Title [Second Sunday in Lent] Deuteronomy 7:1~11 (2011.3.20)
Contents
Title: The Separated Life of God's People
Text: (Deuteronomy 7:1~11)
Hymns: 420. to sanctify you
Date: March 20, 2011 (Sunday) 5 am (Second Sunday in Lent)
Venue: Jeonju Yebut Church Small Worship Room
God commands us not to have pity on the Canaanites and to completely annihilate them. This is not to ensure that Israel gets land to settle in. It was a measure to keep them from being tainted by the sin of idolatry. Let's take a look at the command given to the people who lead a separate life through the words of this text.
1. Prohibition of marriage (verse 3)
The marriage referred to in the text means a political marriage, not a simple wedding. This ban on political intermarriage is due to the fact that marriage was an easy conduit for evil pagan cultures, especially idolatry. Some may think that it is not good to marry a foreigner and make him a child of God. However, the sinful nature of man is not preached through intermarriage with a Gentile, and he even loses his faith in the doctrine (verse 4).
When we face various problems in our daily life, we also need to look at whether we do not compromise easily with the ways of the world. Thinking easy and acting easy often leads to the worst. So, you should always be on your guard. We must try to control our fragile hearts, which are easily exposed to sin and fall for it, with the Word of God and not commit sins.
2. Prohibition of idolatry (v. 5)
God commands that the Canaanites not only worship the gods, but also the temples, that is, destroy all religious systems and roots. Idolatry is taking the name of God in vain. Idolatry is what drives our hearts away from the Lord. The faithful God cared for the needs of the people of Israel, showed mercy, defeated all their enemies, and led them to a land flowing with milk and honey. And he was wary that the sin of idolatry that was prevalent there would alienate the Israelites from their relationship with God.
Even in our lives, there are idols everywhere that distance us from our relationship with God. Please destroy the idols that are strong externally and internally before God.
3. A separate life (v. 6)
God, who loved the people of Israel, chose them and called them “a holy people.” It means ‘separated person’. God, who set Israel apart and called us, also called us differently. Humans are constantly sinning without realizing it. However, once you realize what the cause of sin is, you must resist and avoid it. Rather than just avoiding it, you must follow God diligently to overcome evil with good. Following God is the only way to live safely in a world of chaos. Let us praise God who will guide us with His Word and protect us with His power. When we live only after Him, we will dwell in the kingdom of eternal glory.
There are many dangers in the world we live in. Sometimes sweet temptations that you can't refuse come. Do not step into the swamp of the world. Let's throw away the principles of worldly life and live only according to God. Then the Lord will keep us safe and keep us safe.
<Prayer>
1. Help me to live a separate life living according to the word of God!
2. May the anointing be overflowing in worship and revival!
3. Heal and restore our weak members!