Pastor Rusty Milton
Judges 8:22-25 ESV
Pastor Rusty Milton
"I Am My Own Authority"

In Judges 8, we see how the pursuit of gold and glory led Gideon and his people into idolatry. He had a good theology in theory, but in practice, he failed miserably because he made it about him. God cares very seriously how we worship. We are not free to invent ways of worship, as though it's a recipe we can add things to to satisfy our own appetites. It's a recipe that is given to us that will lead us into a true relationship with God. There is always a temptation to make worship about us, but true worship is about a strong desire for God rooted in truth. 

How do we apply this to our lives? Remember that true worship includes truth, engaging with our hearts, empowered by the Spirit. How do you see worship? Something you can manipulate for your own enjoyment? Or a recipe for intimacy given by God?

Judges 8:22-35
English Standard Version
Gideon's Ephod

22 Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, “Rule over us, you and your son and your grandson also, for you have saved us from the hand of Midian.” 23 Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over you, and my son will not rule over you; the Lord will rule over you.” 24 And Gideon said to them, “Let me make a request of you: every one of you give me the earrings from his spoil.” (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.) 25 And they answered, “We will willingly give them.” And they spread a cloak, and every man threw in it the earrings of his spoil. 26 And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was 1,700 shekels[a] of gold, besides the crescent ornaments and the pendants and the purple garments worn by the kings of Midian, and besides the collars that were around the necks of their camels. 27 And Gideon made an ephod of it and put it in his city, in Ophrah. And all Israel whored after it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and to his family. 28 So Midian was subdued before the people of Israel, and they raised their heads no more. And the land had rest forty years in the days of Gideon.