The people of Judah as God’s people were supposed to be His representatives to the surrounding nations. They should be a godly influence to the people around them. Hence, it was a sad indictment to hear what God said about them. They, who were expected to set the standards for right living, became compromisers and followers of the standard of the nations that surrounded them.
Since they did not walk according to the light of the Lord which they were called to do in verse 5, God abandoned them to engage in what they so desired. These three verses listed a list of activities they were engaged in, Firstly, they embraced the fallacies and superstitions of the heathen such as soothsaying. This was a distinctive practice of the Philistines. Secondly, they compromised themselves by striking bargains with the foreigners and enrich themselves with their ill-gotten wealth. Thirdly, they placed their trust in their gold and silver and for war they trusted in their horses and chariots. Fourthly, they accumulated and venerated the idols of their own making. They would lower themselves unashamedly to those idols. As sinners, they would ultimately be humiliated in the judgment of God.
This short message reminds us of what Paul said in Romans 1:21-25, “For even
though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but
they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an
image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and [o]crawling
creatures. Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to
impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is
blessed]forever. Amen.”
It
is an extremely dangerous thing not to live rightly and walk obediently before God.
He has made us free moral beings, capable of making our choices in life. He
will not violate our volitional rights. But He will work with us so far as we
are willing. Tough situations may come our way but the final decision whether to
obey Him or not is ours to make. Sad would be the day when God stops guiding us
and leaves us to act according to our own desires and design. Without God, we
do not have the capacity to act rightly. Never forget that obedience is the
ultimate act of worship. It is the best way to remain open to receive the blessings
of God. So live obediently and walk in the light of the Lord,
for the sake of the salvation of our souls!
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