I know the title probably isn't enticing but in preparation of Ruth study I was reading through some notes from my Judges study. The setting of Ruth is during the time of "Judges". Seeing the setting of the book of Judges so reminds me of our nation today. Just read the following and see if you don't see some parallels.
Time of Apathy, Apostasy and Anarchy - "In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did which was right in his own eyes"
Judges 1-2 - The Failures of the nation
1. Fighting the enemy - victories and defeats, boundary lines had been determined for the 12 tribes but the
people had not fully claimed their inheritance by defeating and driving out the inhabitants of the land.
2. They spared the enemy - they neglected the Word of God. They did not endure sound doctrine but rathered had their
ears tickled. The Priests possessed a copy of the Book of Deuteronomy. They were commanded to read publicly
to the Nation every Sabbatical year during the Feast of Tabernacle (Deut 31:9-13). Deut 6 - parents were to teach
to their children.
They failed to conquer the land, they compromised with the enemy by sparing them and allowed them to live amongst them.
3. They imitated the enemy APATHY which means lack of emotion, lack of interest.
Contrast:
Moral Absolutes means Truth, the Word of God sets standards for life.
Situational Ethics - when we allow experiences and circumstances determine truth and not the Word of God.
The Jews became so accustomed to the sinful ways of their pagan neighbors that those ways didn't seem sinful any more. They became interested in how their neighbors worshiped, until finally Israel started to live like their enemies and imitate their ways.
Disobedience - they were to keep the Covenants with God by destroying the enemies, but Israel disobeyed the Lord and not only spared the Canaanites and their godless religious system but also began to follow the enemy's lifestlye themselves.
4. Obeying the enemy - the sin they failed to conquer, conquered them. They became enslaved to a pagan nation.
They forgot what the Lord had done, they did not know Moses or Joshua
They forsook what the Lord had said, they forgot the Word
They forfeited what the Lord had promised, they were defeated
They failed to learn from what the Lord did, he sold them into the hands of the enemy.
The nation of Israel had entered the land but they failed to conquer the land, why? They did not drive out the enemies and the nations remained.
Application: Many Christians today are "in between" in their spiritual lives. They have been delivered from Egypt by the blood of the Lamb, but they have not yet entered into their inheritance in Christ.
Canaan is an illustration of our spiritual inheritance in Christ. An inheritance that is claimed by faith. Canaan was a land of battles and blessings as is the Christian life today. Many Christians come to the place of decision (their own Kadesh-Barnea) and they fail to enter into their inheritance by faith. Instead of being conquerors (as in Joshua) they become wanderers, as described in Numbers. They will not cross the Jordah (which illustrates death to self) and step out by faith to claim what Christ has promised them.
The nation did not grow during their wilderness wandering. The nation wasted 38yrs. endured unnecessary afflictions, failed to gow and failed to honor God, all the while they were on their "death march". This is what unbelief does to Christians. We miss the blessings and spiritual growth.
Ephesians 1:3 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Christ"
Land of Canaan was a picture of the spirital inheritance that we can obtain, if we will only go in and possess it. Our obedience to God's Word and living by His Word, drives out the enemy as a result we have rest from our enemies. while on earth we will always have the enemy, and we are to continually drive out the enemy from our land. But God promises to go before us to drive them out causing them to be defeated in confusion.
Submit to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you. James 4:7
Submit - means align yourself under God's authority. God is there to exercise authority, we are commanded to
receive it. Pray Matt 6:9-13. Think about the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives as we submit under
God's power.
Resist - urgent action, resisting is active not passive, subject preforms this action Eph 4:27 "do not give the
devil an opportunity" How laying aside deeds of darkness and putting on Jesus Christ.
Flee - future tense. Satan has no authority over the life of a Christian. As we submit to God and place
ourselves under His authority He will take care of the enemy.
Just as God told the nation of Israel I will drive out the enemy little by little until you become fruitful and take possession of the land (Ex 23:23-33. Did you notice that God says "I will drive out" that is an "absolute". They had the responsibility "You shall make no covenant with them or with their gods".
Israel's preparation for entering the promised land:
Just as God told the nation of Israel "watch for yourselves lest you forget the Lord who brought you from the land of Egypt and out of the house of slavery. You shall fear only the Lord your God and you shall worship Him and swear by His name.
God's promise to Moses was "My Presence will go with you and I will give you rest" Ex 33:14
The Jews had not rest in Egypt or during their wilderness wanderings but in the Promised land God would give them rest. Moses farewell address "For as yet you have not come to rest and the inheritance which the Lord your God is given you".
This Canaan rest is a picture of that rest that Christian believers experience when they yield their all to Christ and claim their inheritance by faith.
Question I ask - where are we, where are you in this picture of "inheritance" ?
Also when we drift away from studying God's Word and go to books of man instead where will that lead us?
Is there salvation in any other than Jesus Christ? why do we resort to man's books, wisdom, philsophy to feed us which cannot import spiritual life? Where are the pastor and teachers who hold to the plumbline of God's Word as the authority by which we live? Love is the greatest gift... may we Love the Lord God with all our heart soul and mind and as a result our love for man will be true love.
As Christ asked Peter "do you love me?" each time Jesus was asking Peter do you "agapao me" which means deeper than emotion, an unconditional deep spiritual love. but each time Peter's response was "You know that I love you" you know I "Phileo" you which means brotherly love, common interests.
Do we agapao Christ? or phileo?
Go deeper by meeting with Him in His Word. He will speak mighty and powerful and wonder truths and promises to you.
Blessings and Shalom in 2011
Denise
