The city was full of idols!

(William S. Plumer, "The Ten Commandments")

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"Abominable idolatries!" 1 Peter 4:3

Men never do a more vain and empty thing, than when they make or serve an idol. It is as foolish and as unproductive of good, as when one beats the air.

Idolatry is both absurd and criminal. Idolatry, in all its forms, is a sin so gross and expressive of so much folly and stupidity, that it is bewildering that men could ever commit it. To inspired writers it is a theme of just and severe ridicule; not the less pungent because a simple statement of its grossness is all that is required to show its absurdity.

"Their idols are silver and gold, made by human hands.
 They have mouths, but cannot speak; eyes, but cannot see.
 They have ears, but cannot hear; noses, but cannot smell.
 They have hands, but cannot feel; feet, but cannot walk.
 They cannot make a sound with their throats.
 Those who make them are just like them, as are all who trust in them." Psalm 115:4-8

In all this ridicule there is no caricature, no exaggeration. It is all fair, because it is simple truth. Yet, as absurd as idolatry is, there is no science, literature, philosophy, civilization, which can show its silliness so plainly, as to banish it from among men.

"While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols!" Acts 17:16
 

J.C. Philpot:
"The whole land is filled with idols, and the people are madly in love with them!" Jeremiah 50:38

Whatever we love more than God,
whatever we worship more than God,
whatever we crave for more than God—is an idol!

Respectable idols we can admire; vulgar idols we detest. But an idol is an idol, however respectable or however vulgar; however admired or however despised they may be.

Have we not all in our various ways, set up some beloved idol . . .
  something which engaged our affections,
  something which occupied our thoughts,
  something to which we devoted all the energies of our minds,
  something for which we were willing to labor night and day?