Judges 8:27
"And Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and all Israel went thither a whoring after it: which thing became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house."
Judges 8:27 presents a pivotal moment in the life of Gideon, demonstrating the consequences of his actions after leading Israel to victory over the Midianites. In this verse, Gideon with good intentions creates an ephod—a sacred garment meant for priestly use—out of the gold collected from the spoils of battle. However, while initially a symbol of victory, this ephod became a snare, drawing Israel into idolatry as people began to worship it. The passage highlights the danger of turning the blessings of God's grace into objects of worship, a reminder of how easily human depraved hearts can fall into idolatry, even after experiencing Divine deliverance.
The ephod was part of the priestly garment, and it covered the front of the priest, the breast, both in the front and in the back. It was worn over the shoulders and kept together by a tie or girdle; it was a breastplate. Exodus 28:4 says, "And these are the garments which they shall make: a breastplate, and an ephod, and a robe, and a broidered coat, a mitre, and a girdle: and they shall make holy garments for Aaron thy brother, and his sons, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office." Now, we begin to see where the subtle departure is taking place. Gideon wasn’t one of these priests. It wasn’t his responsibility to make an ephod. He established the ephod in his city, but "all Israel went thither a whoring after it," and it may be that even after Gideon was gone, it became more manifest. We see that it became "a snare unto Gideon and to his house." This indicates that even Gideon himself saw what he had done as an evil thing. It serves as a warning to all of us that idolatry is never far from us, whether it is elevating a man, as they sought to do with Gideon, or elevating an object or a thing.
In Idolatry, the word "idol" comes from the word "idea," and man has an idea of a god according to his imagination. He takes that idea and represents it, putting it in a form that embodies that god. Many forms of deities are physically represented in our races and cultures; such is idolatry. But there is more than just that. Like any sin, idolatry comes from within. It is out of the heart that corruption flows (Jeremiah 17:9). What is in the heart shapes our view of the world and affects our desires toward the things of the world. It’s important to recognize that there is a spiritual idolatry, which the Scriptures refer to as will-worship (Colossians 2:23). The number one idol of man is himself. The word "idol" begins with the word "I." When you consider that, you see that this is fundamentally what drives everything a man thinks. If God doesn't keep His hand on us, this depraved heart, without any sort of restraint, will lead us back into idolatry.
In 1 John 5:21, we read, "Little children, keep yourselves from idols." If this weren’t a reality, a truth, a danger, that we all must face, even as God's children, it wouldn’t be commanded of even the children of God. We would simply say, "Well, it’s out there in the world." No, if we are the Lord's chosen, redeemed ones, called by the Spirit, we know that we continue to struggle with our number one idol: ourselves.
Idolatry is a snare. A snare is something that catches you unawares. With reason we sing the hymn:
"Pass me not, O gentle Savior,
Hear my humble cry.
While on others Thou art calling,
Do not pass me by."
We are brought to see that if the Lord were to ever leave us to ourselves, we would be caught in the snare of our idolatry and will-worship. But it is the Great Shepherd who keeps His sheep, even those who have wandered from the fold. He knows His sheep. He is going to have everyone He ever purchased, and He will bring them safely back to the fold, as He has promised (John 10:27-29).
We know in our hearts, as sinful and idolatrous as we are by nature, that the Lord must keep us and give us rest. He said, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). Only the LORD Jesus can give that quietness and rest as the Representative of His people. There is no rest under the guidance and direction of men. All of us have, at one time or another, sat under pastors who ruled with a heavy hand, were very legalistic, and demanded much, lording over us. There is no rest in that kind of leadership or preaching. The Lord is King, and He directs His church. He is the Great Shepherd, and we need Him as much as anybody. Although we may be blessed to sit under the clear sound of the Gospel, yet, left to ourselves, we would quickly go our own way did the LORD not keep us. In Galatians 1:6 we have Paul's concern for those for whom He had preached Christ and His finished work, but were beginning to look away to "another gospel." "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel."
Nevertheless, our confidence is that those who are the LORD's chosen and redeemed ones, so complete was Christ’s work, in earning and establishing Righteousness and laying down His life to pay their complete sin debt, that He is their rest from every other work or way. He keeps each one from going away into idolatry. That’s where true rest is. That’s where true quietness is. It is in Christ and His finished work accomplished to the satisfaction of God the Father.
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