JUDGES 8
Jdg 8:22
Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, "Rule over us, both you and your son, and your grandson also; for you have delivered us from the hand of Midian."
Jdg 8:23
But Gideon said to them, "I will not rule over you, nor shall my son rule over you; the LORD shall rule over you."
Jdg 8:24
Then Gideon said to them, "I would like to make a request of you, that each of you would give me the earrings from his plunder." For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.
Jdg 8:25
So they answered, "We will gladly give them." And they spread out a garment, and each man threw into it the earrings from his plunder.
Jdg 8:26
Now the weight of the gold earrings that he requested was one thousand seven hundred shekels of gold, besides the crescent ornaments, pendants, and purple robes which were on the kings of Midian, and besides the chains that were around their camels' necks.
Jdg 8:27
Then Gideon made it into an ephod and set it up in his city, Ophrah. And all Israel played the harlot with it there. It became a snare to Gideon and to his house.
Just a little bit about Gideon, he was a judge appointed by God to lead the people against the Midianites & Amalekites (basically descendants of Ishmael). These tribes had set Israel to tribute and were ruling over Israel at the time. This passage of scripture happens just after Gideon finishes the job, killing the two Ishmaelite Kings.
The men of Israel are expressing a desire to have a man/king... a person to rule over them like the nations around them. In 1 Sam 8... we see a repeat of this desire and God gives them king Saul to rule over them.
1 Sam 8:22- And the LORD said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city.
It is interesting to note that sometimes God give us over to our own desires because we do not seek after his desire. We continue to lust after the things of the world, but God wants us different than the world. And when I reap the consequences of my own desire... it hurts but I am more apt to follow God afterwards.
Well, Gideon puts an end to this desire for the time being by saying "NO" God rules. But notice the rest of the passage.
While it is good to have balance and integrity in positions of leadership. It is never good to appeal to pride, lust of flesh or lust of materials while in any position. Gideon appeals to the spoils of Gods conquest. "Give me that stuff" he essentially says. And then "Im going to make my own stuff out of my stuff" As a matter of fact... somebody took time to count how much stuff there was( verse 26), I mean "Look at all the stuff WE have".... are not we too cool? God is nowhere to be found in any of this.
Jo 2:15- Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
1Jo 2:16 - For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world.
1Jo 2:17 - And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
Ok, so it really isnt that Gideon didnt have the love of the Father in him... its just that this action didnt have the love of the Father in it.
So while he starts out right by putting his foot down about God being the ruler... he makes an idol to commemorate "Gods victory".... but as we see in verse 27... God is not worshiped, but rather the thing that was made as a memorial. Even with my best intentions... if I dont keep God in it... whatever it is... is going to fail. So I have a statement that should be uttered whenever we put our minds or hands to a task: WHATEVER IT IS, PUT CHRIST IN IT.
It is not a magic potion... it takes sustained and repeated coming to God in Christ... in His Word, in worship of Him, in prayer time, in fellowship time. Practicing a true Christian lifestyle. Yeah, we all create our own stumbling blocks... but the solution is Christ, Christ again and then repeat Christ and then more Christ.
Gal 5:16 - I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
Gal 5:17 - For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.
Jdg 8:22
Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, "Rule over us, both you and your son, and your grandson also; for you have delivered us from the hand of Midian."
Jdg 8:23
But Gideon said to them, "I will not rule over you, nor shall my son rule over you; the LORD shall rule over you."
Jdg 8:24
Then Gideon said to them, "I would like to make a request of you, that each of you would give me the earrings from his plunder." For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.
Jdg 8:25
So they answered, "We will gladly give them." And they spread out a garment, and each man threw into it the earrings from his plunder.
Jdg 8:26
Now the weight of the gold earrings that he requested was one thousand seven hundred shekels of gold, besides the crescent ornaments, pendants, and purple robes which were on the kings of Midian, and besides the chains that were around their camels' necks.
Jdg 8:27
Then Gideon made it into an ephod and set it up in his city, Ophrah. And all Israel played the harlot with it there. It became a snare to Gideon and to his house.
Just a little bit about Gideon, he was a judge appointed by God to lead the people against the Midianites & Amalekites (basically descendants of Ishmael). These tribes had set Israel to tribute and were ruling over Israel at the time. This passage of scripture happens just after Gideon finishes the job, killing the two Ishmaelite Kings.
The men of Israel are expressing a desire to have a man/king... a person to rule over them like the nations around them. In 1 Sam 8... we see a repeat of this desire and God gives them king Saul to rule over them.
1 Sam 8:22- And the LORD said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city.
It is interesting to note that sometimes God give us over to our own desires because we do not seek after his desire. We continue to lust after the things of the world, but God wants us different than the world. And when I reap the consequences of my own desire... it hurts but I am more apt to follow God afterwards.
Well, Gideon puts an end to this desire for the time being by saying "NO" God rules. But notice the rest of the passage.
While it is good to have balance and integrity in positions of leadership. It is never good to appeal to pride, lust of flesh or lust of materials while in any position. Gideon appeals to the spoils of Gods conquest. "Give me that stuff" he essentially says. And then "Im going to make my own stuff out of my stuff" As a matter of fact... somebody took time to count how much stuff there was( verse 26), I mean "Look at all the stuff WE have".... are not we too cool? God is nowhere to be found in any of this.
Jo 2:15- Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
1Jo 2:16 - For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world.
1Jo 2:17 - And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
Ok, so it really isnt that Gideon didnt have the love of the Father in him... its just that this action didnt have the love of the Father in it.
So while he starts out right by putting his foot down about God being the ruler... he makes an idol to commemorate "Gods victory".... but as we see in verse 27... God is not worshiped, but rather the thing that was made as a memorial. Even with my best intentions... if I dont keep God in it... whatever it is... is going to fail. So I have a statement that should be uttered whenever we put our minds or hands to a task: WHATEVER IT IS, PUT CHRIST IN IT.
It is not a magic potion... it takes sustained and repeated coming to God in Christ... in His Word, in worship of Him, in prayer time, in fellowship time. Practicing a true Christian lifestyle. Yeah, we all create our own stumbling blocks... but the solution is Christ, Christ again and then repeat Christ and then more Christ.
Gal 5:16 - I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
Gal 5:17 - For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.
