"Then Gideon made it into an ephod and set it up in his city, Ophrah. And all Israel played the harlot with it there. It became a snare to Gideon and to his house." Judges 8:27

After God brought a great victory to Gideon and Israel, Gideon asked the soldiers who plundered the enemy to give him the golden earrings they had taken. The soldiers were glad to honor Gideon's request. Gideon took this gold and made an ephod out of them; which was basically a coat that the priest wore over their outer garments. This golden ephod would cause Gideon's house and Israel to turn their affections towards it and away from God. When they turned their affections away from God they became guilty of adultery.

God is to be our first love, above and over everything. When we set other things above God, miss placing our affection we like Israel become guilty of spiritual adultery. We must be very careful where we place our affection. God is always to be the apple of our eye; He is to be our first love. Everything else we love is to be loved through Him as a reflection of His love. Let us be careful of the idols we set up in our lives that steal the love and affection that rightly belongs to God. Keep God first in everything at all times!

"for you shall worship no other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God" Exodus 34:14