Reading
SAA Notes
Public health regulations today have similar concerns – pigs carry diseases and parasites that infect humans. Notice that God said: “don’t eat bats” 3,500 years ago. All carrion eaters can carry parasites and diseases from the dead animals they consume.
SJA Notes
* God of Majesty, our soul thirsts for You, the living God.
“You shall walk after the LORD your God and fear him and keep his commandments and obey his voice, and you shall serve him and hold fast to him.”
God takes idolatry seriously. Chasing after other gods, putting something else in the place of God.
We will read that in a few generations (the book of Judges) Israel does abandon the Lord and go after other gods.
The judges are raised up, and then we move into the rule of the kings.
“Nevertheless, the high places were not taken away.”
When you boil it down this is the key issue we face.
The root of our sin. The trouble of all mankind.
“Have no other gods but ME.”
We struggle with this. It is a hard word. Because the world entices us, it calls out and softens the blow with a little sweet word or a sympathising ear.
How often do we find our lives taken up with other things?
How often do we find ourselves at odds with the Lord because we’ve veered off the narrow way?
How often do we find decisions being made that take us away from God, away from His word, away from meeting with His people?
Wilfulness can very easily become idolatry. As can working hard, time out, sport, exercise, food.
We desperately need the Holy Spirit to be working in us, pointing us back to the Lord.
More of Jesus, less of us. More of His grace and mercy, less of our pride and ambition.
* Dear Lord God,
You are the great all-powerful God in whom we trust.
You fiercely and jealously call us – there are to be no other gods before You!
Please help us to be a faithful people.
Amen.