Judges 2:1-5.
NOW comes a time of weeping for Israel. In the land of promise, a land flowing with milk and honey, peace and plenty should have been theirs; but instead of this, fresh sorrows are upon them. God had said that they should smite and utterly destroy the inhabitants of the land into which He would bring them. This they had failed to do. Some of them had been smitten, and some were driven out, the Lord having stood by and helped them in this work, but still many remained. Also the Lord had told them to destroy the altars, and burn the graven images of the land. He wanted the people whom He had chosen to be a special people to Himself, and those upon whom He had placed His love, to be a separate people. And happy would it have been for them had they obeyed the voice of Jehovah. But failure, only failure, is written upon the page of man’s history. The inhabitants of the land are not exterminated; a covenant, contrary to God’s express Word, is made with them; the altars, consecrated to idol worship, are allowed to stand; the graven images are not destroyed. And now an angel of the Lord is sent with this word, “Ye have not obeyed My voice: why have ye done this? Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you.”
Is it any wonder that the people wept when they heard these words from the angel of the Lord? Truly the outlook was dark enough. But ‘it came to pass as the angel had said to them. And later on in the history of Israel we learn the exceeding sadness of their departure into idolatry for it led Jehovah to “Watch over them for evil, and not for good,” and caused Him to break them down and afflict them.
It is most blessed to know ourselves as the objects of God’s love; and to know that He is watching over us to do us good, and that He will turn every sorrow and every trial into a blessing. But it was not so with Israel; they had not obeyed His voice, and they forsook the living God and turned to gods, the work of men’s hands. Long and patiently did God bear with them, but at last He began to watch over them for evil.
Now a word, dear young Christian reader. God has chosen you; Christ has redeemed you; eternal life is yours; you are an heir of God: you have obtained an inheritance in Christ—such is your wonderful and blessed portion ; but you are called upon to walk in the path of separation here. It is not for you to mingle with unbelievers in the way of companionship; the word for you is, “Come out from among them and be ye separate.” 2 Cor. 6:14-18. “To depart from evil is understanding.” Ps. 28:28. “The friendship of the world is enmity with God.” Jas. 4: 4. “LOVE NOT THE WORLD, NEITHER THE THINGS THAT ARE IN THE WORLD.” ยค Jno. 2:15. Are you walking in the path of separation? Has the voice of God power over your soul? Ah! take heed that it be not said to you, as it was to Israel, “Ye have not obeyed My voice.” Your loss will be immeasurable if you are caught in the toils of Satan and the world.
ML 05/27/1906