Deuteronomy 32:17 and demons

[B. W.]

Deuteronomy 32:17, "They sacrificed to demons, not to God, To gods they did not know, To new gods, new arrivals That your fathers did not fear." NKJV

Here is an interesting passage of scripture. The ancient Israelites were commanded not to sacrifice to demons.

AMG Word Studies defines the word translated demon in the following way along with other insights:

Strongs: 7700 --- šēḏ: A masculine noun meaning a demon, a devil. The primary or typical translation of this noun is demon or demons. This noun was used to describe the recipient of a sacrifice (i.e., a sacrifice that was not directed or given to God [Deuteronomy 32:17]). Certain sacrifices in which sons and daughters were sacrificed were also directed toward demons (Psalms 106:37). This word is also used to designate the recipients of forbidden sacrifices.

With this in mind – do you think the ancient pagan religious world portrayal of deities are in fact demons?

What is you take on this subject – if any?
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[B. W.]

Here is a link to a few pictures of the idols mentioned in Deuteronomy 32:17

http://www.lessing-photo.com/search.asp ... &p=1&ipp=6

These images appear most human like except for the bull.

The character traits of the false demon inspired idols is what is interesting - does anyone think these character traits relate to what Ephesians 6:12 mentions concerning Spiritual warfare?


Also, the Babylonian false gods history strangely mirrors Mormonism concept of a meeting (council of) deities to decide who would be a champion to humankind. Does anyone think there may be a correlation to demon inspiration regarding other ancient religious systems as well?


People complain about extreme severe battles with different types of lust or – could it be these be the influence of demonic inspiration, the principalities, powers, and rulers of darkness mentioned in Ephesians 6:12 and Deuteronomy 32:17?

Notice the below quote:

Article quoted is from this Link

Baal

Canaanite god of rain and storm, Baal was often pictured, as here (right "Baal au foudre" from the Edinburgh Ras Shamra Project), with thunderbolts in hand. Often he is standing on the back of a bull.

As the victor in a conflict with the god "Sea", Baal became King of the gods. Mot, god of death and of the dry season, was his rival and killed him, taking him down to his domain in the underworld. Baal was called back to life by his sister/wife Anat, who slashes herself with knives as a sign of mourning (cf. 1 Kgs 18:27-8).

In Hebrew ba'al means "lord", "master" or "husband" so the word and perhaps the name were used by Israelites to speak of YHWH, the LORD (cf. Hos 2:16-17 vv.18-19 in Hebrew). It is evident from Hosea and 1-2 Kgs that both the cult of the Canaanite god and the assimilation of Adonai to Baal were prevalent dangers to Israelite religion in Amos' day. However there is little if any evidence for this in the book of Amos itself, and this was not his concern. Where Amos attacked religious practice, (2:8; 4:4-5; 5:4-6, 21-27; 8:5) syncretism and foreign gods were not his target (the exception is perhaps 8:14).

Notice that Anat, sister/wife of Baal, slashes herself with knives as a sign of mourning. Now let's take this a step further today regarding people who slash themselves – could such be under the influences of such a principalities, power, rulers of darkness to seek out self morning – loathing seeking some form of resolution resurrection of something they secretly desire?
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[CeT-To]

Wow O_O thats heaps interesting and fascinating ! So you think these demonic idols/fake gods related to certain types of sins?

[Silvertusk]

I liked the way Oriel's Diary put it. All dieties apart from God were real - but were actually the fallen angels setting themselves as gods on earth. This is how I think the magicians in Pharoah's court was able to reproduce some of the miracles that Moses showed them in Exodus. They were obviously severely dimished in power relating to God's - hence Moses Snake eating up the magician's.

Silvertusk.

[The Protector]

Interesting thoughts. I remember that when I first heard that "the Prophet" Muhammed was dictated the Qu'ran by an angel he met in a cave, the first thing I thought was that he was deceived by a demon. The more I've learned the more I'm convinced that's the case. I hadn't really thought about ancient pagan pantheons in that way, but it certainly makes sense.

[RickD]

With this in mind – do you think the ancient pagan religious world portrayal of deities are in fact demons?

Absolutely yes. And, I'll take it a step further, and say that "alien encounters" are actually demons.

[CeT-To]

Yeah which brought about Nephlims.

[stealthpengu]

Yeah which brought about Nephlims.

Many Greek gods had sex with mortals, and I'm sure there are many other stories like that from other cultures as well. I fully believe that the Nephlim are what the Bible plainly speaks of them as (fallen angels taking on human wives and then producing them).

edit:: It's also interesting to note that the story of Noah comes up right after the Nephlim are mentioned. There certainly would have been a great deal of idolatry in that time, especially towards the visible fallen angels and demigods (Nephlim). I think the fact that many many cultures have the same story of gods coming down and having sex with women could be attributed back to this. Kinda gives God a big reason to flood the earth (or, part of the earth )

[B. W.]

All these things could be portrayals of demons in disguise. Looking at ancient depictions of the false deities mentioned in the bible makes you wonder how the people came up with what they looked like.

Did someone see these beings and encounter them in some form of NDE or vision?

Or would they have been inspired upon a creative mind from an outside source?

Any ideas?
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