Elul 27 :: Who is Sitting on the Throne?

Who is God, except יהוה  

And who is a Rock, except our God?  - Psalm 18:31

It seems that is the question we all need to ask ourselves. Is it possible that YHVH is really not 'God' in our lives, after all? It was a sobering thought, reading today's Elul devotional from The Rabbi's Son. Several things were suggested as possible gods in our lives, taking the rightful place of YHVH. I wonder if the list will make you as uncomfortable as it did me?

1. Self - including self-will, self-absorption, and self-importance.
   (It is no surprise that this is #1 on the list.)
2. Appetite - Can I just stop right here and say, "Ouch."
   And we're not just talking ice cream and chocolate bon-bons. Appetite also disguises itself as lust, pride, greed, jealousy.
3. Fear - fear of criticism, other's opinions, all of which result in taking the least path of resistance or risk, and thereby having the least impact or influence.
4. Creed - Yes, you heard that right. There's no typo there. We all have a desire for righteousness and order, but this little "g" god masquerades as moralism, legalism, or a righteous cause. 
   The Rabbi's Son describes this as: "thinking and trying to make everybody else believe you are right." 
   (Busted.)
5. Thrill - disguised as distractions, entertainment, addiction - instead of using our natural curiosity to enrich our relationship with YHVH.
   It is so tempting to point the finger at everyone else... until I analyze why I am playing that computer Solitaire game for the 30th time, or watching YouTube videos all evening (or fill in the blank for your own distractions or addictions.) 
6. Offense - this can be due to a real wrong done to you, or it can be a result of jealousy, hatred or prejudice. It leads to a desire to see someone else hurt as payback for the hurt they inflicted.
7. Shame - Shame manipulates our conscience and tells us our worth is based on some bad thing we did or wrong choice we made.
8. Mammon - This god can affect rich or poor, because at its root is envy. Wanting something that YHVH has given to someone else, for His own good purposes.

We can't dethrone these little "g" gods from our hearts if we are not going to be honest and pretend they aren't sitting on the throne that is intended for Someone else.

Let's stop and remember Who it was that redeemed us in the first place and brought us out of our own "Egypt", whatever our bondage looked like.