Judges 2:16-17
16 Then the Lord raised up judges, who saved them out of the hand of those who plundered them. 17 Yet they did not listen to their judges, for they whored after other gods and bowed down to them. They soon turned aside from the way in which their fathers had walked, who had obeyed the commandments of the Lord, and they did not do so.
In verse 17 the Israelites are accused of having "whored after other gods". This is an interesting choice of words; what does it mean for us to "whore" ourselves to other gods? A whore or prostitute is someone who will do a sexual act for money; they will do most anything for a payoff at the end. Rather than a loving, committed relationship, they are using their bodies to gain something. So to whore ourselves to other gods is to offer ourself to other gods in an attempt to gain something. E.g. "you want good crops? Then offer a sacrifice to this god, because they might help you." Or "you want to be married? Then do what the local witch-doctor/relationship-expert tells you to do". The Israelites abandoned having a committed, faithful relationship with the one true God, and instead prostituted themselves by offering themselves to any idol that they thought would help them. We likewise make the same mistake when we trust in modern-day idols rather than in the eternal true God.
God, I confess to sometimes ignoring You and following other voices to get what I want. Help me to trust You and be faithful to You.
16 Then the Lord raised up judges, who saved them out of the hand of those who plundered them. 17 Yet they did not listen to their judges, for they whored after other gods and bowed down to them. They soon turned aside from the way in which their fathers had walked, who had obeyed the commandments of the Lord, and they did not do so.
In verse 17 the Israelites are accused of having "whored after other gods". This is an interesting choice of words; what does it mean for us to "whore" ourselves to other gods? A whore or prostitute is someone who will do a sexual act for money; they will do most anything for a payoff at the end. Rather than a loving, committed relationship, they are using their bodies to gain something. So to whore ourselves to other gods is to offer ourself to other gods in an attempt to gain something. E.g. "you want good crops? Then offer a sacrifice to this god, because they might help you." Or "you want to be married? Then do what the local witch-doctor/relationship-expert tells you to do". The Israelites abandoned having a committed, faithful relationship with the one true God, and instead prostituted themselves by offering themselves to any idol that they thought would help them. We likewise make the same mistake when we trust in modern-day idols rather than in the eternal true God.
God, I confess to sometimes ignoring You and following other voices to get what I want. Help me to trust You and be faithful to You.