Gideon made the gold into an ephod, which he placed in Ophrah, his town. All Israel prostituted themselves by worshiping it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and his family. – Judges 8:27

Today’s Scripture Reading (November 5, 2012): Judges 8

A number of years ago a good friend of mine went to a church that he did not normally attend. Apparently, it was an amazing service and there was a move of God in the service that was unlike anything that he had ever experienced before. And at the close of the service the worship band sang the Bill Gaither standard “More of You.” And apparently at that moment God came crashing down into the service. People who had not spoken civilly to each other for decades were seen seeking each other out to ask for forgiveness. Tears were everywhere as old hurts were being dealt with. God finally was able to reach through barriers and people began to realize that what they needed the most was not vindication or the ability to say that they were in the right in a decades long argument – their need was simply Jesus. What they really needed was more of Him.

But when my friend came back to his church it became apparent that somehow he had missed the point of everything that he had witnessed. His request to the worship leader was that every Sunday for the next few months the congregation be led in the Gaither standard. The idea that had implanted itself in his mind is that God would move in his congregation as long as the people sang the song “More of You.” The song had moved from being a tool that had been used by God to a talisman that would bring God to bear on a problem. And the song, in a very real way, had become an idol to be worshiped.

God did amazing things through Gideon. But Gideon was only an instrument in the hands of God. That was the meaning of the entire struggle Gideon went through to gather the army. God was saying that he would use him, but the victory would remain God’s. And I think that Gideon had great intentions after the battle. He turned down the cry to make him king and to make his sons kings. But he did take a token of the plunder and with that plunder he meant to build a memorial to God, but he unwittingly created an idol – one that would cause a problem to both his family and his people as they came to worship it rather than the God to whom the victory belonged.

We are a superstitious people. And we would often prefer to place our trust in the things that we create rather than the God that created us. It happens too often inside the church. And our only defense is that we remember that what we are really in need of is more of Him.

More of You, More of You.

I’ve had all but what I need just more of You

Of things I’ve had my fill and yet I hunger still

Empty and bare, Lord hear my prayer for more of You.  

(Gloria Gaither, William Gaither, Gary Paxton – 1977)

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Judges 9