Isaiah 40:20 · KJV

"He that is so impoverished that he hath no oblation chooseth a tree that will not rot; he seeketh unto him a cunning workman to prepare a graven image, that shall not be moved."

King James Version

Passage Context

¹⁸To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?

¹⁹The workman melteth a graven image, and the goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold, and casteth silver chains.

²⁰He that is so impoverished that he hath no oblation chooseth a tree that will not rot; he seeketh unto him a cunning workman to prepare a graven image, that shall not be moved.

²¹Have ye not known? have ye not heard? hath it not been told you from the beginning? have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth?

²²It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:

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Reflection Questions

What do you rely on when you feel spiritually impoverished?

How does this verse challenge your views on materialism?

When have you turned to false sources of security?

Life Application

idolatry

Identify areas in your life where you may be placing trust in material things instead of God.

spirituality

Cultivate a deeper relationship with God through prayer and worship, rather than relying on worldly substitutes.

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