ILL. A certain credit card company has a commercial set in the board room of some international corporation. A merger is in progress. The CEO says: everything is set to be finalized on the 28th.
The janitor, who happened to sweep around, turns & says, "Sorry, I’m only available on the 12th. There is a moment of silence while the board members look at each other in wonderment. Then the CEO says, "OK, the 12th it is."
A narrator then asks, "Wouldn’t you like to world to revolve around you?" The commercial goes on to inform you that if you will subscribe to their credit card you can choose your own billing date. (Source:Sermoncentral/Illustration/Pride). What a disappointment!
In fact, most of us would like the world to revolve around us. This is particularly true in the religious realm. Multitudes seek a Church or religious group that fits their preference.
They go from one to another because they don’t like the preacher, the singing, the seating, etc. Failing to find the church that suits their ego, they may even resort to starting a new group or just quitting altogether and finding a service they like on TV.
We think everyone should agree with US and everything should revolve around us. But it seldom happens.
What is an idol? An idol is anything that takes the focus of God and puts it on something else.
What does your life center around? What is the primary focus?
An idol doesn’t have to be a bad thing; it can be a good thing. Some people park their idols in their garage. Some people park their idol at the marina. Some people put their idols in their safe deposit box.
Archaeologists tell us that in every culture throughout history there have been idols: Statues little gods or goddesses. Man has a desire, for some reason, to turn objects or people or things, into objects of worship. God does not like that.
He hates that! Idol worship is a serious thing. Look at verse 5 Ex. 20, last phrase – “..of those who hate me.” God is a jealous God and desires our worship exclusively.
In Bible times there were 3 primary idols. There was Baal (female counter part, Ashtorah), who was the god of sex. There was Mammon who was the god of money. And, there was Moloch who was the god of violence. Sex, Money, Violence – What does that sound like today? (Hollywood, movies, TV)
Our shrines are not made of wood, stone, clay or metal. Today we have mental images, not metal images. Sex, money and violence.
But today I chose not to just denounce the society around us and its fascination with entertainment, movies and video games. How about religion, a “God-in-a-box” religion that so many Christians guzzle in their backyard, can be as guilty as open rebellion against God?
What happens to God’s people when they loose sight of their God-given calling? What happens to God’s people when they fail to honor the word of God as their standard of lifestyle—when they mix worldly ideas with godly ideas and develop their world view and worship from that mixture?
What happens when they compromise the essence of godliness and only retain a form of godliness in its place? We get some answers to those questions when we read the book of Judges.
One of the theme of book of Judges is the “Canaanization of Israel.” (www.stpaulskingsville.org/pdf/biblestudy/ruth)
Israel was actually called to wipe out the Canaanite’s idols and then evangelize the world. God had delivered Israel out of Egypt and made them His covenant people. He had given them a mission in life.
Just as we have been given a Great Commission, they too were given a job to do. But they lost that sense of purpose. Instead they have found a way to cohabitate with the enemy, and even copy their phony idols.
V. 1 – 2. Now a man named Micah from the hill country of Ephraim aid to his mother, "The eleven hundred shekels of silver that were taken from you and about which I heard you utter a curse—I have that silver with me; I took it." Then his mother said, "The LORD bless you, my son!"
This is not the prophet Micah. He is a spoiled brat. His mother saved money and he decided to steal it -1100 shekels of silver. She didn’t know whom the thief was, so she pronounced a curse upon him.
He got scared when he heard that and returned it, not out of conviction, but out of fear. Rather than scolding him, she blessed him. She was so glad to get the money back. She said she was dedicating it to the Lord and then she made an idol with it.
V.3. When he returned the eleven hundred shekels of silver to his mother, she said, "I solemnly consecrate my silver to the LORD for my son to make a carved image and a cast idol. I will give it back to you."
V.4. So he returned the silver to his mother, and she took 200 shekels of silver and gave them to a silversmith, who made them into the image and the idol. And they were put in Micah’s house.
V.5. Now this man Micah had a shrine, and he made an ephod and some idols and installed one of his sons as his priest.
Micah had shelves full of idols...he was steeped in idolatry. Then he appointed his son to become a priest. He didn’t qualify, and it wasn’t God’s way. It is absolute confusion spiritually, and they think they are actually serving God.
So, in this family we have coveting, stealing, cursing, dishonoring of parents, idolatry, and God knows what else. They are morally bankrupt. But if you would have gone to them and confronted them about all of this, they would say, "What? That’s your opinion. We are good, we got religion, look here – we have in our vackyard the best good looking God ever”…
This is Laodicea Americana. It’s not that we don’t have enough religion, we are up to our ears in religion. But we have left the absolute Bible authority and truth, standards, and Jesus’ authentic faiuth.
Parents are losing their kids in many cases because we are not the examples we need to be. We want them to obey, but they see us going our own way personally. Our inconsistencies will be magnified in kids, just as Micah’s mother’s wrong religion was magnified in her child. And it’s a rule: what sin we allow in moderation, our kids will continue in excess!
ILL. In a small Missouri town, 2 preacher’s boys were playing with a little dog they found, it was black with a white tail, they wanted to keep him. They loved him. Then they heard about a new family who moved in and how they had lost their dog, which was black w/ a white tail.
Their preacher dad didn’t want to have to give up the dog; so he painted the white tail black. When the neighbors asked about whether this could be their dog, he lied and said: no, the tail is the wrong color. The son’s names? Frank & Jesse James, 2 of the most notorious criminals of all time.
As parents we don’t get what we want, we get what we are.
Listen to this: “ For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me” (Ex.20:5)
Punishing the children for any sins their parents pass on to them to the third, and yes, even to the fourth generation of those who hate me (The Message)
Is not fair – some people complain about this Law, specific 2nd C. It’s about genetics, yes… children born from alcoholic parents are several times more prone to alcohol, genetics, but it’s more than this. As I said: As parents we don’t get what we want, we get what we are.
Returning to the sad story from the book of Judges 17 – the next verse, 6 provides the explanation. Why this kind of apostasy? What happened to Israel, God’s chosen people, delivered with mighty power from Egipt?
V. 6 – In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit. Chaos. No moral authority. They were driven by their own corrupted minds and hearts. I just got a new God, it’s wonderful, he likes what I like…
I am free from the tyranny of Jehovah with so many interdictions… I just a brend new god and I set it right here in my backyard…!
In Judges 17:7 we are introduced to a new character in this narrative: a Levite. The apostasy ran through the whole nation – ordinary people like Micah and his mother, as well as Levites who should have been providing sound spiritual leadership. They should but they didn’t.
Notice first that this Levite is young. In fact, he may have even been too young to be a priest. But his age is most significant when we examine Micah’s relationship with him. In verse 10 we have Micah’s offer to the young man is “Live with me and be my father and priest...”
That is a flattering offer—a title of respect and position—“...be my father and priest...” But notice in the next verse what the relationship really becomes. “So the Levite agreed to live with him, and the young man was to him like one of his sons.”
Micah has managed to retain control. But by putting a Levite in charge of his house church he has given it more legitimacy.
Now just a comment about what motivates Micah. Look at Judges 17:13
“And Micah said, ‘Now I know that the LORD will be good to me, since this Levite has become my priest.’”
Micah has one thing in mind—his own personal prosperity. He is not dedicated to God, but intent on manipulating and using God for his own ends.
This touches upon a very important issue. God has called us to love Him with all our heart, mind, soul, and being. Our relationship with God should be one of devotion—a debt of love and adoration—placing ourselves at His disposal as His servants.
This is very different from the pagan, Canaanite view of God and worship. Pagans strive to manipulate the gods to their own ends. Baal was the fertility god so they sacrificed to him and tried to maneuver him to make their crops grow and prosper them.
This is not even close to the relationship we are to have with God! Be very careful when you are finding ways to put God in box and make Him do what you want Him to do. He most likely will not fit in these religious boxes. He is not some pagan deity that can be manipulated. He is the Almighty Lord of all!
Prof. Bob Goudzwaard wrote a book “Idols of Our Time” in which he stated three basic Biblical rules:
1. Every person is serving god(s) in his life.
2. Every person is transformed into an image of his god.
3. Mankind creates and forms a structure of society in its own image.
Scary isn’t? How about us, how about you? Is this a mirror of our heart, too?
Are looking for a bargain God who fits your cravings? your mentality? Building a backyard religion and hiring Levites, tithing them to serve you? To tell how good you are?
I have bad news and good news for everybody listening to this message. Isaiah 2:20-21
20 In that day men will throw away to the rodents and bats
their idols of silver and idols of gold,
which they made to worship.
21 They will flee to caverns in the rocks and to the overhanging crags
from dread of the LORD and the splendor of his majesty,
when he rises to shake the earth.
These words, the very same, are used in the book of Revelation to describe the agony of all, old or modern idol worshipers, at the Second Coming of Jesus.
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Ex. 20: 4-6: "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand of generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
Three-four generation vs. a thousand of generation… this is the proportion between the Justice of God disciplining His children, and His grace, for a thousands of generation, forever…
Our sins and mistakes are not just concerning ourselves, we cannot say: is no one business what I am doing… Oh yes, it is… It’s about your family, it’s about your children and grandchildren, it’s about everyone around you and being influenced by you.
And fortunately the same rule applies to your prayers and your genuine dedication to Jesus… your dedication, your spirituality, will pay off – stars in your crown of glory will be precious souls saved.
Don’t’ you love this God? Is not much better to respond to this love to love as well? This is Jesus: “showing love to a thousand of generations of those who love me and keep my commandments”…
I will be like Jesus, is this your pledge too?
Let’s sing # 311, I Would Be Like Jesus
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I used some material from http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/BringBackTheGlory.html
