4.29.9 "Those Other gods"

"Those Other gods"

Judges 9:22-10:18
Luke 24:13-53
Psalm 100:1-5
Proverbs 14:11-12

In the book of Judges the real roller coaster begins for the Israelites. In the past under the leadership of Moses and Joshua there were seasons of rebellion and disobedience, but these grow to years of distance from God. The situation described in chapter 10 is not uncommon.

"Then the people of Israel turned away from the Lord again and worshipped the heathen gods... Not only this, but they no longer worshiped Jehovah at all." (Jud. 10:6)

As would often happen their sin separated them from God's blessing, and they would find themselves in oppression and captivity. Often they would live for long periods of time in misery before having the sense to cry out to God.

"This went on for eighteen years. Finally the Israelis turned to Jehovah again and begged him to save them. 'We have sinned against you and have forsaken you as our God and have worshipped idols,' they confessed." (vs.9-10)

I love the answer God gives them. "But the Lord replied, 'Didn't I save you from the Egyptians, the Amorites, the Ammonites, the Philistines, the Sidonians, the Amalekites, and the Maonites? Has there ever been a time when you cried out to me that I haven't rescued you? Yet you continue to abandon me and to worship other gods. So go away; I wont save you any more. Go and cry to the new gods you have chosen! Let them save you in your hour of distress!" (vs11-12)

As much as we love seeing God answer others that way, we have to remember that we are so much like them. We may not have little statues on altars in our homes, but we are surrounded by other gods we serve. We can be brought into captivity by pleasure, food, debt, laziness, entertainment, and many other things.

Too often we find the people of God living in a state of captivity. The thing that makes it ridiculous is the fact that we've placed ourselves there. It's almost as if we eat unhealthy food and then say, "pray that I lose weight". That's no different than the Israelites saying, "Lord set us free" when they have the shrines to foreign gods in their homes.

So what does it take to get free?

"But they pleaded with him again and said, 'We have sinned. Punish us in any way you think best, only save us once more from our enemies.' then they destroyed their foreign gods and worshiped only the Lord;" (15-16)

I was listening to a testimony of someone who became debt free. He was asked, "How did you do it?" His answer was "I decided to do it." To be free from the captivity of "those other gods" we need to GET RID OF THEM! We need to decide to make a change in lifestyle. For each one of us it's a different issue, a different god. But we must be sincere about making a change. We must worship the Lord only.

It takes discipline to make the change. Remember discipline is the principle of Empowered Through Biblical Training. We need to be in the Word. We need to be in discipling relationships with people who will keep us accountable to Godly principles and help us through our weak times. We should not be people who are under the bondage of addictions. We need to be free in Christ. Our turning to other gods only leads to bondage. We need a revelation of the greatness of God!

"Try to realize what this means - the Lord is God! He made us - we are the sheep of His pasture." (Ps 100:3)

What happens when we truly realize what that means. I am his. He made me, and He is God! That should change the way I live. There are no other gods that have the power to save or to change lives.

Thank you Lord for what you've done in my life!



Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!

P Greg


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