1 Chronicles 14 : God and the Burned Idols

1 Chronicles 14 <God and the Burned Idols>

12. The Philistines had abandoned their gods there, and David gave orders to burn them in the fire.

◇ The Philistines united and launched an attack against Israel. They could not stand idly by while David, who had once fled to them as a refugee from Saul, became king. They could not tolerate the fact that someone who had once bowed before them—perhaps even paid tribute to them—had now risen to the throne. So they came together in alliance to attack.

David inquired of the Lord whether he should fight against them, received His answer, and went into battle to victory. To inquire of God is to commune with Him. Abraham did this, as did Moses and the judges. Communication with God was inseparable from Israel's very survival.

The same is true for Christians today. A life without communion with God cannot truly be called a Christian life.

The Philistines brought their idols with them into battle—the images of the gods they worshiped. This was customary practice in ancient warfare, stemming from their belief that their gods would grant them victory in battle.

When they were defeated, the Philistines abandoned these idols—the very images of the gods they had worshiped—and fled. They left them behind for their enemies to burn, running away without a second thought. When their demands, expectations, and desires went unfulfilled, they discarded their gods like worn-out shoes.

This is the way of idol worshipers. When their demands are not met, they abandon their gods and seek out new ones. Their gods are merely tools to fulfill their desires. Can something that is so easily discarded really be called a god? Do humans truly need gods that exist only to satisfy human cravings?

Many Christians, too, abandon and turn away from God when their desires remain unfulfilled. They turn to fortune telling, shamanic rituals, changing their names. But God is not an idol that burns up when we abandon Him. Nor is God someone who exists merely to satisfy our desires.

♧ Good and righteous God, help me to commune rightly with You. Keep me from the foolishness of treating You as a tool for my own desires. Holy Spirit, make me strong and courageous. Amen.