Idolatry Quote by R. W. L. Moberly
““The recognition that idolatry really consists in making gods for ourselves and putting our trust in them is the great breakthrough in Israel’s thinking about the matter, and I have suggested that it may be to Isaiah that we owe it. From Isaiah onwards the conviction grew that there simply were no other powers in the universe to rival Yahweh, the God of Israel, and that . . . however much worshippers might bow down to the idol and acknowledge it as a great power, it was really themselves they were worshipping all the time.73””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Bible, Isaiah (prophetic literature)
Recognizing idolatry as self‑worship reveals that ultimate authority lies with the divine, not human‑made idols.
In simple terms: Idolatry is worshipping ourselves instead of God.
Key Takeaway
Shift trust from created things to the Creator.
Themes
faith
idolatry
theology
Mood
reflective
serious
Type
theological
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal devotion
- church teaching
- interfaith dialogue
- ethical decision‑making
Key Concepts
monotheism
self‑deception
spiritual insight
Questions to Reflect On
- How does recognizing self‑worship change personal priorities?
- Can symbols ever be neutral?
A Different Perspective
It may overlook cultural contexts where symbols serve communal identity.
![“As is typical of this God [of Israel], he calls his people into freedom in the most unlikely place.” quote by Mark Galli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/106/mark-galli-21107_freedom_as-is-typical-of-this-god-of-israel-he-c_1388095.jpg)
