Isaiah 57:1,2

Josiah, king of Judah, is one example (see 2 Kings 22:19-20). See also 1 Kings 14:12-13 and 1 Corinthians 10:13.

Wicked behaviour brings punishment

v3 ‘But you evil people, listen! You have *broken your serious promise to respect and to serve the *Lord. No, you prefer *idols that you yourselves have created. They make no demands upon you to live the good life that pleases the *Lord. You do whatever you like, without fear of painful results. v4 You do not realise that you are laughing at the *Lord. It is the real and only God that you are insulting. You prefer *idols. To trust gods like that is to believe lies. v5 You love to *worship the local gods where you are living. Their religion allows you to have sex with anybody that you choose, beneath the shade of green trees. And to satisfy another local god (called Molech), you kill your children as human *sacrifices, down in the valleys and under rocky slopes.

v6 Water in the river has shaped some stones like living figures. They look so real that you people from Israel have chosen them to be your gods, in place of the *Lord. You have poured wine on them and you have brought them gifts of corn. Such acts bring me no pleasure. v7 You have offered *sacrifices to your *idols on the tops of mountains. It is as if you have made your bed there. You are giving your love to *idols. And so you are not giving your love to me, although I am your *rightful *Lord. v8 You are guilty of the same wicked behaviour at home. You have set up your *idols behind the doors. So, even in private, you are giving your love to false gods. Instead of giving your love to me, although I am your *rightful *Lord. Yes, you opened wide the sheets on your bed. There, you had sex with those whom you loved. And you saw their naked bodies.

v9 You make yourselves attractive with pleasant oils to go to *worship the god called Molech. To find more gods to *worship, you send *messengers to distant places. You even ask for advice from *Sheol. You will do anything and you will go anywhere to avoid the demands of the holy *Lord God. v10 Many journeys make you tired. But you will not give up. And you find new strength to carry on your efforts.

v11 You must have been very afraid of someone or something. Perhaps that is why you were not loyal to me, your *rightful *Lord. You did not remember how I saved you in the past. In fact, you did not even think about me. Perhaps it is because I have been too gentle with you. So you have no fear of me. v12 You think that your deeds are right. But I will show that your behaviour has no value whatever. Your deeds will not benefit you. v13 Your *idols will not be able to save you when you are in trouble. The wind will carry off every one of those *idols. Even a light wind is enough to blow them away. How sad! But the person who really trusts me will take possession of the land. And I will give him my holy hill.’