(Acts 19:23-28) "And the same time there arose no small stir about that way. For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen; Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth. Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands: So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth. And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians."
"Diana of the Ephesians" was not a Greek divinity but an Asiatic one. This is shown by the fact that eunuchs were employed in her worship. She was not regarded as a virgin, but as mother and foster mother, as is clearly shown by the multitude of breasts she had. She was a representative of the power presiding over conception and birth. Her temple at Ephesus was one of the wonders of the world. Once in the year there was a public festival in honor of her, to which all the Ionians who could do so, together with their wives and children, brought costly offerings to Diana and rich gifts for the priests. Great gain came to the silversmiths in making and selling small images of the goddess. (Unger's Bible Dictionary, Merrill F. Unger, Moody Press, Chicago, c 1957, p. 415).
At least two groups mentioned here (priests and silversmiths) had much to lose if Paul was able to persuade the people that the worship of the image of Diana was idolatry as written in the Old Testament. The works of Moses clearly admonished the people against such idol worship. "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;" (Exodus 20:4-5).
IDOL WORSHIP IS IDOLATRY
Asherah, was the chief goddess of Tyre in the 15th century B.C. with the name "holiness." In the Old Testament she appears as a goddess by the side of Baal, at least among the Canaanites of the South. However, most Biblical references to the name point clearly to some cult object of wood, which might be worshipped or cut down and burned, and which was certainly the goddess' image (1 Kings 15:13; 2 Kings 21:7). Her cult object, whatever it was, was utterly detestable to faithful worshippers of Yahweh (1 Kings 15:13) and was set up on the high places beside the "altars of incense" and the "stone pillars." (Ibid, p. 412).
Ashtoreth, also known as, Astarte, was the goddess of sensual love, maternity and fertility. Licentious worship was conducted in honor of her. She was the patroness of war as well as sex. Ashtoreth worship was early entrenched at Sidon (1 Kings 11:5, 33; 2 Kings 23:13). (ibid, pp. 412-413).
The Queen of Heaven, in the book of Jeremiah 44, refers to the goddess Ashtarte, the greek name for Ashtoreth. (Jeremiah 7:18; 44:17-19, 25).
There are some of the false goddesses who were worshipped in Bible times. There are false goddesses who are being worshipped today. Royalty (Princess Diana even though she's dead is still revered); movie stars (Julia Roberts); rock stars (Madonna, Brittany Spears); sports figures, and models. Through the years the "older" idols (Elizabeth Taylor, Cher) are replaced by younger ones. This whole phenomenon is not Biblical! Worship of anything or anyone other than God, was and still is, an abomination to the Lord.
Women have always been worshipped as idols by men. Expressions like "Hey, doll!" "What's up, doll face?" "What a doll!" and other crude remarks like these show how man has tried to degrade woman's position and make a play thing out of her. The Bible says the woman is to be a help meet for her husband, not somebody's "baby!"
According to the Bible women are to be women, wives, help meets and mothers. No where does it say we are to be goddesses or treated like goddesses.
- We are to be submissive, not worshiped.
- We are to be chaste, not immoral.
- We are to be humble, not proud.
- We are to have a meek and quiet spirit, not be put up on a pedestal.
(Ephesians 5:22) Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
(Titus 2:3-5) The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
(1 Peter 5:5) Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
(1 Peter 3:4) But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
My husband loves me but I don't want him to worship me. I want him to love me, protect me and provide for me as the Lord requires him to.
There is a phenomenon rampant today in the new age movement called goddess worship. Women are being told that they can become goddesses. Women are being told they don't need men. They are even having babies, without men, by means of artificial insemination. All that is needed is sperm. Anyone's will do. This is not how God planned families. God's method is through the union of one man and one woman, husband and wife.
Women are being lied to. Just like Eve. Eve was told she would not die. The moment she disobey God she started to die. That was not God's plan for her. God's plan was for her to live forever.
Women are being deceived. Just like Eve. Eve was told she could become a goddess. She couldn't. That was not God's plan for her either. God's plan was for her to be Adam's helpmeet and the mother of his children.
(1 Timothy 2:14) "And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression." Goddess worship is of the devil.
The devil is still lying to and deceiving women today. Isn't it about time we learned our lesson, ladies.
Only God is to be worshipped. "Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve." (Matthew 4:10).
Only God is eternal, He has no beginning and He has no ending.
(Revelation 1:8) I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
Only God created us and He created the world.
(Colossians 1:16) For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
Only God, in the person of Jesus Christ, died on the cross for us.
(Matthew 26:28) For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
Only God can destroy the devil.
(Revelation 20:10) And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Only God could do all this and much more. Only God is worthy of our worship. "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created." (Revelation 4:11).
You, as a woman, are important to God. But He did not make a goddess out of you or intend that anyone else should. God created you and He loves you and He sent His Son to die for you. Stop believing the lies of the devil and this world and get back to believing God and His Word. If you serve Him faithfully He will reward you in due time. Be humble, not proud like a goddess, and God will exalt you in His time (1 Peter 5:6).