Asherah Exposed

“One of the most prominent idols that Israel worshipped was Asherah. The first mention of the Asherah pole is in Exodus 34:13 (NIV): ‘Break down their altars, smash their sacred stones and cut down their Asherah poles.’ The term Asherah can refer to either the deity or the objects that represent her worship, which were wooden poles or cut pillars that stood at places of worship. 

“Asherah groves are mentioned over forty times in scripture and scholars believe that certain types of trees, like poles, were set up as altars. Trees were carved into forms of the female body and were a gathering place for orgies and dancing. In aspects of both Baal and Asherah worship there was a quest for power and a display of perverse sex. Consider what was done for the idols: immoral and perverted sex was the main focus of the false gods, and the act of prostitution was their worship. Sex with temple prostitutes or orgies was an act of inspiring the gods. 

“Not all in Israel gave in to the worship of Asherah. Elijah challenged both the prophets of Baal and Asherah in 1 Kings 18. Josiah destroyed the items that were set apart for the worship of Asherah (see 2 Chronicles 34:3-4). Gideon became the first to fight against the infestation of Asherah poles (see Judges 6:25-27).” (Danielle Freitag, Action 169)1

“In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek the God of his ancestor David. In his twelfth year he began ridding Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, Asherah poles, idols, and images. He ordered the altars of the Baals to be torn down, and broke the incense altars that were above them. He smashed the Asherah poles, idols, and images, crushed them, and sprinkled the dust over the tombs of those who had sacrificed to them.” (2 Chronicles 34:3-4; NET)

Give Him 15 minutes in prayer:

  • Decree that the current Asherah alters in our culture be uprooted. Asherah worship is deeply connected to the strip club industry, which is fueled by demand. In Deuteronomy 16:21 the Lord says, “You shall not plant for yourself an Asherah of any kind of tree beside the altar of the Lord your God, which you shall make for yourself.” 
  • Pray that an army of reformers like Elijah, Josiah, and Gideon would rise up to act justly and pray with the wisdom of the Word. 
  • Decree that the body of Christ would do right; seek justice, defend the oppressed, take up the cause of the fatherless; and plead the case of the widow. (See Isaiah 1:17.) 

A prayer you can pray:

Lord, Asherah and all of its filth and objects of worship are a part of the demonic hoard of Your ancient foe. Satan has set this principality up to corrupt the beauty of married sex between a  husband and a wife. The worship of this false diety is as snakelike as the way You left the serpent in the garden. Strip clubs, nudity, drunken debauchery, and pornographic images are all a part of the worship of this diety. Men and women both succumb to its temptations, albeit women are used by men often in these practices. We pray for all those captured there. Set them free!

Father, where is the repentance of the Church? The statistics of Christian men who participate in pornography and go to strip clubs and other venues of Asherah worship is staggering. Christian women are joining them more and more. Movies and series that incorporate illicit and perverse sex are growing in poularity and Christians love them! What is happening? Where is the purity and holiness and righteousness of the Church today? God, call Your Body to repent and turn to You for deliverance. We cry out, “Come back to Your first love.”

We say, “Out with the Asherah poles! Out with Asherah worship in our cities and towns!” Raise up the reformers, the Josiahs of today, who will call its worshippers to repentance. Raise up those, Lord, in every community who will have the boldness to confront these places, and evangelize the occupants. Come, Lord Jesus. Amen.

Today’s decree:

Let the modern day Josiahs arise and remove sexual idolatry from this land!

1 – 2020 | By Danielle Freitag, LADC, Author of The Garden Keys, Action169 Executive Director