Getting Rid of Idols of My Heart and Making Room for God
Scripture Passage: Deuteronomy 27:11-26 (NASB)
11 Moses also commanded the people on that day, saying, 12 “When you cross the Jordan, these tribes shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin. 13 For the curse, these tribes shall stand on Mount Ebal: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali. 14 The Levites shall then respond and say to all the people of Israel with a loud voice,
15 ‘Cursed is the person who makes a carved image or cast metal image, an abomination to the Lord, the work of the hands of a craftsman, and sets it up in secret.’ And all the people shall reply and say, ‘Amen.’
16 ‘Cursed is one who treats his father or mother contemptuously.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
17 ‘Cursed is one who displaces his neighbor’s boundary marker.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
18 ‘Cursed is one who misleads a person who is blind on the road.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
19 ‘Cursed is one who distorts the justice due a stranger, an [f]orphan, or a widow.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
20 ‘Cursed is he who sleeps with his father’s wife, because he has uncovered his father’s garment.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
21 ‘Cursed is one who has sexual intercourse with any animal.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
22 ‘Cursed is he who sleeps with his sister, the daughter of his father or of his mother.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
23 ‘Cursed is he who sleeps with his mother-in-law.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
24 ‘Cursed is he who attacks his neighbor in secret.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
25 ‘Cursed is he who accepts a bribe to attack an innocent person.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
26 ‘Cursed is anyone who does not fulfill the words of this Law by doing them.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
SUMMARY
Moses made each tribe to stand on each mountain and to declare the blessings and the curses. Moses declares the curses of the sin of idol worship, dishonoring parents, injustice against the socially disadvantaged, sexual immoralities, attempting to kill a neighbor and disobeying the law.
MEDITATION & REFLECTION
This passage, Moses reminds the tribes what their identity is in Christ and what it means to obey God. While reading this passage, I realized how sinful I was and that I have forgotten about God. I realized that I have so many idols in my life such as my phone, my puppy, my work etc. Lately I haven’t been spending much time with God because I have been making excuses of feeling tired after work but in reality, I am able to make time if I really wanted to do it. The verse, “Cursed is the man who makes an idol or a molten image, an abomination to the Lord, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and sets it up in secret” resonated with me because I realized my flesh has been so attached to this world lately. This passage reminds me of my identity in Christ and God’s wrath if I disobey.
I have also stopped trying to preach the gospel to my parents because I started to give up and lose hope. I realized that this is also dishonoring to my parents. I have failed to honor my parents wholeheartedly.
APPLICATION
I will spend just 5 minutes of my time each day reading a passage of the Bible and reflect on it with my wife. I will also pray every night and ask the Holy Spirit to fill my heart with the desire to seek God. I will also start to watch Sunday service with my parents and to call them after Sunday service with any questions they have about the sermon.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, thank you for reminding me what it means to obey you Lord. I repent for worshipping the idols in my life and not honoring my parents wholeheartedly. I pray that you remind me what it means to be a follower of Christ and to show me how I can be a witness to you for others. I pray that you will equip me with understanding the Word and help me understand it more so that I can preach the gospel to my parents and coworkers. Help me honor my parents and rid of the idols in my life. Help me prioritize you Lord and give me the desire to seek you more and more.
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