On 21st century idolatry and its repercussions by Irene Lancaster for Christian Today
Do you think it is right to trample over the needs of the local populace in order to build and worship idols? No – me neither. Our greatest prophet, Moses, certainly didn’t, and this is what he reminds the people of in the last speech to the Children of Israel before his chosen successor, Joshua, takes over and leads them into the Promised Land.
The Torah reading this week takes place in the period leading up to Rosh Hashana (Jewish New Year), when the sombre month of Elul intervenes, giving us the opportunity for mellow contemplation as autumn creeps in, enhanced by the closing pages of the Book of Deuteronomy and the uplifting Haftorahs taken from Second and Third Isaiah (40-66).
This year, we also welcome in yet another Shemitta Year (time of letting the land lie fallow), which occurs every seven years in the State of Israel and coincides with Rosh Hashana.
Now is your chance to support Gospel News Network.
We love helping others and believe that’s one of the reasons we are chosen as Ambassadors of the Kingdom, to serve God’s children. We look to the Greatest Commandment as our Powering force.
However, the reading urging us to let the Land breathe and lie fallow is actually taken from this week’s Torah reading (Deuteronomy 11:26-16:17), known as Parshat Re’eh, and the prophetic Haftorah reading is Isaiah 54:11 – 55:5: ‘All, who are thirsty, come and drink, and whoever has no money, go and eat!’
These sentiments against idolatry and for universal openness (irrespective of clan, creed, ethnicity, religion, gender, colour or politics) are the hallmark of the last chapters of Isaiah – emphasizing Israel’s role as the servant of G-d, primed to carry out His divine mission of openhandedness to all peoples and nations – and especially to the poor and needy. Therefore, nothing could be more apt every seven years than to bestow on the land a year of rest, just as every seven days we offer Shabbat to people and animals!
