Zephaniah 1:5

"And them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops; and them that worship and swear to Jehovah and swear by Malcam."

These verses (Zephaniah 1:4-6) give the reasons why God's judgment would fall upon Judah. They might all be summed up in a word, "apostasy" from the knowledge and worship of God.

"Worship the host of heaven ..." Astrology and the worship of the sun, moon, and stars, as practiced by the Assyrians and Babylonians, became common among Jewish idolaters (2 Kings 23:11; Jeremiah 19:13,32,29; Ezekiel 8:16). As Stephen said, "God turned and gave them up to serve the host of heaven" (Acts 7:42).

"And swear by Jehovah and swear by Malcam ..." Worshipping God and any other god, or anything else, adds up to apostasy. The Jews did in fact mention the true God, but in the same breath they honored and served Baal, Malcam, and other pagan deities. Hanke and other scholars have identified the "Malcam" of this passage with "Molech, a Semitic deity honored by the sacrifices of children."[17] Our Lord himself made it plain that one cannot serve "two masters" (Matthew 6:24).

The syncretism of ancient Israel in their foolish efforts to worship both the true God and the pagan deities has its counterpart in our own society today. As Gill noted: "The Assyrian worship of the planets has infected the people of God in their preoccupation with horoscopes."[18] Christianity today is likewise seeking a peaceful co-existence and accommodation with Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, etc. "The World Council of Churches is itself a form of religion syncretism."[19] Colin W. Williams, dean of the Yale Divinity school stated that, "What is true for the Buddhist in his situation may be as valid for him as mine is for me"; and Max Therian, speaking before the World Council in New Delhi, affirmed that truth and charity were taught by both Mohammed and Jesus, declaring that both are "recognized as Master and Prophet."[20] Such views are totally wrong; "There is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved."

Of all the pagan deities, none was any more despicable than Molech; and Israel's participation in his worship is Biblically attested in the fact that at least three of their kings engaged in it (Ahab, 1 Kings 16:34; Ahaz, 2 Kings 16:3, and Manasseh (2 Kings 21:6). Jeremiah responded to such a situation with the ironic question:

"Will ye steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods, and come and stand before Me in this house, which is called by my name, saying, we are delivered to do these abominations?" (Jeremiah 7-8-10).

Such also are Christians who fancy, "That they can serve together the world and the Lord Jesus Christ, and please two masters, God and Mammon."[21]