It probably goes without saying, but idolatry was a huge issue throughout the history of Israel. Virtually every book has something to say about the problem, whether it’s failure to destroy the institutions, intermarriage with people that worshipped them, or even placing idols in the court of the Temple itself (Ezekiel 8:3-4).
Where did all those problems begin? You could argue that it came from a failure to eradicate the other nations during the conquest of Canaan (Joshua 23:1-13). That is probably the most likely beginning point, after all.
But a strong point can be made for the existence of idols in people’s minds. Before they were ever manifested and worshipped by Israel, they were talked about—whispered about—during their daily interactions (Exodus 23:13).
Placed conveniently after the discussion of the annual feast days, God commands His people not to mention the name of any other gods at all. In fact, their names shouldn’t ever come out of their mouths. Period.
Why not? Because speaking names gives life. Think about how God created the universe with His words, or gave mankind the “breath of life.” These things came from His voice; His words brought forth existence.
We obviously don’t have the power to create physical items by the power of our mouths, but we can keep things alive by continuing to speak of them.
This is precisely how gossip spreads. One person hears something, communicates it to others, and before long, it permeates throughout the community. By that point, we would say that it has a “life of its own.” If that first person had simply ignored the gossip, it wouldn’t have become so wide spread.
Some Jewish commentators argue that what’s meant here in Exodus 23:13 is the act of swearing by foreign gods, as if that gives those other gods some kind of validity. But that can’t be the only idea her. In Zechariah 13:2, for instance, God says that He will “eliminate the names of the idols from the land.” In other words, no one will be able to speak of them anymore.
Joshua told the people the same thing in Joshua 23:7: Don’t swear by them, serve them, bow down to them, or even mention them in any capacity. They’re gone—treat them as such.
In a lot of ways, this is how we have to treat sin. We may not be able to avoid mentioning them (especially if we’re asking for help or forgiveness), but we can’t afford to give them any more real estate than they already have. The progression of sin in James 1:12-16 shows how dangerous this can be. Nip it in the bud as early as you can.
