Ancient gods, Modern Worshipers- Part 4 Host of Heaven
In the previous part, I explained what happened at Babel. In this part, I write about one of the forms of worship that proceeded from Babel and its modern adherents. As stated in the last part Nimrod set a blueprint for idolatry at Babel.
At Babel, ancient deities were to be worshiped in high places. The word ‘High Places’ is used often in the biblical books of Kings and Chronicles, showing Israel’s adoption of this worship system. This was because most ancient gods were related to heavenly bodies- like the moon, sun, and stars.
The word Babel or Babylon is from a Hebrew word that means Confusion. This is reminiscent of what God did in confusing the people’s language. Throughout the Bible, Babylon became descriptive of not just a place, but a system opposed to the plan of God and his people. The building of the tower was just one part of the problem, Nimrod’s plan to unite the whole world by his might and conquest was the real issue. The entire world united in the worship of false gods, stood contrary to God’s plan to save the whole world through his dealings with one nation.
When God’s covenant people (Israel) refused his revealed plans and wisdom by their acts of idolatry, God punished them by exiling them to Babylon. God’s people had to learn the ways of the Babylonians, which were predominantly influenced by divination, reading of omens, and the worship of heavenly bodies. We see an example of this, in the book of Daniel 2, where the king of Babylon calls these people, to divine and interpret his dream.
In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his mind was troubled and he could not sleep. So the king summoned the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and astrologers to tell him what he had dreamed. When they came in and stood before the king, he said to them, “I have had a dream that troubles me and I want to know what it means. “Then the astrologers answered the king, “May the king live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will interpret it. The king replied to the astrologers, “This is what I have firmly decided: If you do not tell me what my dream was and interpret it, I will have you cut into pieces and your houses turned into piles of rubble. Daniel 2:1–5
Daniel, a faithful Hebrew, who had been exiled to Babylon, could grant the king’s request. His statement reveals the supremacy of the true God, over the false gods of Babylon.
Daniel replied, “No wise man, enchanter, magician, or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries. He has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in days to come. Your dream and the visions that passed through your mind as you were lying in bed are these: Daniel 2:27–28
Ultimately, the kingdom of Babylon was overthrown by the Persian Empire.
In the seventeenth and eighteenth chapters of the book of Revelation Babylon is symbolically described as a prostitute, who lures kings and the people of the world into adultery. Adultery is used several times in the Bible as a euphemism for idolatry.
But you trusted in your beauty and used your fame to become a prostitute. You lavished your favors on anyone who passed by and your beauty became his. You took some of your garments to make gaudy high places, where you carried on your prostitution. You went to him, and he possessed your beauty. You also took the fine jewelry I gave you, the jewelry made of my gold and silver, and you made for yourself male idols and engaged in prostitution with them. And you took your embroidered clothes to put on them, and you offered my oil and incense before them. Also, the food I provided for you — the flour, olive oil, and honey I gave you to eat — you offered as fragrant incense before them. That is what happened, declares the Sovereign Lord. Ezekiel 16:15–19
This prostitute Babylon, also drinks the blood of saints, this describes her opposition to God’s people and his plans. We also read about the downfall of Babylon, as a symbol of the inevitable collapse of this system.
The Tower of Babel stood contrary to God’s plan of salvation. Thematically after the plan to build the tower was disrupted, the book of Genesis outlines Abraham’s genealogy. Through one of Abraham’s descendants, he births a nation called Israel and it is this nation that Jesus Christ the savior of the world came from. In the scriptures, God warns his people against worshipping cosmic beings.
And when you look up to the sky and see the sun, the moon, and the stars — all the heavenly array — do not be enticed into bowing down to them and worshiping things the Lord your God has apportioned to all the nations under heaven. Deuteronomy 4:19
Then break the jar while those who go with you are watching, and say to them, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: I will smash this nation and this city just as this potter’s jar is smashed and cannot be repaired. They will bury the dead in Topheth until there is no more room. This is what I will do to this place and to those who live here, declares the Lord. I will make this city like Topheth. The houses in Jerusalem and those of the kings of Judah will be defiled like this place, Topheth — all the houses where they burned incense on the roofs to all the starry hosts and poured out drink offerings to other gods. Jeremiah 19:10–13
I will stretch out my hand against Judah and against all who live in Jerusalem. I will destroy every remnant of Baal worship in this place, the very names of the idolatrous priests- those who bow down on the roofs to worship the starry host, those who bow down and swear by the Lord, and who also swear by Molek. Zephaniah 1:4–5
Today there is an increase in practitioners of Astrology, even among professing Christians. People attempt to interpret their destinies through zodiac signs. Also, the rise in Pantheism and the related practices, have their roots in Babel.
These forms of worship are not new fads, they are as old as that ancient city called Babel and are a perversion of the worship of the true God. But eventually, Babylon and its systems would be destroyed by God.
In the next part, I will discuss fertility goddesses/gods. Thank you for reading.
