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Judges 18

Good Morning “Recognizers of Idols.”  Today we are in Judges 18.

Today we continue with the theme - Worship God plus nothing.  It’s a dangerous thing when Gods people depart from the Word of God.  Departure demonstrates ignorance and/or abject rebellion.  Rebellion says I know better than God what I need, what is best.  Notice the Danites here - stealing Micah’s idol and essentially kidnapping his priest that they might worship God better… do you see the irony?  They didn’t need any of it!  

God was and is clear!  Crystal clear!  We are to worship Him plus nothing!  

”“You shall have no other gods before Me. “You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.“
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭20‬:‭3‬-‭6‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

Notice in this command it includes ALL idols “or likeness of what is in heaven.”  It DOES NOT say “Unless it’s an idol that helps you worship me.”  What kinds of things can you think of that are acceptable in our culture that “add” to our worship of God?  

Wearing a cross necklace, or displaying a Jesus fish on your car isn’t in and of itself sinful.  However; when the display becomes more about making a statement, or that thing becomes an object of your worship - we’ve replaced the Real Thing with an idol or image.  

It isn’t that they weren’t worshiping Him, at least in “Their own way”; but they commingled an idol into their worship.  They made worship what they wanted it to be, instead of what God said it was.  “They continued to use the idol Micah had made, all the time the house of God was in Shiloh.“
‭‭Judges‬ ‭18‬:‭31‬ ‭NIV‬‬

What was their biggest problem?  We’re reminded more than once through Judges… “They did what they thought was right in their own eyes.” (Judges 17:6, 21:25)

We DON’T have to try to figure it out on our own, and do what “we think” is right.  He’s given us His Word!  Not just to read, but to live!

Love you all!  Dig in! Live it!