RPG Adults
SUSTAINING CEREMONIAL CLEANLINESS
LORD’S DAY, NOVEMBER 7
Deuteronomy 23:1-9
Psalm 26:1-7
“I have hated
the congregation of evil doers;
and will not sit with the wicked.”
SUSTAINING CEREMONIAL CLEANLINESS
The exhortation to Israel, in Deuteronomy 23:7, to accept the Edomites and the Egyptians was like giving them thanks for their hospitality. Gratitude is a virtue that binds a people together and builds peace. Israel was told to accept the children born of these nations as part of them (Deut 23:8).
Israel was admonished to keep away from any wicked thing when they went to war against their enemies (Deut 23:9). They were set to capture the land of Canaan and there would be great temptations to take precious spoils for themselves. However, God meant what He said, and Israel was to obey it without compromise. Israel was faced with that temptation in the capture of Jericho (Josh 7). This was Achan’s confession after he had committed that trespass: “… Indeed I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done: When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it” (Josh 7:20-21). His act had directly contravened what the Lord had commanded Israel. As it turns out, it did not take long for Israel to see the consequences of that sin. Their attempt to capture Ai (their second city) was met with strong resistance and a number of them were killed. God revealed to Joshua: “…There is an accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Israel…” (Josh 7:13). Joshua quickly investigated, and Achan was caught and given the maximum punishment. The Law was that they were not to touch an unclean thing no matter how beautiful it might be. They had to resist the temptation. Achan did not, and he became an example.
God’s Word has sounded an alarm, but not all listen. May we be wise to listen to the warnings in God’s Word.
THOUGHT: The consequences of wilful sin are regrettable.
PRAYER: Father, keep me away from all wilful sin.