WAH LOK'S WORSHIP DEVOTIONS 

Day 8 - THE MUSIC AND DANCE OF IDOLATRY

Scripture Reading: Exo 32: 17-24

Ex 32:17-24
17And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said to Moses, "There is a noise of war in the camp." 18But he said: "It is not the noise of the shout of victory, Nor the noise of the cry of defeat, But the sound of singing I hear."

19So it was, as soon as he came near the camp, that he saw the calf and the dancing. So Moses' anger became hot, and he cast the tablets out of his hands and broke them at the foot of the mountain. 20Then he took the calf which they had made, burned it in the fire, and ground it to powder; and he scattered it on the water and made the children of Israel drink it. 21And Moses said to Aaron, "What did this people do to you that you have brought so great a sin upon them?" 22So Aaron said, "Do not let the anger of my lord become hot. You know the people, that they are set on evil. 23For they said to me, 'Make us gods that shall go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.' 24"And I said to them, 'Whoever has any gold, let them break it off.' So they gave it to me, and I cast it into the fire, and this calf came out."


Discussion

While the law was being written on the stone tablets at Mount Sinai, Aaron and all Israel were committing idolatry at the bottom of the mountain. It is interesting to know that they were singing (v18) and dancing (v19). Sometimes, our very talents can be our idol. It could be our skills in an instrument or our excellence in a dance.

When the 10 commandments were first broken, the people sang and danced. We need to be careful with our talents. Use it for God's glory and never let it become our idol.


Prayer

Father, I pray that I will not have any idols in my life. I commit my talents to you again and pray you will use me only for Your glory.


© Copyright. Ng Wah Lok 2002