Other gods

When reading through the Bible, especially the Old Testament, you will see many references to "other gods". These references compare the God of Israel to other gods or otherwise acknowledges that there are "other gods". (See Exodus 18:10-12, Exodus 23:12-14, Deuteronomy 11:15-17, Joshua 23:15-16, and passages in Judges, 1 Samuel, 1 & 2 Kings, 2 Chronicles, Psalms, Jeremiah, and Hosea.)

This is really confusing. Isn't God, the God of Israel, the Living God, the ONLY God? Well, here is my opinion. I think that anything that is worshiped is a god to the person doing the worshiping. But I don't think those "gods" are gods that can "do" anything, or feel anything, or fix anything, or provide hope. I think they are just people or things that are worshiped. They are gods because someone has made them gods. it takes an act of worship by a person to make it a god.

Now, the God of Israel is not that way at all. The God of Israel and of Christians is God even if no one were worshiping and praising. All of God's creation sings His praise. See Psalm 8 and Psalm 66. So, without people, God is still God because creation itself worships Him. Everything that God created sings of his mighty power and grace. John Piper writes about this in his books, one in particular is Desiring God, Meditations on a Christian Hedonist. Interesting title, huh? Piper believes that creation is for God and that we are only part of that creation. Creation isn't for us, it is for God's delight.

Anyway, God, our Father, is a living God. He alone is worthy of praise. He alone deserves all we can give. And because He is so great, we are obligated to show Him to others. We are to demonstrate His glory by telling our stories. We are to worship Him by bringing others to meet Him. He is worth that and so much more.

Think of the things you worship. They all are minuscule in comparison with God and His works. Praise God with all you do and all you are and all you say.
Psalm 150: Let Everything Praise the LORD
¹ Praise the LORD!Praise God in his sanctuary;
   praise him in his mighty heavens!
²Praise him for his mighty deeds;
   praise him according to his excellent greatness!

³Praise him with trumpet sound;
   praise him with lute and harp!
⁴ Praise him with tambourine and dance;
   praise him with strings and pipe!
⁵ Praise him with sounding cymbals;
   praise him with loud clashing cymbals!
⁶ Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! Praise the LORD!

AMEN!!

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