In the book of Judges we learned how, “Gideon built an altar there unto the LORD, and called it Jehovahshalom: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abiezrites”, and in chapter six and verse twenty-five of Judges, we learn howJehovah God tells Gideon, “throw down the altar of Baal that your father has” where we read,
And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said unto him, Take your father's young bullock, even the second bullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that your father has, and cut down the grove that is by it:
The verse reads, “And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said unto him, Take your father's young bullock, …” The writer began with the words, “and it came to pass” which means “and the following occurred or happened” “the same night” or “that selfsame evening or nighttime”, “that the LORD” which means “that Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God” “said unto him” or “uttered, declared and proclaimed to him, Gideon”, “take now your father’s young bullock” which means “seize, your, Gideon’s, immediate male progenitor and ancestor’s, youthful bull, head of cattle or cow”. The writer shared how Jehovah God instructed “Gideon” to fetch his father’s “bull” and do the following with it.
The verse goes on to say, “even the second bullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that your father has, and cut down the grove that is by it.” The writer continued with the words, “even the second bullock” which means “also and indeed the second bull, head of cattle or cow” “of seven years old” or “that was seven annual sets of days in age” “and throw down the altar” “and cast, the sacrificial worship place” “of Baal” which means “belonging to Baal whose name means ‘lord’ and was the supreme male divinity of the Phoenicians or Canaanites”, “that your father has” or “that your, Gideon’s, immediate male progenitor and ancestor owns and possesses”, “and cut down the grove” which means “and cut off and eliminate the sacred trees or poles set up” “that is by it” or “that exists next to and beside the altar to Baal”. The writer shared how Jehovah God told “Gideon” to fetch a second bull that was seven “years of age”, and he was to cast down the sacrificial worship place that his father set up for “Baal” and the sacred trees that were near the altar.
When we think through the words in this verse, we learn how Jehovah God put “Gideon” into action after he realized he was in His presence. That very nighttime God told “Gideon” to fetch his father’s youthful bull and another bull that was seven years of age. “Gideon” was to tear down his “father’s” sacrificial place which was dedicated to “Baal” along with the garden of “sacred” trees that were beside it. God wanted the place of worship of this false god to be removed. God wants us to eliminate all the places of worship for false gods in our lives, and this is done when we yield ourselves to His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was raised from the dead after three days. God will forgive our sins, grant us eternal life and give us His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth as we put our faith and trust in Him. Let all who read these words tear down their altars to false gods and worship Jehovah God who is the One and Only True God in the world.
Next time we learn how, “Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as the LORD had said”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
