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THE PROPHETS, PRIESTS AND FALSE WORSHIP
MONDAY, OCTOBER 18
Deuteronomy 18:9-14

1 Samuel 13:8-13

 

“Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not
kept the commandment of the LORD

thy God, which he commanded thee…”

 

THE PROPHETS, PRIESTS AND FALSE WORSHIP
 
Prophets were appointed directly by the Lord and, in some cases, priests were also given that duty. Notable among them were Jeremiah and Ezekiel. It was also forbidden for anyone to assume the work of a priest when they were not officially assigned by God. Saul and Uzziah were two kings who attempted to offer sacrifices. Both of them faced instant punishment and all Israel knew that they were transgressors. These incidents served as warnings to the rest of the people that they were to approach the sanctity of God’s house with due reverence.
 
The office of the priest in Israel was necessary to render spiritual service for the nation. In the subsequent history of Israel during the intertestamental period, the nation was under foreign powers, but was given limited autonomy. The office of the priest was recognised as the only authority among the Jews. Its entanglement with political leadership compromised the office of the priest and brought much disgrace. The coming of Christ abolished that office of the Levitical priesthood.
 
The separation of Israel from the heathen nations was imperative. Israel was forbidden to be part of the abominable practices of nations. The Canaanites and the Egyptians were people who did not know the true God. They worshipped idols and had rituals that were abominable before the Lord, and were also inhumane. Moses indicated that they practiced human sacrifice. Israel was warned not to go after these abominations which included divination, observation of time (astrology), enchantment and witchcraft. There were also charmers, those who consulted familiar spirits, wizards and those who claimed to make contact with the dead. Moses said that all these practices were an abomination to the Lord. It was because of these that the Canaanites were driven out of their land. God is just. He uprooted the Canaanites out of their land because of their abominable practices and at the same time rewarded obedient Israel in giving them the land. When Israel also forsook Him, she was also uprooted from the land.
 
THOUGHT: Spiritual exercises are to be done in God’s way.

PRAYER: Father, may our Christian service be rendered worthily.

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