Amulets
What does God say about people who use amulets? It's in the Bible, Isaiah 2:6 NIV. "They are full of superstitions from the East; they practice divination like the Philistines and clasp hands with pagans." Isaiah 3:18-20 NAS warns, "In that day, the Lord will take away the beauty of their anklets, headbands, crescent ornaments, dangling earrings, bracelets, veils, headdresses, ankle chains, sashes, perfume boxes (and) amulets."
Amulets were very common in the ancient cultures of the Bible lands, especially among the pagan peoples. Amulets are magic charms worn by people to protect themselves from negative energies, evil and injury, and also to bring good luck. Amulets are usually in the form of crystals, Celtic crosses, or other mystical jewelry worn as a pendant on a necklace or bracelet, or hung on a chain dangling from the rear view mirror of automobile windshields. Amulets are believed to have mystical powers, which supposedly results in personal protection and the bringing of success and prosperity. Often the charms are regarded to be transmitters of healing energies and positive vibrations, supposedly promoting a feeling of peace and tranquility.
During times of apostasy and idolatry, Israelites copied the superstitions of pagans, including the practice of wearing magic charms. God uttered a stern warning to the false prophetesses of Israel who wore amulets. It's in the Bible, Ezekiel 13:18, 20, and 21, NIV. "This is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘Woe to the women who sew magic charms on all their wrists and make veils of various lengths for their heads in order to ensnare people. Will you ensnare the lives of my people but preserve your own? I am against your magic charms with which you ensnare people like birds, and I will tear them from your arms; I will set free the people that you ensnare like birds. I will tear off your veils and save my people from your hands, and they will no longer fall prey to your power.'"
Pagan peoples also possessed larger talismans called teraphim, also known as ‘household idols'. These miniature images were kept in the home or would be taken along on journeys. God was against them. It's in the Bible, 2 Kings 23:24, NAS. "Moreover, Josiah removed the mediums and the spirits and the teraphim and the idols and all the abominations that were seen in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem; that he might confirm the words of the law which were written in the book..."
Whenever idols and other magic charms are mentioned in Scripture, God's attitude is one of chastisement against them. It's in the Bible, Psalms 31:6 NKJV. "I have hated those who regard useless idols; but I trust in the Lord."
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