Misplaced Worship

Introduction

Compromise is often how we avoid conflict and discomfort. We think only about the short term rather than the long term consequences. It is easy to focus on what is in front of us and fail to take into account how our choices will affect us down the road. The story of Gideon is really about God’s work in the life of his leader. God calls Gideon a mighty warrior. Gideon eventually begins to act consistent with God’s words. But as we shall see today, Gideon compromised with Israel. And such action resulted in Israel again turning away from God. It is important to know whose we are, where we are going, and what is important. Gideon’s failure will help us to see what is important.

Another Challenge

God through Gideon and 300 men defeats the Midianite army. Only the power of God could have made that possible. Judges 8:1-22 is the story of Gideon’s pursuit and killing of Zebah and Zalmunna, two of the leaders of the Midianite army. After the final and decisive battle, the Israelites approach Gideon with a proposition. They want Gideon to be their king. In fact, they want to establish a royal dynasty in which Gideon’s son and eventually his grandson would rule over them.

Gideon’s response in verse 23 suggests that he will not accept their offer nor will his family. Gideon points them to God as their ruler. But Gideon would like a larger share of the plunder. He asks for the earrings from the Midianites. The people are only too glad to give him the gold. In today’s market about $150,000 worth of gold was given to him. Gideon takes the gold and melts it down and constructs an ephod. An ephod was a cloth garment worn by the high priest. It was a garment which demonstrated not only the office of high priest, but that the priest was God’s servant. The ephod was put on so that the high priest could know the will of God. The high priest came from the tribe of Levi. Gideon is from the tribe of Manasseh. The high priest stays with the tabernacle which currently resides at Shiloh. Gideon lives at Ophrah.

The ephod becomes an object of worship. Instead of going to the tabernacle, people begin to come to Gideon’s house. We are also told in verse 30 that Gideon had a lot of wives. He had 70 children born to him by these wives, including Abimelech by a concubine living in Shechem. For a man who denied the role of king, Gideon has taken on the role of one who lives like royalty and presumes to take the place of God’s high priest. Why would Gideon do this? Why would Gideon place himself in this position of power?

Lessons

Before you think I am being unfair to Gideon, let’s look at the facts. Taking the place of the high priest, allowing Israel to come to his house to worship God, taking on many wives (this was a sign of royalty and wealth), and naming a son Abimelech which means “son of the king.” Let’s give Gideon the benefit of the doubt and assume that his motives are pure and right. Here is the first lesson we need to get from this story: good motives does not guarantee right action. There have been plenty of times we have had good motives. We want to honor God; we want to point people to God, but the actions we take to do so only result in people actually losing sight of God.

Gideon constructs an ephod. Assuming good motives, he is wanting to turn Israel’s attention to God. The problem is that the people begin to worship the object rather than the one who is to be worshipped. Gideon constructs this ephod when the priesthood was corrupt. He wants to renew spiritual commitment among the people. But God had already said that his spiritual leaders were to come from the tribe of Levi. Gideon sets aside God’s specific instructions. He had good motives, but his actions violated God’s will.

Gideon compromised the truth trying to solve problems outside the will of God. Spiritual compromise means that we believe that we have the right to alter or improve the revealed will of God. Our task is to be obedient to God, not to try to improve on his ways.

Would we not agree that Paul had good motives on his way to Damascus? Would we not agree that he wanted to do the will of God? But would we not also agree that Paul was not obedient? Would we not agree that King Saul had good motives in saving the sheep for sacrifice to God? Would we not agree that at least he said he wanted to honor God? But would we not also agree that King Saul was not obedient? Would we not agree that Peter had good motives when he spoke of defending Jesus? Would we not agree that he wanted to honor God? But would we not agree that when Jesus calls his words the words of Satan, that Peter is not obedient to God?

Gideon disobeyed God. Good motives. But God was looking for obedience. That is what God wants from our lives—obedience. We can’t pick and choose what we want to obey. God’s word must be supreme in our lives.

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