SCRIPTURE: Judges 6
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
The men of the town demanded of Joash, ‘Bring out your son. He must die, because he has broken down Baal’s altar and cut down the Asherah pole beside it.’ [Judges 6:30] How things have digressed. Despite God’s warnings against idolatry and Baal worship, here we have the village leaders preparing to kill Gideon because he desecrated Baal’s altar and restored God’s altar. Gideon had committed the ultimate crime, he had sinned against them (not against God), and he must die.
This passage makes me think of Jesus in the temple: Then he entered the temple area and began driving out those who were selling. “It is written,” he said to them, ” `My house will be a house of prayer’ ; but you have made it `a den of robbers.’ ” Every day he was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him. [Luke 19:45-47] His crime? He desecrated their altar to Money and restored God’s altar. Jesus also committed the ultimate crime by sinning against the religious leaders (not against God) and so He must die.
When we are angry, is it truly because we are concerned for God and His truth and justice, or is it because someone has wronged us. Are we as passionate about truth and justice for others as we are for ourselves? Do we get angry when someone cheats us, but ignore the fact the weak and helpful people are cheated all over the world?
In many ways, we have our own idols that take our top priority, while we ignore the priorities and purposes of God. Even in church. How many church battles result when someone takes down one of our idols (changing the songs, the worship style, the way we do things, etc.). In many of these battles, though we claim to be concerned for the things of God, we are really more upset because of how those actions affect us.
In many ways, “church” itself has become an idol that needs to be torn down. This is hard to do, because we can never be sue that our own motives are not driven by our own unconscious idols. I have long felt the need for the tables to be turned and the idols to be toppled, but I’ve never trusted my own motives, knowing that I have my own idols to deal with. Only with Jesus can the tables be turned over, and He always starts with us first. I do believe that the church collectively, and believers individually, need to have tables turned and idols toppled, but it needs to start within us. Where is the Lord putting His finger on an idol in me?
PRAYER:
Lord, show me my idols, and help me to topple them.
I am shamefully understanding that an idol of mine is merely having my voice heard. There is definately a balance with this, as a parent and a teacher, I am in a position of authority where my voice needs to be heard. But on the flip side of it, I need to allow myself to listen more and allow others to be heard as well.
Again the Lord raised a prophet in the land. The people had fallen away from their faithfulness to God and had forgotten all what He had done for them. Yet the Lord does not forget His people. He hears their cries.
Yet Gideon did hear about the mighty acts of the Lord and did not understands why all this was happening. We all need eyes to see and ears to hear how God speaks to His people. How faithful were His people then? Most had gone their own way. Did Gideon not realize this? How faithful are we today? Do I not realize this and pray for His Church? As Godeon needed to see the presence of the Lord I too need to see the times of today and where God is in all of this.
God spoke and after a living testimony, Gideon was willing. God still speaks today and how willing am I to shine for Jesus in this world of today. LightShine! SonLight! Help me to be a living light showing Your presence, Your faithfulness, Your Way to the world this day. Help me always to live for Jesus.
Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Thou art the Potter, I am the clay.
Mold me and make me after Thy will,
While I am waiting, yielded and still.
Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Search me and try me, Master, today!
Whiter than snow, Lord, wash me just now,
As in Thy presence humbly I bow.
Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Wounded and weary, help me, I pray!
Power, all power, surely is Thine!
Touch me and heal me, Savior divine.
Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Hold o’er my being absolute sway!
Fill with Thy Spirit ’till all shall see
Christ only, always, living in me.