Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen...the Wayfarer 7/21/14

Go and Cry unto the Gods WhichYE have Chosen

7/21/14

 

"Go and cry unto the gods ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation."

(Judges 10 :14)

Israel, despite having been delivered numerous times throughout their history by God while He honored the covenant made with them, blindly and inexorably chose to violate that covenant despite having seen the results of that violation each time they wandered away from what was asked of them.

A question I often have been asked, and that perhaps should have been asked by this stubborn and stiff-necked people, so loved by God, is, simply, in the terms of an old country boy, "How many times will God tolerate the stray dog biting His hand while trying to feed him until He no longer offers food to that stray, and choose instead to be rid of the creature once and for all?"

"And the Lord said unto the children of Israel, Did not I deliver you from the Egyptians, and from thee Amorites, from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines?

The Zidonians also, and the Amelekites, and the Maonites, did oppress you; and ye cried out to me, and I delivered you out of their hand.

Yet have ye forsaken me and served other gods: wherefore I will deliver you no more.

Go and cry unto the gods ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation."

(Judges 10:11-14)

As we read just a bit further on, the children of Israel repented, admitting their sin, asking that God do whatever He saw as right and good for them, while begging for deliverance just once more.

They put away the strange gods, and served the Lord once more, once again gaining the attention, mercy and grace of God through being His people once more.

Strange gods are again honored and worshipped above our Lord, many not even called gods by those worshipping them, not even seeing them as gods, but yet seeing them as things more important than God.

Though few admit to worshipping those things, worship is the only word defining the importance of those things to them.

Money, the things it can buy, rich jewelry, clothing, cars, homes, properties held... all these take precedence over God in the lives of those having no recognition of God, or of their own eternal soul that must give account for what is being worshipped.

The covenant given was denied and violated again and again, then watered down in meaning to the point that it held no validity on the part of those given it, requiring that a new, more understandable, easier to both comprehend and follow be given.

God's commitment and love for His people never waivered, never changed, and never shall!

Mankind, also seems not to have changed its wandering ways, continuing to bite the hand of the kind Master that chooses to continue to feed us with the promise made through that new covenant.

Given the proclivity of our own lack of tolerance for continued attack by anything or anyone despite kindness shown, and love given, I ask once more, "How many times will the stray bite the hand feeding it before that hand is withdrawn, to give wrath instead of the proffered kindness leading to complete dismissal, and destruction of the offending stray?

The final covenant given offers both that kindness and love, not only to the Jew, but the Gentile alike.

It also contains a warning clause of what to expect if that covenant is not followed.

Jesus continually showed compassion during his ministry. He continually taught all the tenets of that new covenant necessary to actually be God's people...needed to worship in Spirit and in Truth.

He continually sounded the warning of what was to befall those who chose to ignore what was given as well!

Those teachings were simple and straightforward, leaving no doubt as to their clarity, no grey areas open for debate left within them.

Yet, debate occurs, grey areas are submitted and accepted where none exist, and warnings go unheeded.

Promises made through that new covenant are considered somehow inadequate by those preferring to choose their own gods, whatever those gods might be.

Tribulations occur in all lives, and will always occur in all lives, yet somehow the trust seems to be in those false gods who have delivered exactly none of what they promise.

Drivel is more readily accepted than truth.

Truth is in fact a stranger to the majority, who prefer the pretty lies given by men...  given men by Lucifer, in place of that Truth!

Just as that old covenant was ignored and violated in pursuit of what men taught and gave in its place, so too is that final covenant being ignored despite the deliverance given, only through it, again and again to those choosing to honor it.

When the multitude followed Him after having been fed through the miracle  recorded of the five loaves of bread and two fishes, coming to Capernaum seeking him out once more on the opposite side of the sea from where that miracle occurred Jesus commented on their reasoning for having done so:

"Jesus answered them and said, verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.

Labor not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed."

(John 6:26 &27)

Too many claim Christianity only for the benefits to be derived by that claim while on this earth while denying what Christianity actually entails, following Jesus, truly following the simple requirements of that new covenant... a single commandment given, a single commission given, a single way to  BE God's people given us by HIM.
Forgotten is that that promise of eternal life is ETERNAL; that life comes only with the decisions made while still capable of being made, IN THIS LIFE, the choice of acceptance of the gift given, or the rejection of that gift given through the blood sacrifice of Christ, Who also had to experience the trials and turmoil of this temporal life by all mortal men.

"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."

(John 14:1-6)

There is still only one Way, one Truth and one eternal Life.

The promise lies within that way, truth and life!

2 Timothy 1:12 King James Version (KJV)

¹² For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

The warning exists for all choosing those other gods in place of that promise.

"And Jesus came, and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen"

(Matthew 28:18-20

"And behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last."

(Revelation 22: 12&13)

Even so come quickly, Lord Jesus!

Amen and Amen!
the Wayfarer