Jdg 8:22 Then the men of Israel said unto Gideon, Rule thou over
us, both thou, and thy son, and thy son's son also: for thou hast delivered us
from the hand of Midian.
Jdg 8:23 And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the LORD shall rule over you.
Jdg 8:24 And Gideon said unto them, I would desire a request of you, that ye would give me every man the earrings of his prey. (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.)
Jdg 8:25 And they answered, We will willingly give them. And they spread a garment, and did cast therein every man the earrings of his prey.
Jdg 8:26 And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was a thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold; beside ornaments, and collars, and purple raiment that was on the kings of Midian, and beside the chains that were about their camels' necks.
Jdg 8:27 And Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and all Israel went thither a whoring after it: which thing became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house.
Jdg 8:23 And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the LORD shall rule over you.
Jdg 8:24 And Gideon said unto them, I would desire a request of you, that ye would give me every man the earrings of his prey. (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.)
Jdg 8:25 And they answered, We will willingly give them. And they spread a garment, and did cast therein every man the earrings of his prey.
Jdg 8:26 And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was a thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold; beside ornaments, and collars, and purple raiment that was on the kings of Midian, and beside the chains that were about their camels' necks.
Jdg 8:27 And Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and all Israel went thither a whoring after it: which thing became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house.
Gideon declined to be made a ruler over the people saying that the LORD
shall rule you. It was the LORD that guided Gideon to victory over the
Midianites and their allies. He asked for the golden earrings of the Midianites
amounting to about fifty pounds of gold. He then made an ephod, a priestly
garment and put it in his city. This ephod became a snare to the people as they
were worshipping it instead of the LORD. He could have built a memorial
monument, but instead made this religious garment. After Gideon died the people went back to baal worship. Will our service to the LORD leave behind faith in the true God?
Man gets in the way with his
ideas instead of just doing what the LORD says. This reminds me of Peter at the
Mt. of Transfiguration seeing Moses and Elijah with the Lord, he offered to
make tabernacles for them. The LORD does not need our man made religious
things.
Mar 9:5 And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good
for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for
Moses, and one for Elias.
Mar 9:6 For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid.
Mar 9:7 And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.
Mar 9:6 For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid.
Mar 9:7 And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.
Man made religious efforts will fail, if the LORD is God, hear him, hear
Jesus and obey him. Put nothing in the way of hearing God; fancy church buildings, decorations, the
latest technology may just distract from the worship of the LORD. We must hear
from God and not be distracted by worldly methods and things.
Mat 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Mat 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
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