useless. The Great I AM deserves our WHOLE offering – not bits and pieces (of ourselves)!
Oh wow. Your words about people-pleasing hit home! Thanks for your insight. 🙂
Pam, you have given me enough to chew on for the rest of the day! Like!
So what starves the gods?
In digestion, we live in concert with a whole host of microbes that have digestion systems of their own. There are microbes that specify in very specialized diets. The ones that are there to work on sugar starve, literally, if they don’t get it. There are microbes that do nothing except digest rancid fat and oil. If we let what we have nurtured in our guts get hungry, they let us know. Our appetites are completely driven by our gut flora and fauna. We just think it is ‘us’! Want to change your diet? Prepare to go through a massive starvation of the previous population, along with all their (our) appetites. Is our spiritual life any different?
I was meditating on the truism that what is good for me is good for those around me, and vice versa. This means, literally, that I cannot possibly know what is good for me at least until I go and ask what is good for everyone around me. My identity lies outside myself. It is contained in the reality around me, like a microcosm blown inside out. HOW I respond to my environment determines WHAT kind of reality I experience and how completely I materialize in my identity. I was created to be part of a Body. If I am looking to my surroundings to serve ME,, I have just walked through the looking glass and asked creation to stand on its head. I am supposed to be the final crowning archstone to that creation. I am supposed to be asking where that place is and how I may serve that creation. We are trained so poorly!
The gods that drive me are my addictions. In all the places where I fall for the lie that I am supposed to be served, instead of serve, a ‘master’ (god) shows up and sets up a toll bridge. I ‘get’ what I think I want, but that appetite is being supplied for me by, essentially, a microbe posing as ‘my’ appetite. An imposter! How to I replace this false ‘self’ with my true self? I can’t! I need deliverance! If I am not hungry for the things of God, I am not who I really am. I was created with the proper appetite, but I switch the baby in the cradle when I fall for the thought that I am supposed to be a god. That’s when all those little ‘masters’ show up with those whips and chains and false identities and the appetite for evil. Time to do a trade! I repent! Deliver me!
1 John 2:15-17 comes to mind. I believe it will imply who we fear we will serve…
We become what we worship!
These gods are NOT only in us, but around us IN others! They are gods that demand to be bowed down to, to oppress us, enslave us; be in submission to the gods in people’s lives.
Often, during casual conversations, I am taken aback by an “alien” voice coming forth from one whom I presume I know. This voice attacks me for no rhyme or reason, saying nonsensical things as a control over me.
DO NOT feed these gods their desires to CONTROL through us, or over us, through fear, threats; Manipulation, Lust (besides wealth), pride, arrogance…. are mini powerful gods. Be alert, very aware, with ABBA’s help, of their AGENDAS. We have to starve them, until they are utterly famished to death!
Love this TW. We accuse these gods as spirits working in our /others’ lives, but to learn they are gods worshipped by humanity is eye-opening. They are enthroned as gods when we submit to their powers/ control in our lives.
Speaking of Diet, this NINTH OF AV kept on sunday is a MOED, a holiday, a celebration of a past bad dream, to a taste of promise, of RESURRECTION having the death sentence lifted off us, though there is no Temple! We are to have a BIG Feast, not a fast!
“. it is not the destruction that we are intended to commemorate, but the Divine promise that we will one day build the Holy Temple again. We weren’t instructed to enshrine the 9th of Av as a day of permanent mourning for the Holy Temple, but as a day to remind us of our responsibility to rebuild the Holy Temple one day – maybe today – maybe tomorrow. We weren’t instructed to commemorate its destruction, we are instructed to remember the Holy Temple in order to remain spiritually and intellectually prepared to rebuild it whenever the moment arrives.
So why do we still observe the ninth of Av as a day of mourning, some thirty eight years after the liberation of the site of the Holy Temple?
The days of mourning the destruction of the second Temple have ended. The days of mourning our own lethargy regarding the Third Temple will soon be over. The time has arrived to effect the tikkun – the repair – and to establish the 9th of Av as a day of rejoicing forever. The choice is ours – if only we close ranks, and unite to make it happen.”
Temple Institute.org
(I’m open to dialog on this) Maybe I’m reading the end of the post and missing the a major point. When it comes to fiance, I understand that God is ultimately the one to provide – at the same token people can do some really silly things with money. If I went out and spent everything that I have every paycheck and didn’t save because I figured that God will provide, at some point I will have no money and I will have to move in with family that did save and didn’t spend all their money. Of course there are the cases that that doesn’t happen. Those qualify as miracles. Case and point, a large percentage of Americans cannot retire and will either live off the government or their children as part of their retirement plan and/or have HUGE debts. They gave money they don’t have. I could look at it at that point as, “See God provided” but in the process becoming a burden to someone that actually was financially responsible ie living within a budget. Does anyone see what I mean?
Maybe the money thing rubs me the wrong way because I understand that there are two different ideas behind it when it comes to God providing. 1)God gave me this money and I figure He will give me more so I will spend it however I please because He will continue to provide 2) God gave me money, I will be a responsible steward to His gift. After I ensure that I don’t owe anyone anything (ie take myself out of slavery), I will take care of my nuclear family then I will be able to bless others after that is taken care of.
I think being a responsible steward of a gift isn’t making a power out of something, I think it’s just being responsible. At the end we serve a reactionary God. If I make no movements with the gifts that He gives, then am I really making use of the opportunities that He has provided or am I just being passive, lazy, and presumptuous to a giving God? I don’t think putting money into a retirement fund is some sort of voodoo magic, it’s just logic. If you don’t save don’t think that your bank account is going to grow. If you don’t try to meet people at work and be nice, don’t be surprised that your network is small,. I don’t think those qualify as vanity by any means.
Thoughts please.
As a financial advisor, I have a different take on this topic. Scripture actually dictates that we provide an inheritance for our children, and yet we are also required to be generous. While it seems that these are opposite actions, I don’t see it that way. In order to be generous one must first be prosperous. In this case I am defining prosperity as having what you need to do what you are called to do, and be who you are called to be.
Evangelical Christianity has (incorrectly) viewed affluence as evil and poverty as holy. This is not a biblical worldview and has destroyed many lives and ruined many callings because of lack. We are commanded to be good stewards of all we are given. Remember the parable of the talents. That is a lesson on financial responsibility; not on using our “gifts.”
In a nutshell, we are to be wise with our finances so we can 1) take care of our basic needs 2) fulfill our calling in this life, and 3) leave an inheritance, as a blessing, for our children as a legacy.
I think we are in agreement Keith. Basic needs would in my mind be thinking of the future and knowing that if you don’t want to work until 80 years old you need to save. Or having money put away in case of an emergency that you don’t have to borrow money. Finally having money set away if you were ever fired you have money while you job search.
I’m not saying never give away your money but also Rabbi’s note that even today tithes they don’t want to be bigger than I believe 20% because they understand giving a smaller increment more frequently is healthy for the soul and also helps prevent you being on the receiving side later on. I’m just saying being a good steward isn’t feeding a monster or some elohim.
We’re in agreement.
Finally that, “Basic needs” I’m not sure where it says that in the Bible. But it seems quite subjective. There is a difference with being modest with money and being flashy. Also there is a big difference with being flashy to feed your ego. I won’t feel bad if one day I am able to afford a nice place that is on the beach. IMO it wasn’t really me, God gave me the gift I just made the most out of it and recognized the gift He was giving when He was. If he doesn’t want me to have it then I won’t get it. But generally speaking that doesn’t fall into my lap (ie Miracle) most the time it comes from people making the most out of the gifts and capitalizing on them.
We are definitely in agreement.
“Basic needs” to me is food, shelter (rent/mortgage, power, water), and some modicum of clothing. In all honesty, those shouldn’t take up more than 50% of your family income. It can be pushed to 80% for those with no financial planning background, but the goal is to bring the yetzer ha’ra under control in the area of money to where we don’t waste our finances on stuff that will hinder our higher purpose in this life. The specifics look different because we each have unique callings on the earth.
The Jewish culture (respecting finances) is very different from evangelical Christianity’s culture. Though this is painting with a very broad brush, the basic Jewish paradigm is this: 1) start your own business (or be such a good worker for someone else that you swiftly move up), 2) work hard and live very frugally for 1-10 years, 3) save a large enough “nest egg” that you can invest it wisely and either a)pursue your desires/calling off the passive income or b) continue to work with a passive income to give, save, or provide the inheritance.
This is why the average net worth of a Jewish household is nearly 7 times higher than that of evangelical Christians. Also why a people who make up less than .02% percent of the world’s population also make up more than 25% of the world’s billionaires.
Hi Derek, if I may offer some of my thoughts. It is not wrong to set aside some extra finances for emergencies, or a trip, or something special. Being a health nut, I don’t often have celebration meals in Restaurants, prefering the joy of cooking with family helping out, home-cooked healthier meals, and, saving heaps besides.
And when items are on special offers, I purchase more to store up.
I do not believe in bank deposits in these turbulent times when anything can happen, nor spend what I do not have through using credit cards; that is irresponsibility and definitely UN-righteousness!
Agreeing with Keith! Being good stewards of our finances can mean investing wisely, like an organic herbal garden and your very own home grown fruit trees and healthy greens, without pesticides, nor chemical fertilizers. 🙂
Shalom!
I think we are in agreement. I was holding contention with the line, “….Then they go home and feed their own monsters. Retirement accounts, surgical enhancements, corporate maneuvering, social ladders and image posing are different forms of the same gods.”
I was just saying that I don’t that it’s feeding a monster of some sort. I just think it’s being responsible and being a good steward. Also understanding that just because I have a gift today doesn’t mean that I’ll have it tomorrow. I have a job I left Friday going too, but God can just as easily take it away from me this next Friday if He see’s I’m unfit for it or don’t appreciate it or whatever the case may be. Being mindful of that and being responsible with the gifts that He gives in the mean time is only logical, I don’t see it as feeding a monster. Why wouldn’t I put money towards retirement (could be 401k, metals, money under the bed etc.), or try to move up the cooperate ladder and learn new skills to get there instead of being passive at work (work hard to get bonuses, act friendly at work, try to learn new skills or go and get trained), or try to meet other professionals like me and network (connections so I have mobility within my field). Not doing so see’s presumptuous IMHO. Also enjoying the fruits of your labor I don’t see as a bad thing. Everyone has there, “thing”. Some like nice vacations, some like nice cars, I like buying books and nice meals. I don’t see that as a bad thing.
Rabbi’s say there are two sins when it comes to money. 1) being stingy 2) not enjoying the gifts that God gave in this life.
They go to the point of saying in some midrash that on judgement day you will be accountable for the sins, as well as He will ask, “I gave you gift ‘x’, tell me why you didn’t accept it and enjoy it”. I’ll be the first to say I enjoy materials of this world. It’s very satisfying to read a nice book or go out or make a top class dinner and I’ll save/budget so I can do so. I recently just saved to go on a nice vacation (first vacation in 7 years) – and it was wonderful.
But I think we’re in agreement.
Yes, we are in total agreement, Derek! Well expressed!
ABBA will not begrudge us of enjoying the fruits of our labour! We work hard, we play hard, that is our reward, utilizing the gifts/ talents He has endowed upon us individually to the best ever possibility/ opportunity.
Equally with us walking uprightly being transformed by His Torah, we will have our rewards, naturally.
Shalom!
The Lord God will be our sufficiency, we will not need to look elsewhere. The other gods will starve without us to feed them.