Scripture: Deuteronomy 20.
OBSERVATION
(Key verses)
Deuteronomy 20:16-18 (NLT)
16 In those towns that the LORD your God is giving you as a special possession, destroy every living thing.
17 You must completely destroy the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, just as the LORD your God has commanded you.
18 This will prevent the people of the land from teaching you to imitate their detestable customs in the worship of their gods, which would cause you to sin deeply against the LORD your God.
APPLICATION
(How Can I apply what God is saying here to my life today?)
There is so much about the Old Testament that we can look at today and turn our heads from because it all sounds so cruel and primitive. However, the principle behind the decisions and actions bear a lot of value that, if considered today, could result in stronger families, a stronger nation and a strong world. We have become so accustomed to compromise, and willing to do so much in the name of equal rights, that we find no reason to stand our ground based on principles we learn and believe from God’s Word. In the verses chosen today we can see where God saw such a need to remove the temptation that might cause His people to worship other gods, and to commit detestable sin, that He ordered that the invaders totally destroy the inhabitants of the land they were entering. Friends, we often find ourselves in precarious positions today where we are willing to accept so much, yes even that which is spoken against in God’s Word. When we allow anything that is acceptable to this old wicked world, we are often in great compromise to God’s Word. Throughout the surrounding chapters we are shown what the Israelites were taught to do with those found guilty of certain sins. In today’s world, we have become acceptable of these things because we don’t want to get into the other person’s business, or because God loves them just as they are. We find excuses for our acceptance. God’s Word is clear, He hates sin and He hates actions that are opposite to that which is taught in His Word. Friends, if God hates these things, we should never believe that He wants His imitators, His children, those who are called by His name, to do otherwise. We must learn to stand on the teachings of the Bible, even if we become unpopular to this world.
PRAYER
(What I will ask of God, in order for me to properly apply His Word to my life)
Lord, as I read Your Word, I believe there is much that You detest about the happenings in this world in which I live. Ashamedly I must admit that there are probably times that You also detest Your people, Your chosen people, those who are called by Your name, because we have become so much like this world. So much so that folk may often find it difficult to determine the difference. Lord, You have given us Your Book of Instructions so that we may know what pleases You and what is detestable to You. Please open my eyes today so that I may walk in obedience to Your Word. Please give me boldness to speak up for what You teach as the right thing if I am to represent You fairly and truthfully. Please forgive me where I have failed in this.
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Nuggets From God's Word 