Day 79, Chronological Bible Study Timeline. Map. Go to today’s Bible reading (use your browser arrow to return): Deuteronomy 19–22
Clearing Barriers | Removing Evil
Before we build houses or businesses, bulldozers clear the land. Clearing physical land is like clearing barriers in our life, business, or ministry—we must remove them before we attempt to build. Sometimes people are obstacles. If they stand in the way because they are contrary, disobedient to God's will, or oppose it because of their evil character, we need to address it.
Many of us hate taking appropriate actions against people because we don't want to become involved; it's difficult. Instead, we tolerate unacceptable behavior. What results from each of these scenarios?
• We allow bullying, physical or mental abuse, or do not report a crime
• Parents do not swiftly discipline the misbehaviors of their children
• Employers ignore treacherous actions against the company or tolerate the laziness of their employees
• Church leaders do not deal with minor but significant offenses in the church
We can all come up with simple answers to these questions, but here's the obvious conclusion: the lofty ideals we want for our family, business, or other organizations become tainted or ruined when we allow unacceptable behavior to go unchecked.
Similarly, Israel had to remove evil people from the land they were inheriting, or they would ruin it. How were they to do it? Deuteronomy 12-26 records specific stipulations God gives the Israelites, patterned after the Suzerain Treaties of that day. From these, we can derive principles for removing evil in our society and our lives.Removing Social Injustice
For the Israelites, removing evil first meant purging it from their community. Murder, accidental deaths, malicious accusations, and property theft have occurred since the beginning of civilizations. In Israel's theocratic society, God instituted regulations to address these crimes.
They built cities of refuge with paved roads and evenly spaced them across their land to deal with accidental deaths. There, someone might flee from an avenger. But they set these up to protect the innocent, not the guilty.
Suppose a court of elders determined a person committed murder but was living in a sanctuary city? In that case, the officials would drag him from the city and hand him over to an avenger (usually a close male relative) to be killed. They were to extend no mercy.
If they found a person slain and there were no witnesses, they would bring the dead person to the nearest town. Then, they would kill a bull, symbolizing the punishment the slayer should have received, and God would accept it (Deuteronomy 21:1-9).Those who falsely accused their brother Israelites of crimes would suffer the same punishment as they intended to pin on the accused.
The Israelites must respect boundary stones separating inherited property.
Any crime required at least two witnesses to have a conviction. If there was a conviction, God gave the elders these instructions:
You must purge the evil from among you. The rest of the people will hear of this and be afraid, and never again will such an evil thing be done among you. Show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot (Deuteronomy 19:19b-21, NIV).
The greater principle here is, make the punishment fit the crime. Any government must act with fairness and justice if it is to eliminate corruption in its society. The innocent need protection and the guilty must be punished. This principle is also true in our families and other organizations. More about that later.
Removing National Threats
At this time in Israel's history, she was in a holy war. Therefore, removing evil included the complete wiping out of all the evil idol-worshiping cities in Canaan. The Israelites were to destroy and dispossess them. If they didn't do it, the Israelites would soon worship their gods, fall into sin, and lose their inheritance (Deuteronomy 20:18). God would then expel them from their land.
Distant cities would have a less evil influence on God's people than the nearby towns in Canaan. The Israelite leaders offered peace settlements to them. If they accepted the terms, they became a vassal of Israel. If not, then the Israelites would wipe out all the men from that foreign nation but save the women, children, livestock, and anything else valuable (except idols).
Our nation is not in a holy war. However, any government should prevent evil influences from invading and corrupting its country. To allow it would be subversive to its liberty.
America, once considered a Christian country, is now corrupting itself from within. We once looked to the God of the Bible to get our sense of worth, purpose, and directions for living. Now, we're teaching our children there is no God, they can decide for themselves what is right and wrong, and there is no meaning or purpose except to please themselves.
The bright lights in our encroaching darkness are the freedoms we still have to assemble for worship, the exercise of our free speech to share the gospel, and the Holy Spirit is still saving some. America, please pray for more revivals to pop up in our country and around the world.
Removing Evil in Our Own Community
Since the LORD is their Holy God and will go before them into battle, Israel must also purge any evil from their midst. Idol worship, rebellion, sexual perversion, or sexual affairs must not be tolerated—they must eliminate them! They must kill the guilty participants.
Obedience, respect, justice, and even kindness should prevail in their society. Holiness is the requirement for God to bless his people. The same is true for us.
Here is a note of caution for those who might be over-zealous in applying these principles:
1. We must act lawfully and let our government handle legal and social matters. God instituted government for such a purpose (Romans 13:1-5).
2. We must deal with specific sins. We should show grace when handling preferences in debatable matters not outlined in the Scriptures.
Focus Verses
Colossians 3:5 (NIV) “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.”
1Peter 1:15-16 (NIV) “But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.'”
Discussion (you can type in your answers)
Why should we remove obstacles in our ministry and our lives?
How should we purge social injustice?
How should we purge the evil in our families and why?
Write a private prayer response to today’s Bible study:
Please send your comments to me, Rod, the author
Looking Ahead:We purge evil, so we can be wholly dedicated to God. Still, there are commands (Policies and Rules) to obey so God might bless us. Learn more in our Next Lesson.
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