Judges 2:19-20 And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they returned, and corrupted themselves more than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them, and to bow down unto them, they ceased not from their own doings, nor from their stubborn way. And the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel; and he said, Because that this people hath transgressed my covenant which I commanded their fathers, and have not hearkened unto my voice.
The gods of this world are demons. When Israel turns to the world and follows after their gods, they corrupt themselves. They do not realize how filthy and corrupt they really are when they fear, love, and trust any other god but the One True God.
Filth and corruption is what God sees, and the Law reveals it to us. We become dirty when we break the covenant (the Ten Commandments). We sin when we do not hearken to Him (listen, believe, and obey the Word of God). Think about how serious this is: every sin, even if it seems small, breaks the bond between us and God. This makes us dirty, foul, stinky, and corrupt. This is the result of not stopping from our own doing and our stubborn way.
When convicted, we cry out to God in godly sorrow, repentance, and faith. He is faithful to forgive us, and the blood of Christ cleanses us from all sin. We are clean, pure, fresh, and fragrant once again. That’s the gospel of deliverance from our own selfish way. For sin is selfish and Self is the false god we serve. We listen to the “Judge,” the Deliverer, and we are restored to righteousness and cleanliness before God. Rinse, repeat. The cycle never stops.