A deadly slippery slope

 

READ Judges 17–21

Today’s reading is like a horror movie. First, a man of Israel stole from his mother, admitted it and she gave some of what he had stolen to make a batch of household gods like those worshiped by the nations that the Lord’s people were to defeat. He went farther by consecrating one of his sons as his priest, thus establishing his own cult and belief system. His actions are summed up: “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” (Judges 17:6)

Pausing here, this shows the rock-bottom results of doing our own thing. Isaiah wrote that sin is “turning to our own way” and how easily we do it, particularly in spiritual matters as well as every-day matters. This man thought this was the right thing to do because there was no leadership to tell him otherwise. Going my own way is like that, whether there is no leader or I refuse to listen to or obey whatever authority I do have. In the matter of worship, my authority is the Word of God, but I cannot read it and then do whatever I think is right without putting myself on a slippery slope.

In the next section of this reading, a young Levite happens to visit this man and winds up accepting the role of his personal priest and being paid for it. It is enough to say that serving God for money is not serving God at all. He did it for what he could get out of it.

Soon a larger group from an Israeli tribe came along and took the Levite and the idols for themselves. They told this ‘priest’ to: “Keep quiet; put your hand on your mouth and come with us and be to us a father and a priest. Is it better for you to be priest to the house of one man, or to be priest to a tribe and clan in Israel?” And the priest’s heart was glad. He took the ephod and the household gods and the carved image and went along with the people.” (Judges 18:19–20) Eventually those carved images were set up and treated as their gods.

Again I pause. Is this not still happening? How many go their own way, establish their own religious group, enjoy financial prosperity, and consider their growth as ‘better’ and even proof that they are on the right track? Reading this makes me feel a bit sick to my stomach.

But it gets worse. Another Levite  has a concubine, a term for someone other than a primary wife, even a sex-slave. She was unfaithful, left him and went to her father’s house. He went to retrieve her and wound up in a drinking party with her father that lasted for several days. Then he took her to another place, was taken in by an older man, ate and drank while “worthless” men gathered at the door wanting to “know” this young man, a euphemism for sex. The older fellow offered them his virgin daughter and the concubine instead, but they didn’t listen. The Levite made his concubine go out and they abused her all night until she died. What did the Levite do? He cut her into twelve pieces and sent them to the twelve tribes of Israel.

The upshot was a war with the clan or tribe where this happened. At first, that tribe seemed to win, but were eventually defeated. The Israelites swore not to give any of their daughters in marriage to that tribe. However, they felt sorrow for that decision and arranged another battle to secure young women for them, plus allowed them to kidnap their women, thus ensuring this one tribe would not be lost because there were no more marriages.

The book ends with: “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25) and again I think this is the bottom of that slippery slope, the result of giving in to doing what a deceived mind thinks is right rather than listening to and obeying God.

This brings to mind an incredible series of sermons in our church about the Seven Deadly Sins — and why they are so deadly. If any of them are committed and not taken to the Lord in confession and repentance, they will eventually lead to death. They begin with that attitude of “it seems like a good idea” but end in great calamity. Doing what is right in our own eyes does not work out well.

God warns His people, yet history shows that sin is stronger than warnings. It is only overcome by the powerful work of Jesus Christ who died for it and lives in us that we might have His power and grace to overcome our foolish and destructive “I wants” that otherwise will destroy us.

Lord Jesus, I am so grateful to You for giving me Yourself, Your life, Your loving forgiveness and the power to say NO to all the ideas that fly through my head in opposition to Your leading and Your will. Without You, I know what I would do, and it would not be pretty. Thank You for saving me from myself.

 

Conquer the Seven Deadliest

 

 

READ Proverbs 5-8

In Scripture, death is about separation. It can refer to physical death in which life and the body are separated. It can also refer to spiritual death in which people are separated from God and not ‘alive’ to Him but in darkness regarding spiritual truth.

In Scripture, the Laws of God are often thought of as strict rules that inhibit the enjoyment of life, but that notion totally misses it. God created us and like anyone who creates anything, He knows what will ruin our lives and lead to death, spiritual and physical or both.

And the Lord commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as we are this day. (Deuteronomy 6:24)

I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me forever, for their own good and the good of their children after them . . . . I will rejoice in doing them good . . . .” (Jeremiah 32:39-41)

Scripture speaks of sins that lead to death and a list has been made called the Seven Deadly Sins. This list comes from biblical statements about their danger to us, and even though the average person does not see the danger in dabbling in them, the danger is there. Sin always separates people from God. This is eternal for those who do not seek redemption, but even Christians who mess with sin lose fellowship with their Savior until they repent and abandon that sin. Continuing in it could lead to physical death. Two examples:

LUST is the context for these warnings:

The iniquities of the wicked ensnare him, and he is held fast in the cords of his sin. He dies for lack of discipline, and because of his great folly he is led astray. (Proverbs 5:22–23)

He who commits adultery lacks sense; he who does it destroys himself. He will get wounds and dishonor, and his disgrace will not be wiped away. (Proverbs 6:32–33)

With much seductive speech she persuades him; with her smooth talk she compels him. All at once he follows her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a stag is caught fast till an arrow pierces its liver; as a bird rushes into a snare; he does not know that it will cost him his life. (Proverbs 7:21–23)

SLOTH or laziness is another of the seven:

How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man. (Proverbs 6:9–11)

Several of the seven can combine and be seen in . . .

A worthless person, a wicked man, goes about with crooked speech, winks with his eyes, signals with his feet, points with his finger, with perverted heart devises evil, continually sowing discord; therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly; in a moment he will be broken beyond healing. (Proverbs 6:12–15)

Playing in traffic could be safe for a while, even a long time, but the danger is there, not just in the activity but in the defiant self-confidence of those who break God’s commands. Thinking my way and my ideas are safe is folly, not because God is trying to reign over me and ruin my ‘fun’ but because those sins are called “deadly” for good reason.

Living according to the instruction manual God gave for His creation is the same principle of using the instruction manual for anything. If I don’t oil my sewing machine, or update my computer, or put the right type of gasoline in my car, eventually those things will break down and be useless. This is why God’s Word is not only practical for life, it is vital!

“And now, O sons, listen to me: blessed are those who keep my ways. Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it. Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors. For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord, but he who fails to find me injures himself; all who hate me love death.” (Proverbs 8:32–36)

Jesus, keep my mind on Your will today. Help me to spot temptations and avoid all thoughts that lead to saying and doing anything that puts me on that slippery slope of disobedience. Keep me focused on the opposite of that deadly list, on humility, generosity, chastity, gratitude, temperance, patience, and discipline by filling me with your precious Spirit.