Thursday, August 20, 2015

SOAP 08/20/2015; Jeremiah 48:7

Today's reading: Jeremiah 48, 49; Psalm 67; 1 John 1

S) "For because of your trust in your own achievements and treasures,
Even you yourself will be captured;
And Chemosh will go off into exile
Together with his priests and his princes."

Jeremiah 48:7 (NASB)

O) This is judgment against Moab. What struck me in this chapter, is that they aren't really called out for their idolatry (not like the other nations, including Judah). But what we read in this verse, is the crux of their sin: their trust in themselves and the wealth they had amassed. In a simple sense, they had made themselves "self-sufficient" and therefore idolized themselves. In the end, their fate was the same as the nations who worshiped molten or graven images.

A) In today's western culture, I don't see a lot of statuesque idols. What I do see, is a barrage of advertisements telling me what I deserve. In a strange way, capitalism feeds on the idea that I am my own god. It can be exhausting to fight off a culture that thrives on my own self-worship. The solution is not a simple, rigid, resistance of culture. It is not enough to stop myself from worshiping myself. Instead, I need to change the attention of my worship from self to the LORD. By actively seeking to worship Him, I am humbling myself as I exalt Him.

P) Father, You deserve my worship. You alone are God. You alone will I exalt, serve, and revere as my holy God. Let my lips praise You, and my heart worship You alone. In my worship of You, let me not trust in my own abilities, or my own wealth. I have nothing if I don't have You. Be exalted, as I humble myself before You. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

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