Idolatry (Judges 9:3-4)

1/22/2010 9:46 AM

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY

 

My Worship Time                                        Focus:  Idolatry

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                        Reference:  Judges 9:3-4

 

            Message of the verse:  “3  And his mother’s relatives spoke all these words on his behalf in the hearing of all the leaders of Shechem; and they were inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, "He is our relative." 4 They gave him seventy pieces of silver from the house of Baal-berith with which Abimelech hired worthless and reckless fellows, and they followed him.”

            Warren Wiersbe points out that Abimelech broke the first two commandments which are as follows:  “. 3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 4  Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 5  Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; 6  And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.”

            These two verses in Judges nine show that Abimelech was his own god, and that he had no interest in God’s will for the nation of Israel.  He was also in bed with those who worshipped Baal for he took money from them and hired some worthless terrorists to do his dirty work of killing his sixty-nine brothers so that there was none who would be able to lead Israel from Gideon’s family.

            It is interesting that at the end of chapter eight of Judges that it records that Israel had peace for forty years and that is the last time that they had peace in the book of Judges.  (I am speaking of peace in the land).

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I have written on different occasions that the things that are written in the OT are for me to learn from, and that the actions that are taken by people such as Abimelech were sinful and just because they are in the Bible do not mean that I should repeat them, but as stated I should learn from them and as far as the sinful things should not repeat in my life.  Those from the OT that are mentioned in the NT do not have any of their sins mentioned in the NT because the blood of Christ has cleansed them and they are clean.

 

My Steps of Faith for Today:

 

1. 1.  I have been asked by a couple of people to speak with them about concerns of the church, and because I was ready to leave the church and seek another one until I had a meeting with our Pastor some people want to know why I changed my mind.  As I go to meet with Pat and Ernie I pray that the Spirit of the Lord who lives in me will have control of my mind and my heart and especially my tongue for Proverbs 10:19 says:  “When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, But he who restrains his lips is wise.”

 

1/22/2010 11:02 AM