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What does it mean to worship the starry host or the host of the heavens?



      

Zephaniah 1:5

ESV - 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.

Clarify Share Report Asked July 01 2013 Mini Anonymous (via GotQuestions)

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Shea S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries
Zephaniah's opening verses include a strong judgment on Judah because of "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 ...

July 01 2013 1 response Vote Up Share Report


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My picture Jack Gutknecht Supporter ABC/DTS graduate, guitar music ministry Baptist church
Mankind has worshiped since ancient times, gods associated with the heavenly bodies—the stars, moon, and sun (Zephaniah 1:5)—and this practice is called “astrolatry.” My own mother practiced this, and always read the Astrology page in the newspapers which was big back then. Once, when she put a plastic idol on the dashboard of her car, and when I was still living with her, I took it down and locked it up in the glovebox. If someone worships the stars, sun, moon, etc., this is polytheism and God hates it (Exod. 20:1-5). Mom got saved later in life, fortunately, we think, before getting dementia. Astrology is a horrible sin. Zephaniah 1:5 here pictures “the starry host” (NIV—See also Isaiah 40:26 especially) as “An Army (Host). This type of idolatry is a double whammy as the people, these idolaters, were guilty both of the sins of commission (worshipping idols) and omission (neglecting the Lord).

September 05 2019 2 responses Vote Up Share Report


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