Wednesday, 3 August 2016
Topic: Touch Not The Unclean Thing
Bible Text: Deuteronomy 7:12-26
Key Verse:
“The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire: thou shalt not desire the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it unto thee, lest thou be snared therein: for it is an abomination to the LORD thy God” (Deuteronomy 7:25).
It is extremely difficult to imagine what society would have turned out to be without rules, regulations and laws to govern man’s behaviour and regulate interpersonal relationships. Israel had a taste of a lawless society, one without a leader, when everyone did that which was right in their sights.
The Bible is replete with uncountable instances of God’s pronouncement of blessings upon the children of Israel, His chosen people. As should be expected of a Holy God, these blessings were usually predicated upon the people’s obedience to divine laws and commandments. But more often than not, the commandments were flagrantly disobeyed and discarded. Even then, the people would not go too far in disobedience before calamities of disastrous dimensions would befall them. Then they would remember their God and plead for forgiveness.
The ever forgiving and long-suffering God would forgive them, but their promised steadfast walk with him would fizzle out like early morning vapour. Here, the God-chosen law giver, Moses warned them on what they were to keep away from, particularly those practices that amounted to abomination in God’s sight – gold and silver on the idols of the Canaanites, and their graven images.
Christian believers must be careful not to allow the influences of the world – immorality, bribery corruption, murderous instincts, unforgiving spirit – to penetrate their homes and places of assembly. Our hearts should be stayed on God alone. Mercifully, He possesses all that pertain to life and godliness which we can always access through faith.
Thought for the day: Evil association corrupts good manners.
Bible Reading in one Year: EZRA 7 – 10